Three Missing Indian Sailors Confirmed Dead After Ship Attack Near Oman
India mourns the loss of three seafarers killed in the MT Setebello tragedy near the Strait of Hormuz as the government vows full support to affected families and accelerates repatriation efforts.
Three Indian sailors who had gone missing after a missile attack on the commercial vessel MT Setebello near the Strait of Hormuz have been confirmed dead, marking a tragic loss for India’s maritime community.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the deaths and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families. He described the incident as a heartbreaking setback for India’s seafaring fraternity and assured that the government would provide all possible support to the victims’ families.
The Palau-flagged commercial vessel came under attack near Oman, in the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Rescue operations launched after the incident initially recovered two bodies, while three Indian crew members remained missing. Authorities have now confirmed that the missing sailors did not survive.
The Government of India has assured the affected families of full assistance, promising swift coordination to bring the victims’ mortal remains back home. Officials are also working to ensure the safe and immediate return of rescued crew members to India.
According to officials, diplomatic and legal procedures are being expedited to ensure the bodies are returned to their families as quickly as possible so that final rites can be performed.
One of the deceased sailors, 23-year-old Aditya Sharma, had recently joined the vessel. His father, Rajesh Sharma, said the family was informed about the missile strike by the shipping company and appealed to authorities, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, to help bring his son’s body home.
“My son had only recently begun his career. We used to speak regularly, and the last time we spoke was on Sunday. He had mentioned tensions and attacks near their route,” Sharma said.
The incident comes amid growing regional tensions and repeated maritime attacks around the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over the safety of commercial shipping routes in the Middle East.
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