A marine engineer from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, was one of three Indian seafarers who died in a US attack on a ship near Oman. The attack targeted the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz.
The deceased, including Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh, were confirmed dead after initially being reported missing. The other two Indian victims were identified as deck cadet Aditya Sharma and engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya. The US military conducted the attack alleging that the vessel attempted to breach a US blockade.
Suresh’s family, residing in Visakhapatnam, is devastated by the tragic loss. Survived by his wife and two young sons, Suresh’s death was confirmed to his family after a drone attack on the ship where he was working. His wife, Bhargavi, urged authorities to expedite the process of repatriating his body without delay.
Suresh’s father, Patnala Rama Krishna Rao, requested authorities to provide a photograph of the deceased family member and sought financial aid as Suresh was the sole provider for his family.
