Himachal Family's Wedding Preparations Overshadowed by Son's Detention at Sea
In the quiet village of Sidhpur near Dharamshala, a family's joyful wedding preparations have turned into a tense vigil. Fresh paint coats the walls of their home, and wedding invitations sit ready for distribution. Yet, the atmosphere remains heavy with concern for 26-year-old Rikshit Chauhan, a merchant navy officer from Himachal Pradesh.
An Urgent Appeal to the Prime Minister
Rikshit Chauhan is one of three Indian nationals detained last week after the United States Coast Guard seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic. His father, 54-year-old Ranjit Chauhan, has made a direct plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assistance.
"We haven't slept since we came to know about it," Ranjit Chauhan stated from his family home. "I request PM Modi to please ensure the safe return of my son and the two other Indians." The family's anxiety is compounded by an upcoming celebration. They desperately hope for Rikshit's return before his elder brother's wedding on February 19.
A Sudden Silence After a Routine Call
The last communication the family received from Rikshit was on January 7. During that call, he mentioned potential signal issues at sea, advising his father not to worry if he became unreachable. That very day, US authorities intercepted the vessel near Venezuelan waters and took the entire crew into custody.
The distressing news of his detention reached the family on January 8, casting a shadow over their festive preparations. "Painting was on, invitation cards were going out when the news came," a relative recounted on Monday. "We hope he returns so we can celebrate both - his homecoming and the wedding."
A Long Journey Interrupted
Rikshit Chauhan began his latest maritime assignment on August 1, 2025. His journey first took him to Iran before he joined the Russian oil tanker. The vessel had already been at sea for four months and was en route to Venezuela when it was seized by US forces.
His cousin, Rahul, reported that local Member of Parliament Rajeev Bharadwaj has promised to raise the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs. This assurance offers a glimmer of hope to the worried family, who now balance wedding logistics with an international crisis.
As paint dries on their walls and wedding plans advance, the Chauhan family waits. Their story highlights the human cost behind international maritime incidents, where a son's safe return has become the most cherished wedding gift they could imagine.
