Odisha merchant navy cadet missing mid-sea near Mauritius, search underway

A merchant navy official from Odisha’s Bhadrak district has allegedly gone missing while on duty aboard a vessel near Mauritius on February 3, prompting his family to seek urgent intervention from the Centre and the State government, officials said.

The missing seafarer has been identified as Sarthak Mahapatra, a native of Kespur in Bhadrak district.

Mr. Mahapatra has been working with a private shipping company since July 2025.

According to his mother, Rashmita Mahapatra, the vessel had sailed from China to West Africa and was returning to China via Singapore.