Officials stressed that the government and oil companies have taken steps to diversify supply sources and ensure that energy imports continue without disruption.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said it had taken note of reports about the attack on the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree while it was sailing through the Strait.

An attempt was made to assassinate former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday at point-blank range. Police said that the accused had a personal agenda that he had waited 20 years to kill the 88-year-old National Conference (NC) chief.