India, Feb. 5 -- A 22-year-old merchant navy cadet from Odisha's Bhadrak district has gone missing while on duty aboard a vessel near Malaysian waters, prompting concern among family members and a search operation at sea.

Sarthak Mahapatra, serving as a maritime cadet with Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, disappeared from the EA Jersey vessel on February 3 while the ship was en route to Singapore from West Africa.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are still unclear.

Mahapatra, who joined Anglo-Eastern Ship Management on July 14 last year, was last seen entering his cabin on the morning of February 3. When the ship's chief officer conducted a routine check at approximately 8:30 am, the cabin was found empty.

According to company...