Daijiworld Media Network – Patna
Patna, Jul 16: A 30-year-old marine engineer from Bihar's Gopalganj district was killed in an alleged missile attack on a commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, leaving his family in mourning.
The deceased, identified as Sonu Gupta, had been working with a Dubai-based shipping company for the past four years. He was reportedly on duty when the vessel came under attack while transiting the strategically important maritime route near Saudi Arabia.
The news reached his family at Thawe Bazaar on Tuesday, triggering scenes of grief. His relatives are now awaiting the completion of formalities to bring his mortal remains back to India.
According to family members, Sonu was serving as an engineer aboard a commercial ship operated by Dubai-based Al Bayah Aden Ship Company. They said the vessel was crossing the Strait of Hormuz when it was allegedly struck by a missile amid the ongoing regional conflict.
The family said they were informed on Tuesday morning that Sonu had sustained critical injuries in the attack and later succumbed to them.
However, there was no immediate official confirmation regarding the reported attack or the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
Sonu's father, Sanjay Gupta, runs a footwear business in Gopalganj. Family members said Sonu had recently returned to Dubai after spending time at home on leave and had resumed work only about 20 days ago.
They described him as the sole breadwinner of the family.
His elder brother, Alok Gupta, said the family has been in constant contact with officials of the Dubai-based shipping company as well as the Indian Embassy regarding the repatriation of the body.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where commercial shipping has increasingly come under threat.
In a separate incident, Indian sailor Herambh Karmarkar from Pune died following an attack on the cargo vessel MV GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman. According to the Indian Consulate in Dubai, Karmarkar had gone missing after the July 12 attack before his body was later recovered by the Oman Coast Guard.
India has condemned the attacks on commercial vessels and called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions, reiterating that civilian ships and maritime infrastructure must not be targeted.