The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said that the Indians, who were earlier reported killed in an airstrike in Yemen, are alive. However, sources said that while 13 of them were alive, seven were still missing.

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Wednesday morning said that the ministry was in touch with the local authorities and confirmed that 13 Indians were alive.

"We have seen media reports about the death of Indian nationals in Yemen. Indian Embassy officials in Djbouti are in touch with local contacts and we have ascertained that there were two boats one of which was plying between Berbera (Somalia) and Mokha (Yemen)," Swarup said.

"The boats came under aerial bombardment in the afternoon of 8 September. The boats were carrying a total of 20 Indian crew members of which 13 are alive and 7 are reported missing."

The MEA currently has no information on the identities of the Indians. Swarup said that the embassy officials will meet the boat owners at which point of time more information would be available.

News agencies on Tuesday night reported that 20 Indians in two boats were killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led alliance on fuel smugglers at a Yemeni airport, Reuters had reported.

The Reuters report had quoted fishermen and Houthi-rebels-run news agency Saba, besides medical sources.

Indian Killed in Yemen - Live Updates

12:00 PM - First Images of Indians injured in the Saudi air strikes in Yemen [Graphic/Disturbing Content]

11.50 AM - India clarifies on Indian death in Yemen [Video]

11.30 AM - MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup issued a statement:

We have seen media reports about the death of Indian nationals in Yemen. Indian Embassy officials in Djbouti are in touch with local contacts and we have ascertained that there were two boats one of which was plying between Berbera (Somalia) and Mokha (Yemen). The boats came under aerial bombardment in the afternoon of 8 September. The boats were carrying a total of 20 Indian crew members of which 13 are alive and 7 are reported missing. No other information is currently available regarding the identities of the Indian nationals.

09:00 AM (9 September) - ANI reported:

The Fishworker's Forum on Wednesday asked the Government to take seriously the issue of the Indian fishermen reportedly killed in Yemen and also requested the United Nations to raise the issue at an international level.

10:00 PM (8 September) - Reuters reported: 

At least 20 Indian nationals were killed by Saudi-led coalition air strikes on fuel smugglers at Yemen's Hodeidah port on Tuesday, residents and fishermen said.

They said two boats were hit in the attack on an area called al-Khokha near Hodeidah port.