New Delhi, June 11: The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Oman asserted that they are maintaining close communication with local officials to manage the aftermath of an incident involving the vessel MT Settebello near Shinas port. Out of twenty-four Indian crew members aboard the Palau-flagged tanker operating near the Strait of Hormuz, twenty-one personnel were safely rescued, while three sailors initially listed as missing have lost their lives.
The deceased crew members belonged to Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. One of the mariners was identified as Shivanand Chaurasia from Surauli village in the Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, who served as the primary financial support for his household.
Providing initial details on the situation, Manoj Yadav, general secretary of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, declared that early communications indicated the ship had lost contact. He maintained that initial reports pointed to two fatalities and a missing chief engineer, noting that the affected crew members represented multiple Indian states.
The family of Chaurasia shared their distress regarding the sudden loss of their relative. His brother-in-law, Sanjay Chaurasia, stated that the office provided the update and mentioned that the sailor is survived by two children. Ramji Chaurasia, the father of the deceased, affirmed that they had a routine conversation just days before the incident where his son indicated all was well. Community members expressed their sorrow, adding that the mariner had worked exceptionally hard to secure his maritime role to provide a better life for his relatives.
Omani authorities and Indian diplomatic representatives declared their continued partnership in tracking developments and ensuring all necessary protocols are handled smoothly for the impacted families.
