Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over the death of 23-year-old deck cadet Aditya Sharma from Hamirpur, who was killed in an attack on the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Settebello in the Gulf of Oman amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
The deceased seafarer's father, Rajesh Sharma, informed the Hamirpur district administration about the tragedy through a letter addressed to the deputy commissioner. He stated that his son died on June 9 following the attack on the vessel and appealed for assistance in bringing his mortal remains back to their native village, Bhaloo in Galod tehsil, for the last rites.
He added that after joining the World Maritime Energy Private Limited shipping company, his son started sailing on MT Settebello in November last year.
Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed through a social media post on Thursday that the three Indian seafarers who were initially reported missing have now been declared dead after their bodies were located and identified. While 21 Indian crew members were rescued safely from the tanker, chief engineer Patnala Suresh, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya and deck cadet Aditya Sharma lost their lives in the incident.
The CM expressed condolences to the bereaved family, assured full support and directed the district administration to provide all possible assistance.
