Ghaziabad Family's Agony: Son Among Indian Sailors Missing in Iran After Conflict
For a family in Ghaziabad, the recent military conflict that erupted in Iran on February 28 has transformed an already tense and anxious waiting period into a terrifying and unsettling silence. Mukesh Mehta, a resident of DLF Colony, reveals that he has not received any communication from his son Ketan—a sailor who has been detained in Iran since December—after their regular telephone calls abruptly ceased just days before the strikes began.
Communication Cut Off Amid Escalating Tensions
Mukesh Mehta shared with TOI, "Ketan was lodged in Bandar Abbas jail, from where he would call us every two or three days. We felt reassured about his well-being. But since February 26, there has been no call at all. The last time we spoke, there was no sense that a war would begin. We were hoping he would be back home soon." This sudden loss of contact has left the family in a state of deep distress, clinging to hope while fearing the worst.
Background of the Detention
Ketan Mehta was one of 18 crew members—comprising 16 Indians, one Sri Lankan, and one Bangladeshi—who were detained after the oil tanker MT Valiant Roar was intercepted in international waters near the port of Dibba in the UAE and subsequently taken to Iran on December 8. Following the detention, Iranian authorities separated the crew, with 10 individuals moved to Bandar Abbas prison and the remaining eight confined on the vessel itself.
Thanks to intervention by the Indian embassy, eight crew members were released on February 3 and successfully returned to India on February 11. However, this left 10 sailors still in Iran—five held in jail and five remaining on the ship.
Recent Developments and Evacuation Efforts
Relatives of another sailor, Captain Vijay Kumar, reported that the situation took another turn on February 27. After further intervention by the Indian government, Iranian authorities released the five men from Bandar Abbas prison, including Ketan Mehta. Vinod Kumar, a Noida-based Merchant Navy officer and cousin of Vijay Kumar, explained, "The five who were in jail were freed and checked into a local hotel that night because documentation and other formalities take about a week before they can leave for India."
Then, the military strikes began the very next day, on February 28, dramatically altering the landscape and complicating evacuation plans.
Communication Divide and Ongoing Challenges
According to Vinod Kumar, communication became a critical dividing line between families who could still reach their loved ones and those who could not. The five sailors who remained on the vessel were able to contact relatives in India even after February 28. However, those who had been moved to the hotel—including Ketan Mehta—suddenly went out of reach as communication lines were suspended due to the conflict.
Vinod maintained contact with his cousin while he was still on the ship. "He told me the ship was free to disembark from the harbour, but they could not sail because it had become ‘unseaworthy'. The navigational equipment was damaged during the capture. So, they were waiting in the harbour for an update from the Indian consulate," he added.
Evacuation Process and Current Status
In a recent development on Tuesday evening, Vinod Kumar stated that the Indian consulate informed him the remaining five sailors had been evacuated from the vessel and taken to the same hotel where the others were staying. "Now, communication with them is also suspended. For evacuation, it was necessary that all sailors be on the mainland and off the vessel. So, they were moved to the hotel. Now, we are waiting for the evacuation process, which depends on the war situation," he explained.
Mukesh Mehta, however, has not been updated about these developments as he has not been in touch with the Indian consulate. "We are hopeful that Indian government will bring our sailors back safely," he expressed, his voice filled with a mixture of anxiety and optimism.
Broader Implications and Family Hopes
The plight of these Indian sailors underscores the human cost of international conflicts, with families in Ghaziabad and beyond left in a state of uncertainty and fear. As evacuation efforts hinge on the volatile war situation, the families continue to wait, hoping for a swift and safe return of their loved ones. The Indian government's role in facilitating this process remains crucial, with diplomatic channels being leveraged to ensure the sailors' safety amid the escalating tensions in the region.
