Lokesh 'shocked' over Vizag marine engineer's death in MT Settebello attack
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh broke the TDP government's 24-hour silence over the death of Visakhapatnam marine engineer Patnala Suresh, killed in the US military's attack on oil tanker MT Settebello near the Strait of Hormuz — just days before Suresh was to return home for his 15th wedding anniversary. Chief Minister Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan have yet to respond, drawing Congress criticism.
Key Takeaways
Nara Lokesh on 12 June became the first TDP-NDA government leader to react to the death of Patnala Suresh , 44 , from Visakhapatnam .
Suresh was killed in the US military attack on Palau -flagged tanker MT Settebello near the Strait of Hormuz .
Two other Indian seafarers — deck cadet Aditya Sharma and engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya — were also killed in the attack.
Suresh is survived by wife Bhargavi and two sons aged 13 and 10 ; family has appealed for immediate repatriation of his remains.
Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan had not publicly reacted as of the time of reporting.
Congress criticised the state government for a 24-hour silence after Suresh's death was confirmed.
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh on Friday, 12 June expressed being 'deeply shocked and devastated' over the death of Visakhapatnam-based marine engineer Patnala Suresh, killed in the attack on oil tanker MT Settebello near the Strait of Hormuz. Suresh, 44, was among three Indian seafarers confirmed dead following the incident.
Lokesh's Condolences and Demands
In a post on X, Lokesh described Suresh as 'a dedicated professional who spent years serving at sea,' adding that his life was 'cut tragically short just days before he was to return home to celebrate his 15th wedding anniversary.' He called the loss 'irreparable' for Suresh's wife Bhargavi and their two young sons.
As the national working president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Lokesh urged the Central Government and the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite formalities to repatriate Suresh's mortal remains and extend support to the bereaved family during what he termed an 'unimaginably dark time.'
Political Silence Under Scrutiny
Lokesh's statement marks the first official reaction from the TDP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Andhra Pradesh regarding Suresh's death. Notably, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan had not reacted publicly as of the time of reporting.
The Indian National Congress (Congress) had already criticised the state government for remaining silent for 24 hours after the marine engineer's death was confirmed — a gap that drew sharp attention given Suresh's roots in Visakhapatnam.
Three Indian Sailors Killed in Hormuz Attack
The Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello was attacked off the coast of Oman, near the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, on Wednesday. According to reports, the attack was carried out by the US military after the vessel allegedly attempted to violate a blockade imposed by the US.
All three Indian seafarers initially reported missing following the incident have since been confirmed dead. The other two victims are deck cadet Aditya Sharma and engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya.
Family's Grief and Appeal
Suresh is survived by his wife Bhargavi and two sons aged 13 and 10. The family, based in Visakhapatnam, has appealed to authorities to immediately arrange for the repatriation of his mortal remains. The tragedy has left the local seafaring community in deep mourning.
With the Ministry of External Affairs yet to issue a detailed statement, pressure is mounting on the Centre to respond swiftly to the families' appeals for repatriation and support.
Point of View
While heartfelt, also doubles as damage control against Congress's pointed criticism. The deeper question the tragedy raises is one of consular preparedness: three Indian seafarers died in a geopolitically charged military action in one of the world's most surveilled waterways, and the official response from both the state and Centre has been slow. For a country that sends hundreds of thousands of seafarers into global waters, the MT Settebello incident should prompt a hard review of crisis-response protocols for Indian maritime workers in conflict-adjacent zones.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Patnala Suresh and how did he die?
Patnala Suresh, 44, was a marine chief engineer from Visakhapatnam who was killed when the US military attacked the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Settebello near the Strait of Hormuz. He was one of three Indian seafarers confirmed dead in the incident.
What did Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh say about the incident?
Nara Lokesh said he was 'deeply shocked and devastated' by Suresh's death, calling it an irreparable loss to his family and the Vizag community. He urged the Central Government and the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite repatriation of Suresh's mortal remains and support his family.
Who are the other Indian sailors killed in the MT Settebello attack?
The other two Indians killed are deck cadet Aditya Sharma and engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya. All three were initially reported missing after the attack and have since been confirmed dead.
Why has the Andhra Pradesh government faced criticism over this incident?
The Congress criticised the TDP-led NDA state government for remaining silent for 24 hours after Suresh's death was confirmed. As of the time of reporting, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan had not publicly responded to the tragedy.
What has Suresh's family requested from authorities?
Suresh's family — his wife Bhargavi and two sons aged 13 and 10 — has appealed to authorities to immediately arrange for the repatriation of his mortal remains from the site of the attack near Oman.
