NEW DELHI, April 18 (Xinhua) -- India on Saturday expressed its deep concern at the shooting incident involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz, said the country's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official statement.

According to the statement, the MEA summoned Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali for a meeting with the country's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to convey India's concern.

Misri noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India.

Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, he urged the Iranian envoy to convey India's views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait.

According to media reports, there was no damage to the Indian crew or the vessels in the firing incident. ■