The bodies of two Indian sailors who were killed in a U.S. naval attack have been brought back to India. The incident occurred amid rising tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel in the Middle East.
As part of the ongoing conflict, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for crude oil transportation. During this period of heightened security concerns, the U.S. Navy reportedly launched an attack on the merchant vessel MT Settabello, sailing under the Palau flag, in the Gulf of Oman on June 10.Three Indian crew members—Patnala Suresh, Aditya Sharma, and Shivanand Chaurasia—lost their lives in the attack. Meanwhile, 21 other Indian sailors on board survived and were safely rescued before being brought back to India.
On Thursday, the mortal remains of Aditya Sharma and Shivanand Chaurasia arrived in India, allowing their families to perform the final rites. The Indian Embassy in Muscat officially confirmed the development through a post on its X (formerly Twitter) account. The tragic incident has raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the Gulf region, especially as geopolitical tensions continue to affect international maritime routes. Indian authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of Indian nationals working at sea.
