Odisha Cadet Missing at Sea: Government Appeals for Urgent Rescue
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has issued an urgent appeal to the Union Ministries of Shipping, External Affairs, Home Affairs, and Ports after cadet Sarthak Mohapatra went missing from the vessel EA JERSEY near Mauritius on February 3, 2026.
According to reports, Mohapatra was last seen entering his cabin at 0615 LT. By 0830 LT, his cabin was found empty, and a general alarm was raised at 0940 LT. Despite a full crew search and emergency alerts sent to the Mauritius Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), no trace of him has been found.
His mother, Rashmita Sahoo of Bhadrak district, has made a desperate plea to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, urging intervention from the President and Prime Minister to intensify search efforts.
MRCC Mauritius, supported by another vessel, Shandong Civilisation, has launched extensive search operations. The ship returned to the last known coordinates to assist in the rescue mission.
Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (India) Pvt. Ltd. has expressed condolences and assured full cooperation, keeping the family updated on developments.
The incident has sparked concern over the safety of young seafarers and highlighted the need for stronger maritime safety protocols and faster emergency responses.
