Pune Engineer Missing After Strait of Hormuz Ship Attack Confirmed Dead
Pune, July 14, 2026: Heramb Karmarkar, a Pune-based third engineer who had been reported missing after a projectile struck the container vessel MV GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz, has been confirmed dead, his family said on Tuesday.
Karmarkar was the only crew member unaccounted for after the Cyprus-flagged cargo vessel came under attack near Omani waters at around 3.30 am IST on Sunday.
According to reports, the projectile hit the ship’s engine room, triggering a fire and leaving the vessel without propulsion. The crew managed to anchor the ship before abandoning it in lifeboats.
The vessel had 24 crew members on board, including 11 Indians. Twenty-three crew members were rescued by the Royal Navy of Oman around two hours after the evacuation. Karmarkar, who was believed to have been in or near the engine room when the attack occurred, remained missing until his death was confirmed.
Karmarkar had last spoken to his family at 2.49 am IST on Sunday, informing them that the ship had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz. He had been at sea for more than three months and was expected to return to India after completing his assignment.
Following the attack, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces launched a third round of strikes against Iran after accusing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of attacking the MV GFS Galaxy. In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the vessel suffered significant engine room damage due to an onboard fire and confirmed that one civilian crew member was missing.
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) criticised the delay in providing information about Karmarkar’s condition, stating that his family remained without official updates for more than 32 hours despite repeated diplomatic assurances regarding the safety of Indian merchant vessels.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Iranian diplomats, including Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Javad Hosseini, over the attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, the MEA strongly condemned the attacks on commercial shipping and civilian seafarers, expressing concern over the renewed escalation of hostilities in West Asia. The ministry called for an immediate end to violence, a return to dialogue and diplomacy, and the restoration of safe and uninterrupted navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law.
