Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed on Thursday that three Indian sailors, initially reported missing after the Palau‑flagged oil tanker MT Settebello was struck off Oman’s coast, have been found dead.
Their bodies were located and identified, marking a tragic turn in the incident that has shaken India’s maritime community.
Sonowal described the deaths as a “profound loss to our maritime family” and assured immediate repatriation of the deceased and rescued crew members. The tanker, carrying 28 crew including 24 Indians, caught fire after its engine room was hit near the Strait of Hormuz. Twenty‑one Indians survived, while three lost their lives.
The Indian sailors dead Hormuz tanker attack has sparked diplomatic tensions. India summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks to lodge a strong protest, condemning the strike and demanding accountability. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated its call for de‑escalation in West Asia and protection of civilian shipping.
US Central Command admitted American forces struck the vessel, claiming it was transporting Iranian oil in violation of a blockade. Indian maritime unions criticised the action, arguing that the US knew the crew’s nationalities and should have detained the ship instead of attacking.
The deceased sailors hailed from Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria district, and Andhra Pradesh. The incident underscores growing risks in the Gulf, where repeated attacks on commercial vessels threaten global energy routes.
