Five days on, anxiety grows over Odia sailor’s disappearance near Mauritius

Five days have passed since Odia youth and sailor Sarthak Mahapatra went missing at sea, but there has been no clue about his whereabouts so far. 

Sarthak reportedly disappeared from the deep sea near Mauritius, triggering serious concern and anxiety among his family members, who are caught between hope and fear.

Following an appeal by Sarthak’s family to the Chief Minister of Odisha, the State government has taken up the matter seriously. The Principal Resident Commissioner of Odisha in New Delhi has written letters to four key Union ministries seeking urgent intervention. Letters have been sent to the Union Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, Shipping Secretary, and the Director General of Shipping.

Odisha’s Principal Resident Commissioner in Delhi, Vishal Gagan, has formally communicated the matter to the four departments, urging coordinated efforts to trace the missing sailor. Meanwhile, Bhadrak MP Abhimanyu Sethi has also discussed the issue with the Union Minister for External Affairs.

Sarthak Mahapatra was working as a crew member aboard the EA Jersey vessel operated by Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, which was returning from Singapore. He was last seen on the ship’s CCTV footage on February 3. Since then, no information about his location or condition has been received.

Also Read: Odia sailor’s disappearance near Mauritius: Family seeks urgent government intervention

The disappearance has left Sarthak’s family in deep distress, as efforts continue at both the state and central levels to locate and rescue the missing sailor.

"When a new cadet completes six months on the job, and the contract is not signed in time, combined with harassment, it can severely affect his mental well-being. During such a phase, it becomes the responsibility of senior officers to support, refresh, and motivate the cadet. It is possible that a lack of timely support and continued mental pressure led him to take a negative step," said merchant expert Swadhin Mohanty.