Vizag Sailor Killed in US Missile Attack Off Oman Coast
Visakhapatnam: “A few days ago, I received a phone call from my husband. When I asked about his safety amid the unrest in the Persian Gulf, he sounded distressed and said the situation was not good. He said he was waiting to come back home,” recounted Patnala Bhargavi, wife of Patnala Suresh, chief engineer of merchant vessel MT Settebello.
“However, the situation changed drastically, and I lost my husband,” Bhargavi said, recalling their last conversation. Suresh was killed in a missile attack by the US on MT Settebello off the coast of Oman. A resident of Sriharipuram in Vizag, he was one of three Indian crew members killed in the attack.
Bhargavi described the tense hours after receiving news of the tragedy. “Last Wednesday night, officials called and informed me that the ship had come under a drone attack and three Indian crew members were missing. My husband was among them.”
After hours of follow-up, authorities confirmed they had found Suresh’s body and sent her a photo. “I could identify my husband by his tattoo,” Bhargavi said. Suresh had spent over four months at sea and was looking forward to returning home. Although he had received his relieving letter, he was awaiting a replacement crew member before disembarking. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed condolences on X and stated that the mortal remains of the three deceased sailors will be brought back to India at the earliest. Officials at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi said they are in touch with the Indian Embassy in Muscat and other authorities to facilitate assistance and expedite repatriation.
