Body of Kanpur seafarer killed in drone attack near Russia brought home; family demands martyr status
Kanpur, August 5
The mortal remains of 30-year-old Chief Officer Sagar Gupta reached his ancestral home in Shastri Nagar in Kanpur on Wednesday.
Gupta was killed in a drone attack on his merchant navy vessel near Russia earlier this month, called Black Sea attack.
According to family members, Sagar Gupta, a resident of Kanpur, was deployed with a shipping company. He was serving as Chief Officer on a merchant vessel that was headed toward Russia.
The family has now urged the government to accord Sagar Gupta martyr status and to provide a government job to a family member.
They have also appealed to the government and the shipping company to ensure all due assistance and support is extended to the bereaved family.
The family said the ship came under a drone attack on July 18. Sagar had just reached the upper deck when he was caught in the strike and died on the spot.
India strongly denounced the strike on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI in the Black Sea that resulted in the death of an Indian national, terming assaults on merchant shipping unacceptable and calling on all involved parties to guarantee the security of maritime navigation and international commerce.
The attack occurred on 18 July as the MV OMORFI was navigating the Black Sea, reportedly within Russian territorial waters. The vessel was carrying ten crew members at the time, three of whom were Indian citizens. While one Indian sailor was killed, the remaining two were reported safe.
The family received information about the incident on July 21. In the days that followed, they said they did not receive any written or concrete official communication from either the company or any government department regarding the incident, which added to their distress.
Following Sagar's death, his mother Rama Gupta, wife Shalu Gupta, 5-year-old daughter Gauri and 7-month-old son Krishna were left inconsolable.
Earlier, the family of a Merchant Navy employee who went missing from a ship near Istanbul, Turkiye, has sought urgent government intervention to trace him, saying they have received no information about his whereabouts since July 25.Ram Chandra Dubey's father, Ramesh Chandra Dubey, said the family last spoke to him on July 24, when everything appeared normal.
He alleged that the company informed them about his disappearance only the following day.
Ramesh Chandra said his son had travelled to Istanbul through Deloship, a Delhi-Noida-based company, and was working as a sailor on a vessel. His initial six-month contract was later extended to nine months and subsequently by another one or two months.
Speaking to ANI, he said, "Ram Chandra had gone to Istanbul, Turkey, through the Delosis company, which is based in Delhi-Noida. He was working there on a ship as a sailor. His contract was initially for six months, but they later extended it to nine months. His nine-month contract was supposed to end on June 25th. After that, they extended his time by another month or two."
"We last spoke with him on July 24th, and everything seemed fine. Since July 25th, we haven't heard from him. The concern, son, is that the company has only said they are missing. They didn't even tell us on the 25th; they informed at 1:00 PM on the 26th," he added.
He alleged that the company has not provided adequate information about the incident and has asked the family to contact other authorities.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is so sad. The family suffered for days with no clear communication from either the company or the government. That's not acceptable. They deserve proper support and a transparent investigation. My heart goes out to the young wife and the two small children. 😢
Border issues and now international waters... Indian seafarers are being put at risk in areas of active conflict. The government needs to be more proactive in ensuring their safety and in supporting families when tragedy strikes. The lack of communication is especially troubling.
The "martyr" status is often discussed for soldiers, but these merchant navy officers also put their lives on the line. They aren't just civilians; they are critical to national and global economy. It's time we recognize their sacrifices more formally. Prayers for the family.
The fact that the family heard nothing official until they went public is a failure of the system. Companies and governments need to have a protocol for this. My deepest condolences. Also hope Ram Chandra Dubey is found safe soon. These are difficult times for Indian families in international waters.
Finally a story that shows the other side of global trade. These are not just numbers; they are fathers, sons, and husbands. Shri Gupta's daughter and son will grow up without their father. I hope the government provides all possible assistance, including a job for the family as requested. Om Shanti 🙏
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