Oil tanker catches fire off Gujarat after drone attack; India sends ships to rescue vessel with 20 Indians

A merchant vessel carrying crude caught fire in a suspected drone attack off the Gujarat coast. The vessel, MV Chem Pluto, is a Liberia-flagged tanker affiliated with Israel. The crew of 20 Indians and 1 Vietnamese have been reported safe. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have deployed surveillance aircraft, naval warships, and Coast Guard vessels to provide assistance. The ship is being re-routed to Mumbai due to steering issues. The suspected attack occurred amidst tensions between Israel and Hamas, with speculation of Iran-backed Houthi involvement.