The vessel was carrying a total crew of 28 members, including 24 Indian nationals and four foreign nationals comprising two Pakistanis, one Ukrainian, and one Russian, when it came under attack by United States Central Command forces. According to the US military, the strike was carried out after the tanker allegedly failed to comply with instructions and was suspected of transporting oil from Iran in violation of an ongoing blockade.
Initial reports indicated that 21 Indian crew members were rescued, while three seafarers remained missing. The missing personnel have now been identified as deck cadet Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya, and chief engineer Patnala Suresh. Authorities later confirmed that all three bodies were recovered and identified.
United States Central Command stated that precision munitions were used to strike the vessel after it repeatedly failed to follow operational directions from American forces. The military further alleged that the tanker was attempting to transport Iranian oil in breach of restrictions linked to the ongoing maritime blockade in the region.
The Government of India has strongly condemned the incident, stating that 24 Indian nationals came under attack as the vessel attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Officials described attacks on shipping in the region as deeply concerning and a direct consequence of escalating regional conflict, reiterating the call for immediate de-escalation.
In response, India summoned the United States charge d’affaires in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the incident, according to a senior government official cited by international news agency AFP. The Shipping Ministry confirmed that efforts are underway to ensure the repatriation of surviving crew members and the return of the deceased for final rites, with full support extended to the bereaved families.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route, has remained severely disrupted since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, with competing restrictions imposed by Iran and the United States further intensifying tensions and limiting maritime movement.
The incident marks a serious escalation in maritime hostilities in the Gulf region, raising urgent concerns over the safety of international shipping lanes and the growing risks faced by civilian seafarers operating in conflict-affected waters.
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