Mumbai, February 6: A 25-year-old Merchant Navy officer from Odisha, Sarthak Mahapatra, has been reported missing from a cargo ship while it was navigating the Indian Ocean near Mauritius. Sarthak, who serves as a Second Officer, was on a China-bound vessel when he disappeared under mysterious circumstances on February 1, 2026. His family in Bhubaneswar was informed of the incident by the shipping company the following day, prompting a desperate search effort.

Sarthak had joined the crew of the merchant vessel in November 2025 and was on a scheduled voyage from Brazil to China. According to reports, he was last seen in his cabin on Saturday night. When he failed to report for his scheduled watch the next morning, a search of the entire vessel was conducted, but he could not be located. The ship's management subsequently alerted the maritime authorities in Mauritius and the Indian Embassy. Delhi: Over 800 People Including Women and Girls Reported Missing in First 15 Days; 235 Successfully Traced.

Merchant Navy Officer Goes Missing From China-Bound Ship Near Mauritius

Sarthak Mahapatra Missing: Search and Rescue Operations

The vessel has reportedly doubled back on its route to conduct a "Man Overboard" search operation in the waters where Sarthak was believed to have gone missing. The Mauritius Coast Guard has also been involved in aerial and sea searches, though no trace of the officer has been found so far.

Despite these efforts, the rough sea conditions in the region have hampered the search. The shipping agency has confirmed that a formal internal investigation has been launched to determine how the officer could have disappeared from the vessel without any immediate witnesses or alarms. Who Is Rikshit Chauhan? Merchant Navy Officer From Himachal Pradesh Detained Weeks Before Wedding as US Seizes Russian Tanker Marinera.

Family Seeks Government Intervention

Sarthak’s family, residing in the Nayapalli area of Bhubaneswar, has reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Odisha state government for assistance. His mother, Sushmita Mahapatra, shared that her last conversation with him was on January 31, during which he seemed to be in good spirits and did not mention any issues on board.

"We are living in a state of shock. We want the Indian government to intervene and ensure that the search operation continues until my son is found," she told reporters. The family has also urged the Centre to put pressure on the international shipping company to provide clearer details and CCTV footage from the vessel.

The Odisha government has acknowledged the family's plea. State officials are reportedly in contact with the Directorate General of Shipping and the Indian Embassy in Mauritius to monitor the progress of the rescue mission.

Indian diplomatic channels are working to ensure that all necessary resources are deployed in the search zone. Maritime experts note that the first 72 hours are critical in such cases, and the focus remains on localizing the search based on the ship's trajectory and the ocean currents at the time of the disappearance.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 06, 2026 07:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).