"This area has seen several attacks and fatalities. But don't worry, I'll be home safe, and we'll celebrate our wedding anniversary together," Suresh Patnala, 44, chief engineer on the oil tanker Settebello, told his wife last week during a call home.

Suresh was one of 24 Indian sailors working on the Palau-flagged Settebello. Days after that call, Suresh and two fellow Indian sailors died when US forces attacked the Settebello on 9/6 while it was underway in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.

"He said he would be home soon, but I never thought he would return this way," Bhargavi Patnala, Suresh's wife, told BBC from her home in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Engineer Patnala Suresh and his wife Bhargavi. Photo: *BBC Hindi*

Suresh had over 10 years of experience as a marine engineer. His family described him as passionate about his profession, often spending most of his time on international voyages. Ramakrishna, Suresh's father, said his son received several months of leave each year but often chose to return to work earlier than expected.

Bhargavi was also accustomed to Suresh's long journeys. The couple regularly communicated via video calls. However, communication became difficult from early June and was completely cut off on 9/6.

Suresh typically sent "good morning" messages to family members daily. Bhargavi waited for that message on the morning of 9/6, hoping he was simply busy. She added that it might have been due to poor network coverage in his area. The last message she received on the evening of 8/6 was "good night and take care of the children."

When news of the Settebello attack emerged, Suresh's relatives held onto hope that there had been some mistake. However, the tanker's operator stated that US forces launched a missile into the engine room while Suresh was checking a generator malfunction.

Instead of celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary with her husband at the end of June, Bhargavi now faces an uncertain future.

"Our entire family depended on his income. I don't know how I will raise our children," Bhargavi said. Suresh and his wife have two sons and were also caring for two nieces who had lost their parents.

Moment US forces attacked the oil tanker Settebello. Video: *X/CENTCOM*

Besides Suresh, the two other Indian sailors killed in the incident were Aditya Sharma, 23, and Shivanand Chaurasia, 35.

In Deoria district, northern Uttar Pradesh, Sushila Devi collapsed upon hearing that her husband, Chaurasia, had died. Chaurasia was the primary breadwinner for his family of two young children. Like many other Indian sailors, he worked on international vessels to earn income for his family.

His father, Ramji Chaurasia, said he had spoken to his son on 8/6 and was reassured that "everything was fine."

US Central Command (CENTCOM), the agency responsible for US military operations in the Middle East, confirmed on 10/6 that it had neutralized the oil tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman the day before.

CENTCOM accused the Settebello of transporting oil from Iran, violating the blockade Washington imposed on Tehran's Gulf ports since mid-April. A fighter jet launched a precision-guided missile into the ship's engine room because the crew failed to comply with instructions from US forces.

Relatives of Shivanand Chaurasia in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, grieving after learning of the sailor's death on 12/6. Photo: *Reuters*

The incident quickly became a controversial topic. The Settebello's operator denied accusations that the vessel was linked to Iran. They also asserted that they received no warning from US forces before the attack.

"If Chaurasia had told us about the potential dangers, I would have called him back. The government should not let people go to such places," Sushila Devi said.

While US officials defended the decision to attack, the victims' families continued to question the events on board the ship.

"I want to know what happened in my son's final moments. Did the sailors receive any rescue support? What led to the deaths of three Indian citizens?" asked Rajesh Sharma, Aditya Sharma's father.

The Indian government has sent two diplomatic protests to the US regarding the attacks on commercial vessels. India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned the US charge d'affaires in New Delhi to express its concerns.

"Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime trade in a sensitive region during a difficult time," India's Ministry of External Affairs stated.

The opposition urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to take stronger action, such as raising the issue with US President Donald Trump during the upcoming G7 summit in France.

Satellite image of the Settebello before the attack. Photo: *BBC*

According to Indian government data, the country is the world's second-largest supplier of maritime labor, after the Philippines. Hundreds of thousands of Indian sailors are working on commercial vessels operating in various regions, including the Middle East.

Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of the All India Seafarers' Union, warned that such casualty-causing incidents could deter many from pursuing a career at sea.

"Repeated incidents show the alarmingly deteriorating safety and security situation in one of the world's most important maritime corridors," Yadav told CNN.

Nhu Tam (According to BBC, CNN, Reuters)