Himachal: Family of deceased seafarer Aditya Sharma urges CM Sukhu to press Centre for action
Shimla, July 20
Rajesh Sharma, father of Aditya Sharma, who lost his life in the Strait of Hormuz, called on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday and urged him to raise the matter of Aditya Sharma's death with the Central Government, claiming that no action has been taken by the Central Government so far.
According to the CMO, the Chief Minister expressed his condolences to the bereaved family members and said that the State Government firmly stands with them. He assured the family that he would take up the matter with the Central Government so that justice would be ensured. He also prayed for the peace of the departed soul. Sushma Sharma, mother of Aditya Sharma, was also present during the interaction.
A total of 24 Indian crew members were onboard MT Settebello in June, and officials confirmed that 21 were rescued, while three died in the US attack. Aditya Sharma, a native of Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, was serving as a deck cadet on the vessel.
Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur on Thursday expressed deep grief over the tragic death of local seafarer Aditya Sharma in an attack on the vessel MT Settebello off the Omani coast.
Thakur said that he has been engaging with Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to expedite the process of bringing back Sharma's mortal remains to India.
Speaking to reporters, Thakur said, "One of our young colleagues has lost his life, someone who was rendering his services even outside our country. Today, he is no longer with us. This incident has caused immense grief, not just to the family but to the entire state of Himachal Pradesh. We have also reached out to the Minister of External Affairs and our MEA, requesting that the Indian Embassy raise this matter with the company, the embassy over there, and the local government to bring his mortal remains back to India as soon as possible."
Following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met USA President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France.
During the meeting, PM Modi pressed Trump for greater protection for maritime workers caught in the crossfire of escalating regional tensions.
PM Modi's appeal centred on a fundamental principle of global commerce: that civilian workers should not be collateral damage in geopolitical blockades.
"We must ensure that sea routes remain secure and that seafarers can carry out their work without fear," he added, urging a collaborative approach to avoid future casualties.
President Trump offered a brief acknowledgement of the tragedy, emphasising the inherent risks of the maritime industry while stopping short of further comment.
"I heard about that. It's a rough profession, and we work together on it," Trump remarked. "This has been happening throughout time, but we work together. We love all those people. They are great people."
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is heartbreaking. A young man from Himachal goes to work abroad to support his family and ends up losing his life due to geopolitical tensions. PM Modi raised the issue with Trump but we need concrete steps. The US should be held accountable for this attack! 🇮🇳💔
While I sympathise with the family, we need to ask tough questions: Why were Indian seafarers operating in such a volatile zone? The company hiring them should have ensured safety protocols. And what about compensation for the family? This cannot just be swept under the carpet.
Trump's response "It's a rough profession" shows the arrogance of the US leadership. Our government must demand a formal apology and compensation from the US. An Indian life lost cannot be dismissed with such casual remarks. Himachal stands with the Sharma family. 🙏
The state government doing its bit is good, but the central government needs to coordinate better. Why is Ambassador Jaishankar not making a stronger statement? We have 24 crew members on that ship - this is a big incident affecting many families. Every life matters.
It's commendable that PM Modi raised this at the G7 summit. But Trump's response was totally inadequate - calling it "rough profession" doesn't cut it when lives are lost. India must push for an international maritime safety agreement to protect seafarers in conflict zones.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.