The US-Israel-Iran war is in a very tense phase, where there are many renewed attacks and strikes between the US and Iran. Recently 3 Indian seafarers, Aditya Sharma, the deck cadet, Shivanand Chaurasiya, an engine fitter and Patnala Suresh, the chief engineer, died in an attack near the Oman coast after the attack on the oil tanker MT Settebello. Indian authorities confirmed that Aditya Sharma was among the three crew members who lost their lives in the incident.
Before the confirmation arrived, his family had desperately sought help from the Indian government, hoping he would be found among the survivors rescued from the damaged vessel. His death has now become one of the most tragic human stories to emerge from the growing tensions affecting commercial shipping routes in the Gulf region.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Who Was Aditya Sharma?
Aditya Sharma was a young deck cadet from Himachal Pradesh who had chosen a career at sea and was working toward becoming a licensed ship officer. As a deck cadet, he was undergoing practical training while serving aboard commercial vessels operating international routes.
Friends and family described him as ambitious and dedicated to building a future in the maritime industry. He was among the 24 Indian crew members serving aboard the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Settebello at the time of the attack.
For Sharma, the voyage represented another important step in his professional journey. Instead, it became a mission from which he never returned.
Who Was Shivanand Chaurasiya?
Shivanand Chaurasiya was serving as an engine fitter aboard the MT Settebello when the vessel came under attack off the coast of Oman. As part of the ship’s engineering crew, his responsibilities included maintaining critical machinery and ensuring the smooth operation of the vessel’s engine systems.
Chaurasiya was among the three Indian crew members initially reported missing after the attack. Rescue teams managed to save 21 sailors, but authorities later confirmed that Chaurasiya had lost his life in the incident.
Who Was Patnala Suresh?
Patnala Suresh served as the Chief Engineer aboard MT Settebello, making him the senior-most engineering officer on the vessel. He was responsible for overseeing the ship’s entire technical department, including propulsion systems, machinery maintenance, power generation, and onboard engineering operations.
Following the attack, Suresh was initially listed among the missing crew members as rescue efforts continued in the Gulf of Oman. Authorities later confirmed his death along with those of Aditya Sharma and Shivanand Chaurasiya.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: What Happened to MT Settebello?
The MT Settebello was operating in waters near Oman when it came under attack during a period of heightened tensions in the Gulf region. The vessel reportedly suffered severe damage after strikes triggered a major fire and explosion onboard.
The incident initially left three Indian crew members unaccounted for, including Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya, and Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh.
Rescue operations later saved 21 crew members, but hopes faded as authorities confirmed that the three missing sailors had died during the attack.
The tragedy immediately drew attention from Indian authorities, maritime organisations, and the families of those aboard the vessel.
Aditya Sharma Last Conversation with Father Rajesh Sharma
Rajesh Sharma, Aditya’s father, revealed that he had spoken to his son shortly before communication stopped.
“Aditya left Dubai for China via Singapore on November 27. Last month, he told me the ship was heading towards Oman. A day later, he mentioned that the captain was planning to enter the Gulf region, which made me a little sceptical,” Sharma said.
He explained that he initially did not worry because commercial shipping vessels are generally not considered military targets. “Such ships are not attacked, so I wasn’t concerned. What happened was completely unexpected. This was wrong,” he said.
The conversation would become one of the family’s final memories of Aditya before the tragedy unfolded.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Family’s Desperate Appeal Before the Death Confirmation
When early reports listed Aditya among the missing crew members, his family launched an urgent appeal to government authorities and the Ministry of External Affairs.
Believing there was still a chance he had survived, relatives hoped he might have been rescued by emergency teams or reached safety after abandoning the vessel.
Rajesh Sharma publicly appealed for assistance and requested government intervention. “I request that my son’s mortal remains be brought home. I appeal to Anurag Thakur ji and Jaishankar ji to help us,” he said.
The family’s focus has now shifted toward bringing Aditya’s remains back to India so they can perform his final rites.
Questions Raised Over Ship Tracking and Safety
Rajesh Sharma also revealed concerns about the vessel’s navigation information before the attack. “Sometimes the navigation system showed older locations. My son told me that the tracking device was switched off at times,” he said.
His remarks have added to questions surrounding the circumstances of the vessel’s movements and the events leading up to the attack. Maritime authorities are expected to examine available navigation records as part of broader investigations into the incident.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Calls for Accountability Grow
The deaths of Aditya Sharma and the two other Indian crew members have sparked calls for accountability and a thorough investigation.
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India has questioned the circumstances of the attack and demanded answers regarding the safety of Indian sailors working in conflict-prone waters.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that 21 crew members were rescued safely and continues to coordinate efforts related to the deceased sailors and their families.
As investigations continue, Aditya Sharma’s story has become a symbol of the human cost of growing instability in one of the world’s most important maritime regions.
