A merchant navy official from Odisha’s Bhadrak district, Sarthak Mahapatra, has allegedly gone missing while on duty aboard a vessel near Mauritius on February 3. The incident has raised serious concern, prompting his family to seek urgent intervention from the Central and Odisha state governments, officials said.
Who Is Sarthak Mahapatra, the Missing Merchant Navy Cadet?
Sarthak Mahapatra is a native of Kespur village in Bhadrak district. He is a merchant navy cadet who had been working with a private shipping company since July 2025. According to his family, he joined the company on July 14, 2025, and was serving as an intern on board the ship at the time of his disappearance.
Sarthak Mahapatra’s Last Contact With His Family
According to a report by Ajay Kumar Nath, Sarthak Mahapatra spoke to his mother via video call on February 2. On the same day, he also talked to other family members and friends. However, when his mother tried calling him on February 3, there was no response. Later, the company sent an official letter to the family stating that Sarthak Mahapatra was missing and that search efforts were underway.
What the Company Said About Sarthak Mahapatra’s Disappearance
As per the company, Sarthak Mahapatra was last seen entering his cabin on the morning of February 3. At around 8:30 am, the Chief Officer went to check on him but found the cabin empty.
An immediate search was conducted across the ship, alarms were raised, and all crew members were counted. It was then confirmed that Sarthak Mahapatra was not present on the vessel.
Following this, the ship’s speed was reduced, and a search operation began in the surrounding sea area.
Search Operations Launched to Trace Sarthak Mahapatra
The Mauritius Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was informed about Sarthak Mahapatra’s disappearance. A joint search operation was launched involving maritime authorities. However, till the filing of this report, no trace of Sarthak Mahapatra had been found.
Sarthak Mahapatra’s Mother Shares Details of His Career
Sarthak Mahapatra’s mother said her son had been undergoing an internship with the company for the past 16 months, with only two months remaining. This was supposed to be his final ship assignment.
After completing the internship, Sarthak Mahapatra was expected to be appointed as a Third Officer. He believed he would finish the remaining office internship while still on board the ship.
She added that Sarthak Mahapatra spoke to her daily, liked his job, and never complained about any work-related problems.
Family Informed About Sarthak Mahapatra’s Disappearance
According to his mother, on February 3 around 7:30 pm, she received a call from a man named Captain Debashish Patnaik from Bhubaneswar, who said he was associated with the Anglo-Eastern company and asked for their address.
The next morning, the family was informed that Sarthak Mahapatra had been missing since 6:20 am. Captain Patnaik later visited their home and handed over the official missing letter.
I humbly request the authorities to kindly intervene and ensure all possible efforts for tracing and rescue, and seek detailed updates from the company. 🙏
— RASMITA SAHOO (@rasmitasahoo76) February 4, 2026
Sarthak Mahapatra’s Family Suspects Foul Play
Raising serious concerns, Sarthak Mahapatra’s mother questioned how her son could disappear from his cabin in the middle of the sea. She suspects that someone may have deliberately hidden him and believes the incident appears to be planned.
The family has now demanded a high-level investigation by senior authorities to find out what really happened to Sarthak Mahapatra.
