Heramb Karmarkar, a marine engineer from Pune who had gone missing following an attack on the merchant vessel 'GFX Galaxy' near the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, has died, his family confirmed on Wednesday.
The commercial vessel GFS Galaxy, carrying Indian nationals off the coast of Oman, was attacked on Sunday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated that 10 of the Indian nationals on board were rescued, while one person is still reportedly missing.
Karmarkar's father-in-law, Vivek Tandon, verified the report of his death.
Speaking to IANS, Vivek Tandon said, "He was a 30-year-old young man, not an elderly person. Our only request to the Government of India is that his body be handed over to us intact and brought home."
Earlier, India condemned the attack, terming the continuous incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region "deeply worrisome."
The MEA said that the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing Search and Rescue operation. It also thanked the Omani authorities for their support.
In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Oman said that it is closely monitoring the incident involving the vessel GFS Galaxy. It further said that its officials are in close contact with the Omani authorities, the vessel's management, and the concerned stakeholders, and is extending all possible assistance.
US Central Command had said that GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, was attacked by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) when transiting the Strait of Hormuz, leaving a crew member missing.
"Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed. In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait. The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief," it had said.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the waters around the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about one-fifth of the world's traded oil and is critical to global energy security.
The move comes amid an escalating maritime security crisis in West Asia following attacks on two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa together carried 30 Indian seafarers among a combined crew of 46. One Indian seafarer was killed and another injured aboard MT Al Bahiyah, while nine Indian nationals on MT Mombasa were injured, including two who remain in serious condition.
At a meeting attended by Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur and senior officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Navy, the Directorate General of Shipping, Indian missions in Iran and Oman, and other maritime agencies, Sonowal reviewed the security situation in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, and India's contingency measures for Indian seafarers.
Expressing grief over the attacks, Sonowal condemned the targeting of civilian merchant vessels, saying the government would extend all possible support to the affected seafarers and the families of those killed or injured.
"India has expressed its strong resentment and objection to the manner of attacks on defenceless civilian merchant vessels. These have resulted in the death and serious injury of Indian seafarers who, as key workers ensuring the proper functioning of global supply chains, due to these irresponsible, unwarranted and uncalled-for attacks."
