KANPUR, Oct. 18 -- Merchant navy chief engineer Nitin Shukla's first priority when a drone struck his oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on October 9 was to get his fellow crew members to safety. Showing exemplary courage, he ensured that all 21 others had boarded a lifeboat before making his own escape from the Panama-flagged MT Gem No. 2, which was destroyed in the attack. Nitin, who returned to his Shyam Nagar home in Kanpur on Saturday after a difficult journey back to India, lost his passport and other essential documents when the vessel was hit. The loss of his papers made his return more complicated. "Past eight days were really trying for me. I nearly lost my life in the drone attack," he said, adding that the biggest satisfaction for him was that all crew members were safe and returning to their families like him. The 34-year-old had travelled to the United Arab Emirates in June for an oil-loading assignment and was serving as chief engineer aboard the tanker. The attack amid tensions in the Hormuz region put the crew's lives at risk and left Nitin with the immediate responsibility of ensuring that all his fellow crew members escaped safely. His wife, Ankita Shukla, learnt about the attack from the company's Chandigarh office at around midnight on October 10. A primary school teacher, she was told over the phone that the tanker had been hit by a drone. The news that Nitin and all 21 other crew members were safe brought some relief, but her anxiety continued until she could speak to her husband. Ankita also had to look after their six-year-old daughter, Shanvi, and two-year-old son, Vardaan, while waiting for further information about her husband. With Nitin's passport and other essential documents burnt in the attack, arranging his return to India became a challenge. The family made efforts to complete the necessary formalities and contacted Kanpur MP Ramesh Awasthi for assistance. Nitin eventually returned to India on Saturday after the process was completed. Shail Shukla, BJP co-treasurer and vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh Udyog Vyapar Mandal, reached Amausi airport in Lucknow with his associates to receive Nitin. They then accompanied him to his home in Shyam Nagar. Nitin's father Rajesh Shukla was overcome with emotion on seeing his son return home safely. He described his son's return during Navratri as 'Mata Rani's' blessing....