Deoria

Grief engulfed Surauli village in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district after residents learnt that Shivanand Chaurasia, an Indian seafarer working aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello, was among the three crew members who lost their lives following the attack near the Strait of Hormuz.

As news of his death reached home, family members and neighbours were overcome with emotion. Relatives broke down in tears, struggling to come to terms with the loss of a man who had left home months earlier in search of a better future for his family.

Shivanand had been working at sea for the past several months and was regarded as the family's sole breadwinner. According to relatives, he had been striving to improve the financial condition of his household through his overseas employment.

His brother-in-law, Sanjay Chaurasia, said the family had spoken to him shortly before the tragedy unfolded.

"We received information from the company office. He leaves behind two children. We had spoken to him the evening before the incident. He mentioned that he was aboard an Iranian vessel but did not say anything beyond that," he said.

Shivanand's father, Ramji Chaurasia, struggled to hold back tears as he recalled their final conversation.

"We were informed that a bomb had struck the ship. He had gone abroad around eight or nine months ago. We had spoken at around 9 pm the night before. He told us everything was fine," he said before breaking down.

Neighbours described Shivanand as a hardworking man who had overcome many challenges to secure employment in the shipping industry.

"He was the only earning member of the family and had gradually started improving their situation. He had worked extremely hard to get this job on the ship. Three young men died in the attack, and he was one of them," said neighbour Rohan Shahi.

The attack involved the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello, which had 24 Indian crew members on board. Authorities later confirmed that 21 Indians had been rescued, while three sailors who were initially reported missing had died.

General Secretary of the Forward Seamen's Union of India, Manoj Yadav, had earlier said communication with the vessel had been disrupted in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

"We were unable to establish contact with the ship. Initial information suggested that two sailors had died while the Chief Engineer was still missing," Yadav said.

He later stated that the three affected crew members belonged to Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district and Andhra Pradesh.

Yadav also questioned whether alternative measures could have been adopted before the attack took place.

"I do not believe that US naval forces were unaware of the nationalities of those on board. They would have known exactly how many Indians and foreign nationals were present. If the vessels failed to comply with instructions, detention could have been considered as an option," he said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Oman said it was closely monitoring developments.

"We have learnt of an incident involving a vessel off Shinas port in Oman earlier today. We are coordinating with local authorities and gathering further details," the embassy stated.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the attack and said Indian authorities were working closely with their Omani counterparts in the rescue and response efforts.

"We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman. Of the 24 Indian crew members on board, 21 have been rescued, while three Indians were initially reported missing. Our Embassy in Oman remains in close contact with Omani authorities regarding the ongoing search and rescue operation," the MEA said.

Expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation in the region, the ministry described repeated attacks on commercial shipping as deeply troubling.

"These incidents are a matter of serious concern and are a direct consequence of the continuing conflict in the region," the statement said.

India also reiterated its appeal for restraint and dialogue.

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"We call for the immediate de-escalation of tensions and urge all parties to pursue diplomatic solutions so that peace and stability can return to the region," the MEA added.