The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has condemned the handling of the death of Tamil Nadu seafarer Nishanth Uirthanathan, who passed away on June 11 while aboard the MT Celestial at Duqm Port, Oman. The FSUI claims that Uirthanathan’s death was due to a lack of medical support, stating that he was abandoned by ship management and authorities who failed to arrange timely medical evacuation despite urgent requests. The Indian Embassy in Oman attributed his death to medical complications.
The FSUI highlighted the disturbing circumstances surrounding Uirthanathan’s body, which was reportedly left to decompose on the ship without proper refrigeration. Crew members had to resort to using cold water bottles to preserve the body until authorities intervened, only after the situation gained public attention. The union criticized the bureaucratic response, stating that Uirthanathan’s grieving family is being met with indifference and is facing pressure to repatriate his remains quickly or risk them being disposed of by local authorities.
In light of these events, the FSUI has called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged medical negligence and accountability for the involved company. They emphasized that seafarers should not be treated as disposable and demanded respectful treatment for Uirthanathan’s remains, along with assurances that such incidents will not occur in the future.
