Reports that a United States submarine allegedly torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka have left many people in Visakhapatnam in shock. The vessel had visited the port city just two weeks earlier to take part in the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 and the multinational naval exercise MILAN 2026.
According to reports, the Iranian Navy ship IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate, was torpedoed in international waters about 40 nautical miles off the Galle coast of Sri Lanka while returning home after the naval events. The attack reportedly killed about 108 naval officers. So far, 87 bodies have been recovered from the Indian Ocean. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth later declared that the United States had sunk the Iranian warship in international waters.
The news has stunned many residents of Visakhapatnam who had interacted with the Iranian officers just days earlier when the vessel was in the city for the international naval gatherings hosted by the Indian Navy. IRIS Dena had arrived in Visakhapatnam along with ships from several countries to participate in the International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026. After the closing ceremony of MILAN in the last week of February, the ship sailed out of the port city.
For more maritime and shipping news and views, visit: Maritime, Ahoy!
During their stay, Iranian officers and sailors took part in several events organised as part of MILAN. They joined the International City Parade held on Beach Road on February 20, which drew large crowds. Many residents took photos with naval personnel from different countries. Some members of the Iranian crew also visited tourist spots in the city, including Kailasagiri, the Glass Bridge and the Kursura Submarine Museum on February 16 and 17. They also went shopping and clicked many photos with locals. The sailors were accompanied by city officials Pranav Gopal and Tej Bharath.
“They clicked many selfies and photos with locals at the park, especially on the glass skywalk bridge,” said city resident Javvadi Lakshmana Rao. He said some sailors also visited shopping malls and bought souvenirs and artefacts to take back home. “Little did they know that they might meet a watery grave miles away from their homeland,” he said.
For many people in the city, the reports have come as a surprise. S. Pawan, a Visakhapatnam resident who had taken photos with Iranian Navy personnel during the Beach Road parade, said he found the news hard to believe. “It is shocking to hear this news. Just days ago, I took pictures with Iranian Navy officers during the parade on Beach Road. They were friendly and cheerful. It is hard to believe something like this has happened so soon,” he wrote on X.
Another resident, K. Ramesh, who watched the naval ships during the public visiting hours at the harbour, said the news felt unreal. “We saw the ship anchored in the harbour, and many of us waved at the sailors from the jetty. They smiled and waved back. Hearing that the same ship may have been sunk is deeply disturbing.”
College student Ananya Prasad, who attended the Beach Road parade with her friends, said the encounter had left a strong impression on her. “The Iranian sailors were very polite and happy to interact with people. We took photos and wished them a safe journey. When I heard the reports today, it felt very sad because they had just been here among us.”
Responding to the incident, Telugu newspapers prominently published pictures of Iranian officers who had participated in the naval events and spent time in the “City of Destiny”. Residents and officials in the port city were taken aback by the news of their deaths in international waters.
The Hindu reported that Indian Navy officers were dismayed by the development. Killing officers who had come to participate in an international maritime event may not have gone down well with them.
On February 17, the Visakhapatnam-headquartered Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy had warmly welcomed IRIS Dena with a friendly post on X.