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Indian Sailor's Body Returns After War Zone Ordeal
5 Apr
Summary
- Indian seafarer Dixit Solanki was killed in a missile strike off Oman.
- Repatriation of remains faced significant delays due to jurisdictional issues.
- Family's intervention and legal action helped expedite the process.
The mortal remains of Dixit Solanki, a 32-year-old Indian seafarer, are anticipated to return to India on Sunday, April 6, 2026. Solanki tragically became the first Indian casualty in the West Asia war when he was killed in a missile strike on a merchant vessel near Oman.
The repatriation process faced considerable delays, primarily due to confusion over jurisdictional authority after the incident occurred in international waters. Authorities eventually completed necessary documentation, including the issuance of a death certificate by the vessel's flag state, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, on March 26, 2026.
Correspondence between various authorities and the family, including intervention from the Bombay High Court on April 2, 2026, was crucial in accelerating the repatriation. The family had moved the court seeking intervention after facing a lack of clarity on the timeline for bringing Solanki's body home.
The incident occurred on March 1, 2026, when an explosion and fire struck the oil tanker MKD Vyom in the Arabian Sea, approximately 70 nautical miles off Muscat. Investigations suggested a missile strike or external explosive impact as the cause of the damage that led to Solanki's death.
