A distressing incident has come to light regarding a 22-year-old Merchant Navy officer from Odisha. Sarthak Mahapatra, who hails from Keshpur village in Bhadrak district, has been reported missing from his ship while it was sailing near Mauritius. The incident occurred on February 3, 2026, and his family is currently seeking urgent help from the government for his safe return.
Last contact and search details
Sarthak was working as a deck cadet on the vessel EA Jersey, managed by Anglo-Eastern Ship Management. He had joined the company about seven months ago in July 2025. According to reports, he last spoke to his family via video call on February 2 when the ship was near Singapore.
On the morning of February 3, he was seen entering his cabin. However, when the chief officer went to check on him around 8:30 AM, he was not found in his room. The ship was approximately 135 nautical miles east of Mauritius at that time. The company immediately informed the family and alerted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mauritius.
Government steps in for help
The family has appealed to both the state and central governments for assistance. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has written a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting urgent intervention to trace the missing officer. He described the incident as sudden and mysterious in his communication to the ministry.
The Odisha government has also become active in the matter. The Principal Resident Commissioner has reached out to central departments including the Ministry of External Affairs and DG Shipping. A massive search operation involving surface vessels and aircraft is currently underway in the Indian Ocean to locate the young officer.
