3 weeks ago
Two Indian seafarers missing after Black Sea attack remain untraced
Two Indian sailors are missing after their ship was attacked.
The ship was in the Black Sea near Ukraine.
Their names are Deepak Kumar Gupta and Rama Chandra.
Rescue teams from Ukraine and Romania searched hard for them.
Even after a big search, they could not be found.
Their families are very worried and asked the government for help.
The families' lawyer said no search was carried out, but the government said rescue teams tried their best.
The Supreme Court, the highest court in India, heard the case.
The court asked the government to help the families get insurance money.
The search is paused for now, but the government says it will keep following up.
Two Indian seafarers, Deepak Kumar Gupta and Rama Chandra, remain untraced after their cargo vessel was attacked in the Black Sea near Ukraine.
The Centre told the Supreme Court that exhaustive search and rescue operations could not locate the missing seafarers as of August 5.
Search operations involving Ukrainian authorities, the Romanian MRCC and the Romanian Coast Guard are suspended pending fresh information.
The Supreme Court directed the Centre to facilitate insurance claims for the families of the missing seafarers.
The plea was filed by Sandeep Kumar Gupta, Deepak's elder brother, after family representations to the MEA and Indian embassies in Ukraine and Romania went unanswered.
- Who
- Two Indian seafarers, Deepak Kumar Gupta and Rama Chandra; the Centre (Government of India); and a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant.
- What
- The Supreme Court took note that the two seafarers could not be located despite exhaustive search and rescue operations after their cargo vessel was attacked.
- Where
- Black Sea near Ukraine's Odesa port, with the case heard in the Supreme Court of India.
- When
- The government informed the Supreme Court on a Friday, with information received up to August 5; the family wrote to the MEA between July 26 and July 30.
- Why
- The seafarers went missing after their merchant vessel, MV AGN Ragnar, came under attack near Odesa port, and extensive search operations have failed to trace them.
Families of the missing seafarers
Centre (Government of India)
Search and rescue operations
Families of the missing seafarers
The counsel for the families alleged that no search and rescue operations were carried out and that the embassy's account showed the position only as of July 26.
Centre (Government of India)
The government submitted that exhaustive search and rescue operations were undertaken by Ukrainian authorities, the Romanian MRCC and the Romanian Coast Guard, and that there was no practical purpose in continuing them in the sea.
Response to family representations
Families of the missing seafarers
The family said they wrote to the MEA and the Indian embassies in Ukraine and Romania between July 26 and July 30 but received no response or positive assurance.
Centre (Government of India)
The MEA and the Directorate General of Maritime Administration jointly filed an action taken report and stated that authorities were maintaining continuous follow-up with all stakeholders.
Key facts
- Missing seafarers
- Deepak Kumar Gupta and Rama Chandra
- Vessel
- MV AGN Ragnar
- Location of attack
- Black Sea near Ukraine's Odesa port
- Age
- Deepak Kumar Gupta, 22
- Search status
- Suspended pending receipt of fresh information
- Rescue agencies
- Ukrainian authorities, Romanian MRCC, Romanian Coast Guard
- Home village
- Bharataul village, Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh
- Court
- Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
Quotes
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta
Solicitor General representing the Indian government
“"It is stated that search operations presently remain suspended pending receipt of fresh information while DGMA continues to pursue all pending investigation and SAR (search and rescue operations) reports and remains engaged with all concerned stakeholders"”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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