Indian seafarer Sumit Kumar Singh, who went missing after the MT El Gaia tanker was attacked off Oman earlier this month, has been found dead after a 12-day search. The 35-year-old from Bihar was working as an oiler aboard the vessel. While most of the crew members were rescued following the attack, Singh and another foreign crew member remained unaccounted for.
Sumit Went Missing After Attack
According to reports, Singh was among 14 Indian crew members aboard the Panama-flagged tanker when it came under attack on September 13 near the Strait of Hormuz. Thirteen Indian seafarers were rescued, but Singh and another foreign crew member were initially reported missing. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has confirmed the recovery of Singh’s remains in a post on X.
The union said his family had been informed and also confirmed that another foreign crew member had been recovered. The union has expressed condolences to the families of both seafarers and raised concerns over the deaths of civilians and seafarers during conflicts.
How Did He Go Missing?
The tanker had suffered serious damage during the attack, including damage to the engine-room area. The vessel was later towed towards Oman while authorities and salvage teams worked to make the damaged and flooded sections safe. Search teams checked the accessible parts of the tanker several times.
However, some sections remained difficult to reach due to the damage and flooding. These included parts of the engine room and the steering gear room. Singh hailed from Kirtapur Rajaram in Bihar’s Vaishali district. He had worked as a seafarer for around eight years and had served on several vessels, mainly oil tankers. He had joined MT El Gaia earlier this year.
Update On Other Crew Members
MT El Gaia had 25 crew members, including 14 Indians and 11 Pakistanis. After the attack, 23 crew members were rescued by Omani authorities. Singh and Pakistani third engineer Muhammad Hammad Obaida were the two crew members initially reported missing.
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