Vizag residents shocked over sinking of Iranian naval ship ‘IRIS Dena’

Reports of a United States submarine allegedly torpedoing and sinking an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka have left residents of Visakhapatnam stunned. The development triggered disbelief across the coastal city, particularly because personnel from the Iranian Navy had visited the “City of Destiny” barely two weeks ago to participate in the International Fleet Review 2026 (IFR) and MILAN 2026. After the closing ceremony of MILAN in the last week of February, the Iranian ship had sailed out of Visakhapatnam.

Apart from participating in the IFR and the MILAN city parade, the officers and sailors of the reportedly sunk vessel, IRIS Dena, had left a lasting impression on Vizagites. They had visited several tourist spots, including the popular Kailasagiri. “They clicked numerous selfies and photographs with locals at the park, especially on the glass skywalk bridge,” recalled a city resident. The personnel had also visited shopping malls, purchasing 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.