Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal
Bantwal, Jul 15: Following the recent escalation of tension in the Gulf region, a commercial vessel named JFS Galaxy came under a targeted missile attack off the Oman coast on Sunday, July 12. Among the Indian crew members successfully rescued from the vessel is 25-year-old Rachan R K, a resident of Bantwal taluk in Dakshina Kannada.
Rachan is currently safe in Oman under the supervision of his shipping company officials and has informed his family that he is bound for Dubai.
Rachan, the youngest among the three children of Rohithaksha Bhaanabettu from Biliyooru village in Bantwal taluk, completed his degree education at Vivekananda College in Puttur before pursuing a marine course in Mumbai to join the shipping service.
Recounting the harrowing experience to his father, Rachan stated that prior warnings regarding a potential attack on the vessel had been issued. Despite the warnings, the ship continued its transit along the Oman coastal line when a missile struck the vessel at 2:05 am on Sunday late night. The impact triggered a major fire in the engine room, waking up the sleeping crew members who immediately jumped into the sea using lifeboats. While the crew managed to escape the burning vessel, a colleague hailing from Pune went missing during the chaos. The Oman navy subsequently rescued the stranded team and provided all necessary assistance.
Speaking to the media, Rachan's father, Rohithaksha Bhaanabettu, expressed the family's immense anxiety due to the ongoing volatility in the Middle East. "We were gripped by severe anxiety when news broke that the ship our son was working on had been attacked. We breathed a huge sigh of relief only after he contacted us to confirm his safety. However, we are deeply saddened to hear about his missing colleague. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Oman navy for rescuing ten Indian crew members, including my son. We pray for their swift and safe return to the homeland," he said.
Uday, a relative of the youth, noted that Rachan used to frequently mention the tense environment the crew operated under due to the geopolitical friction in the Middle East. He expressed relief over Rachan's safety and hoped for his early return to India.