Sumit Kumar Singh, a seafarer from Bihar, has been missing since the El Gaia vessel was attacked near Oman on September 13. His wife, Komal Priya, has made heartfelt appeals to authorities for assistance in locating him, while her cousin Aditya has been actively pursuing updates from various officials. Unfortunately, he encountered resistance from the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), which dismissed his inquiries and redirected him to the shipping company that employed Sumit.
The Indian and Omani governments, along with the Indian Embassy in Oman, have confirmed that a rescue vessel has been dispatched to assess and repair the damage to El Gaia, which has a significant hole. Search operations will commence only after these repairs are completed. In a statement, Ultra Shipping, the vessel’s owner, indicated that ongoing search efforts have yet to yield any results, with inaccessible areas still posing challenges.
Komal Priya, struggling emotionally as she cares for their two young children, expressed her despair in a video message, pleading for information about her husband’s whereabouts. Aditya has been actively seeking updates but reports that the process is slow and frustrating, with officials showing little empathy for their plight. Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of the Foreword Seafarers Union of India, criticized the lack of accountability from DG Shipping, emphasizing the need for compassion in such distressing situations.
Sumit, who has been a seafarer for eight years, was aboard the El Gaia, which was en route to Panama when it was attacked. His family, particularly Komal Priya, is in turmoil as they await news, with the search and rescue operations proving to be a lengthy and uncertain process.
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