The maritime community is facing a distressing situation today. A young deck cadet from Bhadrak, Odisha, has gone missing while on duty in the Indian Ocean. Sarthak Mohapatra, serving with Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, was reported missing from the vessel EA Jersey on February 3.
The Timeline of Events According to the official notification sent to his family, the timeline of his disappearance is tight and concerning:
06:15 AM: Sarthak was last seen entering his cabin
08:30 AM: The Chief Officer went to check on him, but his cabin was empty.
09:40 AM: The ship’s general alarm was sounded. A full muster (headcount) confirmed Sarthak was the only crew member unaccounted for.
The EA Jersey immediately reduced speed and turned back to scour the surrounding waters. A distress alert was broadcast to all nearby vessels, and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mauritius has taken charge of the coordination.
Anglo-Eastern has assured the family that search efforts are continuous and updates will be shared the moment they come in. Back in Bhadrak, Sarthak’s family and villagers are devastated, waiting for any news from the rescue teams.