Jamshedpur Family's Agony Ends as Son's Vessel Returns Safely from War Zone
The Tripathy family in Jamshedpur finally breathed a sigh of relief on Monday evening when the India-flagged LPG tanker Shivalik, which had passed through the volatile Strait of Hormuz last week, docked safely at the Mundra port in Gujarat. This came after days of intense anxiety as their son, Ansh Tripathy, served as a second engineer on the vessel amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
Sleepless Nights and Constant Vigilance
Mithlesh Kumar Tripathy and Chanda, parents of the 34-year-old Ansh, endured sleepless nights while keeping a close watch on the West Asia conflict. Their son was part of the crew maneuvering the Shivalik, which carried 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG, through a sky illuminated by missiles and explosions. The vessel, with Ansh and 26 other crew members, navigated the conflict zone on March 13 before arriving at Mundra on Monday evening.
"With communication lines cut and reports of potential strikes continuously making headlines on news channels, it was a nightmare for everyone in the family," Mithlesh recounted. On March 12, the Shivalik, owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), reported its location in the exclusive economic zone waters 24 miles off the United Arab Emirates. "My only fear was that my child would become a casualty of the war," he added, highlighting the family's deep distress.
A Routine Assignment Turns Volatile
Ansh, a resident of Ashiana Woodlands in Paridih, Mango, had joined duty on November 25 last year for what was supposed to be a routine assignment to West Asia. However, as the vessel approached the Strait of Hormuz, the situation quickly turned volatile due to rising tensions in the region. Mithlesh, a retired official of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited, shared, "I could not sleep for a week due to anxiety. Now that the vessel safely navigated to our shores, I am relieved. It is like a stone being lifted off my chest."
Gratitude and Harrowing Moments
Chanda expressed her gratitude to the Union government and its diplomatic efforts for her son's safe return. She revealed a chilling moment: "Amid the airstrikes, a missile passed very close to his ship at night, and Ansh sent me a photo of it. My soul trembled at that moment." Ansh's wife, Chanda Mishra Tripathy, a Chartered Accountant at Tata Steel, said that her husband's safety was the only thought occupying her mind throughout the week. "The safe return of the crew has come as a big relief to the entire nation," she emphasized.
Community Support and Personal Background
As news of the vessel's safe return spread, friends and relatives flocked to the Tripathy family's house to congratulate them, though the family could not contact Ansh until late evening. Ansh's professional journey includes:
- Completing mechanical engineering at BIT Durg in 2012
- Pursuing Marine Engineering at Cochin Shipyard Limited in 2015
- Joining the SCI in 2014 after his education
He did his upper primary at Motilal Nehru Public School in Sakchi (2004) and higher secondary at Atomic Energy Central School, Narwa in Jaduguda (2008). This incident underscores the personal toll of global conflicts on families and the relief brought by safe passages through danger zones.
