Mumbai: Dixit Solanki, 33, lost his life on March 1 when the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker MT MKD Vyom came under attack in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel, carrying gasoline, was struck approximately five nautical miles off the coast of Muscat amid rising tensions in West Asia.

The tanker had departed from Europe on February 8 and was en route to Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia when the attack triggered an explosion in the ship’s engine room.

Solanki’s remains were repatriated to Mumbai early Sunday. Authorities confirmed that the handover process was completed swiftly. “The process took barely 10 minutes, after which the family left with the body,” a police officer said.

Originally from Ghogla in Diu, Solanki had been residing with his family in Kandivli (West), Mumbai. His father, Amritlal Solanki, a former seaman, had approached the Bombay High Court seeking directions to multiple authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs and the Directorate General of Shipping, to facilitate the return of his son’s remains. According to Advocate Datish Talekar, who represented the family, these efforts led to the repatriation.

However, a senior officer of the shipping ministry said the family wanted a DNA test to confirm the identity, which is being carried out in the J J Hospital morgue.

The family has raised concerns over the documentation provided. They sought written confirmation of the post-mortem and DNA identification, claiming these were not furnished. “The last rites have not been performed as the family is awaiting proper documentation confirming the identity,” a police officer from Charkop police station said.