A young Odisha man’s plunge into uncertainty at sea has ignited a firestorm of concern, with Naveen Patnaik, BJD chief and assembly’s opposition leader, demanding the Centre step in decisively. Sarthak Mahapatra, 23, a deck cadet on ‘EA Jersey’ sailing Mauritius-Singapore route, disappeared mysteriously, leaving family and officials scrambling.
Patnaik voiced his worry on X: ‘Odisha cadet Sarthak Mahapatra’s missing report is deeply distressing. Standing with the family, I request DG Shipping and External Affairs Ministry to liaise with agencies, aid the family, and accelerate safe recovery efforts.’
Recounting events, Sarthak from Bhadrak joined the Anglo-Eastern vessel in July 2025. Normalcy reigned until February 2 evening calls home. February 3: Duty till 8 AM, cabin-bound by 6:15 AM, then gone. Ship-wide hunts and ocean searches with Mauritius coordination have drawn blanks so far.
Transparency drought fuels agony—no CCTV, no briefs for kin. Mother Rassmita Sahu, Bhubaneswar nurse, floods social media with appeals to top leaders, her raw emotion cutting deep: a mother’s fight for her boy.
This saga spotlights merchant navy hazards for India’s youth chasing maritime dreams. Patnaik’s clout could unlock resources, intensifying the quest. Between hope and heartbreak, the family clings to faith as searchlights pierce the waves, a testament to resilience amid maritime enigmas.