Key facts
- Three Indian sailors were killed in a US strike on the oil tanker MT Settebello in the Gulf of Oman.
- The US military claimed the tanker ignored warnings and was carrying Iranian oil.
- The vessel's managers denied any connection to Iran and stated no warning was received.
- India has lodged a strong protest with Washington over the incident.
- Families of the deceased sailors are awaiting the return of their bodies and seeking government assistance.
Three Indian sailors were killed when the US military struck the MT Settebello oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, an incident that has caused grief and anger across India. Patnala Suresh, one of the deceased, had spoken to his wife, Patnala Bhargavi, just days before the strike, assuring her of his safe return for their upcoming 15th wedding anniversary.
The US military stated the attack was part of efforts to enforce a blockade on Iran-linked shipping, asserting that the tanker ignored repeated warnings and was carrying Iranian oil. However, the vessel's managers have disputed this account, claiming the tanker had no connection to Iran and received no warning before being hit. Twenty-one other crew members were rescued.
Suresh, a marine engineer, had spent about 15 years at sea. His family, including his father Ramakrishna, noted his dedication to his work. Communication with his wife had become difficult in the days leading up to the strike, which Suresh was inspecting a fault in a generator at the time of the incident, according to his wife.
Similar tragedies are being mourned in other parts of India. In Himachal Pradesh, the family of 23-year-old Aditya Sharma is seeking the return of his body and an explanation of his final moments. In Uttar Pradesh, the family of 35-year-old Shivanand Chaurasia is grappling with the same loss. Both families, like Bhargavi, are awaiting the return of their loved ones' bodies.
India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal acknowledged the deaths as a significant loss and stated that efforts are underway to bring the bodies back. India has also formally protested the strike to Washington, summoning a senior US diplomat and calling for an end to attacks on commercial vessels in the region. For the families, however, the geopolitical implications are secondary to the personal loss and the urgent need to see their sons and husbands one last time.