PUNE/NEW DELHI: In a tragic escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a 30-year-old marine engineer from Pune who went missing after a missile strike on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz has been confirmed dead. Heramb Karmarkar was serving as the third engineer aboard the Cyprus-flagged container ship MV GFS Galaxy when it was attacked by Iranian forces off the coast of Oman early Sunday morning.
His death marks the second fatality of an Indian seafarer in the region within just three days, deepening concerns over the safety of Indian crews navigating the volatile waters.
Projectile Strike Near Engine Room Left Vessel Disabled In Strait Of Hormuz
The GFS Galaxy, carrying a 24-member crew including 11 Indian nationals, was sailing near Omani waters at approximately 3:30 AM IST on Sunday when it was struck by an “unidentified projectile”. The attack, attributed by the U.S. Central Command to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), triggered a massive fire in the engine room, completely disabling the ship’s propulsion.
The crew managed to anchor the burning vessel before evacuating into lifeboats. While the Royal Navy of Oman successfully rescued 23 crew members about two hours later, Karmarkar—who was believed to be near the engine room at the time of the impact—remained unaccounted for.
According to family members, Karmarkar had last spoken to them at 2:49 AM IST, just minutes before the attack, assuring them he had safely crossed the Strait Of Hormuz. After nearly 60 hours of agonizing uncertainty, the shipping company informed the family on Tuesday evening that Oman’s coast guard had recovered his body.
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Family Demands Urgent Repatriation of Mortal Remains
Karmarkar had completed his marine engineering from the City of Glasgow College in the UK and had been on this current deployment for five months, expecting to return home to Pune soon. He is survived by his wife, mother, and a younger sister.
His father-in-law, Vivek Tandon, confirmed the devastating news on Wednesday, stating that the body is currently in the custody of the Oman Navy. “Following the post-mortem and other formalities, it will be handed over to the company before being brought back to Pune. Our only request to the Government of India is that his body be handed over to us intact and brought home as soon as possible for the last rites,” Tandon said.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai stated on X (formerly Twitter) that it is closely coordinating with Omani and UAE authorities, as well as the shipping company, to expedite the repatriation process and support the bereaved family.
India Summons Iranian Diplomat Amid Rising Maritime Threat
The tragic incident has sparked severe diplomatic backlash. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly condemned the targeting of commercial shipping and summoned Iranian diplomats in New Delhi, including Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Javad Hosseini, to lodge a formal protest.
Tehran defended the strike, claiming the vessel was attempting to transit through an unauthorized route despite warnings.
The maritime crisis worsened on Tuesday when two other vessels—the MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa—were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the death of another Indian sailor. The two vessels had a combined crew of 46, including 30 Indians.
In response to the mounting casualties, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced the launch of a “Seafarer-First” emergency response mechanism. The initiative includes an operational dashboard designed to track every Indian sailor on ships operating in the conflict-affected region, regardless of the vessel’s flag, and the appointment of dedicated liaison officers for affected families.
With Iran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz and the United States launching heavy retaliatory airstrikes, the Indian government faces mounting pressure to secure the safe passage of the estimated 320,000 active Indian seafarers navigating global shipping lanes