Who was Sonu Kumar Gupta? Bihar marine engineer killed in Hormuz missile strike

Amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a family in Bihar is mourning the loss of a young marine engineer who was killed in a missile attack on commercial vessels in the strategic waterway.

Sonu Kumar Gupta, a 30-year-old from Gopalganj district, was the only Indian sailor killed after Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE-linked commercial tankers, MT Mombasa and MT Al Bahiyah, in the southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz.

Sonu, who was also known as Rohan Kumar among some acquaintances, belonged to Videshi Tola in the Thawe market area of Gopalganj, Bihar.

The youngest of three brothers, Sonu was known as a hardworking and ambitious person who wanted to provide a better future for his family.

His father, Sanjay Kumar Gupta, runs a footwear shop in Thawe Bazaar. Sonu completed his marine engineering studies from an institute in Kolkata before beginning his career in the shipping sector in 2020.

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Over the years, he built his career at sea and later joined the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as a marine engineer in 2024.

For his family, Sonu’s career was a source of pride and a means of financial support.

“Rohan was working tirelessly at sea to support the family. But those dreams are shattered now,” his father told Hindi-language daily Prabhat Khabar.

Family received news through calls

The family learnt about the attack through a series of phone calls in the early hours of Tuesday, July 14.

Sonu’s elder brother, Alok Gupta, said the company first informed them that Sonu had been injured after a missile struck the vessel he was on.

“I received the first call around 4 am from my brother's company, informing me that Sonu was injured when a missile struck the ship he was in near Saudi Arabia,” Alok said.

Around an hour later, the company called again to inform the family that Sonu had died from his injuries.

Sonu was working aboard the MT Al Bahiyah when the missile strike took place. The attack caused severe damage to the vessel, triggering a fire and sending debris across the ship.

Follow all the latest live updates and developments from the Iran war here.

Sonu had returned to work weeks before attack

The loss has been particularly difficult for the family as Sonu had only recently resumed duty.

After spending months at home during his vacation, he left for work on June 8 for what was expected to be a four-month voyage.

His elder brother Manish said Sonu had promised to return after completing his assignment.

“He had stayed with us for a few months during a vacation and returned to his job, promising to rejoin the family after completing this contract,” Manish said.

Instead of waiting for his return, the family is now preparing to receive his mortal remains.

Gopalganj District Magistrate Sameer Saurabh said local officials have been sent to Sonu’s residence to help complete the necessary procedures and facilitate the return of his body to Bihar.