No trace of missing Odia sailor after vessel inspection by family, govt officials in Singapore

In a significant development in the case of missing Odia Merchant Navy officer Sarthak Mohapatra, no trace of him was found despite a detailed inspection of the vessel in Singapore by his family members and senior government officials.

Sarthak’s mother, Rashmita Mohapatra, along with his uncle, travelled to Singapore in an effort to gather information about his disappearance. They were accompanied by two senior officials from the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), representing the Government of India. The team conducted a thorough inspection of various sections of the vessel from which Sarthak was reported missing.

Crew Members Questioned

During the visit, the DG Shipping officials questioned several crew members on board the ship as part of the inquiry. Sources said there were inconsistencies in some of the statements provided by the crew during the questioning, which are now under scrutiny.

However, despite the detailed inspection and interactions with the crew, no information about Sarthak’s whereabouts could be established. The vessel subsequently departed for China.

With no breakthrough in the case so far, Sarthak’s mother and uncle are scheduled to meet officials of the Indian High Commission in Singapore on Monday to seek further assistance and intervention.

Background

Sarthak Mohapatra, a 23-year-old native of Odisha, reportedly went missing under mysterious circumstances on February 3 while on duty aboard the merchant vessel EA Jersey, operated by the Anglo-Eastern Shipping Company. The shipping company informed authorities about his disappearance on February 3, 2026, after he could not be located on board.

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Search operations were launched following the incident. However, more than a week later, there is still no confirmed information about his whereabouts, leaving the family in distress and seeking answers.