As the Middle East conflict disrupts maritime routes, about 23,000 Indians are estimated to be stranded across the Gulf region, sources have told NDTV Profit, indicating a worsening crisis that has skyrocketed crude prices.
The crisis stems from US and Israeli strikes on Iran that Washington claims aim to obliterate Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. In response, Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow strategic maritime corridor that handles one-fifth of the global oil flows.

