The family of 30-year-old marine engineer Herambh Karmarkar from Pune is waiting for his mortal remains to be brought back following his death in an attack on a Cyprus-flagged commercial vessel off the coast of Oman.
Container ship GFS Galaxy was attacked early on Sunday when it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Karmarkar’s family members confirmed that he was on board the ship that was attacked. After he died in the attack, his body is currently with the Oman Navy.
Herambh’s father-in-law Vivek Tandon stated, “We are awaiting his mortal remains, which are currently with the Oman Navy. Herambh had been on the vessel for the last five months and was due to sign off soon.” Karmarkar is survived by his wife, mother, and younger sister. He had completed his marine engineering from the City of Glasgow College in the UK and had joined the merchant navy.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed Karmarkar’s death on Wednesday, stating that Indian officials are closely coordinating with the UAE authorities and the shipping company to provide all possible assistance to the deceased sailor’s family. The Consulate expressed its deepest condolences at the tragic demise of the Indian national due to the attack on the commercial vessel MV GFS Galaxy on 12 July 2026.
According to Gulf News, Karmarkar’s family was informed by the shipping company on Tuesday evening that Oman’s coast guard had recovered his body, nearly 60 hours after he was reported missing. The Indian mission is in touch with the bereaved family and is closely coordinating with the relevant UAE authorities and the shipping company to provide all possible support and assistance to the family.
The attack on the vessel has resulted in the death of an Indian sailor, bringing the death toll of Indians in the war in West Asia to 14 since it started on February 28. There were 11 Indian crew members on the vessel, and 10 of them were rescued.
