- July 16, 2026
30-Year-Old Indian Engineer, Working in Dubai, Killed In Attack On Ship Near Strait Of Hormuz
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A 30-year-old marine engineer from Bihar’s Gopalganj, Sonu Gupta, was killed after a commercial vessel allegedly came under a missile attack near the Strait of Hormuz.
Sonu Gupta, a 30-year-old marine engineer from Bihar’s Gopalganj, reportedly died after a commercial vessel allegedly came under a missile attack near the Strait of Hormuz (Photos: CNN-News18)
A 30-year-old marine engineer from Bihar’s Gopalganj district has been killed in an alleged missile attack on a commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, leaving his family devastated.
Sonu Gupta, who had been working with a Dubai-based shipping company for the past four years, was on duty when the vessel allegedly came under attack while passing through the strategic maritime route near Saudi Arabia, it was known.
The tragic news reached his family on Tuesday, triggering scenes of grief at their home in Thawe Bazaar. His relatives are now waiting for his mortal remains to be brought back to India.
According to his family members, Sonu Gupta was serving as an engineer aboard a commercial ship operated by Dubai-based Al Bayah Aden Ship Company.
They said the vessel was crossing the Strait of Hormuz, near Saudi Arabia, when it allegedly came under a missile attack amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
The family said they received information on Tuesday morning that Sonu had suffered serious injuries in the attack and later succumbed to them.
No official statement regarding the reported attack or the circumstances surrounding his death was immediately available.
Sonu’s father, Sanjay Gupta, is a local businessman who runs a footwear shop.
According to the family, Sonu had come home on leave recently and had gone back to Dubai only around 20 days ago to resume work.
His family said he was the sole earning member of the household.
The family is currently waiting for the completion of formalities to bring his mortal remains back to India.
Sonu’s elder brother, Alok Gupta, said the family has been in constant touch with officials of the Dubai-based shipping company as well as representatives of the Indian Embassy regarding the repatriation of the body.
He said they are awaiting further communication from the authorities before the mortal remains can be transported to India.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with commercial shipping routes facing increased security concerns.
Separately, another Indian sailor, Herambh Karmarkar from Pune, died after an attack on the cargo vessel MV GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman.
According to the Indian Consulate in Dubai, Karmarkar had gone missing following the July 12 attack before his body was later recovered by Oman’s Coast Guard.
India has condemned the attack on the vessel and called for immediate de-escalation of tensions, while reiterating that commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted.
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The security situation in the Strait of Hormuz is volatile, marked by recent missile attacks on commercial vessels.
About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
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