Two Indian seafarers untraced despite Black Sea search, SC told

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The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday that two Indian seafarers, Deepak Kumar Gupta and Rama Chandra, remain untraceable after their cargo vessel was attacked near Ukraine’s Odesa port in July. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said search operations by Ukrainian authorities, the Romanian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and the Romanian Coast Guard have failed to locate them. The court recorded that efforts are suspended pending fresh information.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, directed the government to help the families claim insurance under the seafarers' contracts. The court is hearing a petition from Deepak's brother, who alleged the MEA ignored repeated pleas. Separately, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine said it attaches “highest priority” to the safety of 13 Indian sailors on another vessel, MV AMIR1, which faces repeated drone and missile attacks in the Black Sea.