Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh —
A wave of grief has swept through Galore village in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district after 23-year-old seafarer Aditya Sharma was confirmed among the three Indian crew members killed following a strike on the oil tanker MT Settebello in the Gulf of Oman.
Aditya, who was serving as a deck cadet aboard the Palau-flagged vessel, was one of 24 Indian crew members on board when the tanker came under attack near the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz. While 21 sailors were rescued, Aditya and two other Indian mariners lost their lives in the incident.
Back in his native village, relatives, friends and neighbours gathered at the family home as news of the tragedy spread. Aditya was the only son of his parents and had been building a career in the maritime industry, carrying with him the hopes and aspirations of his family.
The bereaved family has appealed to both the Central Government and the Himachal Pradesh Government to facilitate the earliest possible repatriation of his mortal remains so that his final rites can be performed in his hometown. According to family members, the uncertainty surrounding the incident has added to their anguish as they await official communication and the return of their son.
Relatives have also sought answers about the circumstances that led to the attack and the efforts made to rescue the crew members who went missing after the strike. Family members say they spent anxious hours trying to establish Aditya’s whereabouts before receiving confirmation of his death.
His grandfather has called for a thorough investigation into the incident, questioning the decisions taken aboard the vessel before the attack. The family has urged authorities to provide a detailed account of the events that unfolded in the final hours before the tragedy.
The loss has drawn reactions from political leaders in Himachal Pradesh. Member of Parliament and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur expressed condolences and said he had approached External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting diplomatic efforts to ensure the swift return of Aditya’s body to India.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also conveyed his condolences and assured the family of all possible assistance. The state government has directed local authorities to extend support to the bereaved family during this difficult period.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing risks faced by Indian seafarers working on international shipping routes amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region. India has strongly protested the attack and called for an end to actions that endanger civilian maritime personnel.
For the Sharma family, however, the geopolitical dimensions of the incident remain secondary to a more personal tragedy. Their immediate wish is simple: to bring Aditya home one final time.
As Galore village waits in mourning, preparations for the young sailor’s last rites remain on hold until his mortal remains are returned to Himachal Pradesh.
