A 22-year-old merchant navy cadet from Dehradun, India, has gone missing from an oil tanker sailing off the coast of Sri Lanka. The missing cadet, identified as Karandeep Singh Rana, was serving as a senior deck cadet on a vessel operated by Executive Ship Management Pvt Ltd (ESM) when he disappeared on 20 September.

According to his father, Narendra Singh Rana, the family received a call from the company’s Mumbai office at around 9:30 p.m. on 20 September, informing them that Karandeep had gone missing from the ship. He said the family had spoken to Karandeep earlier that afternoon and that he appeared completely fine at the time.

Karandeep, a resident of Patel Nagar in Dehradun, left India on August 18 for Singapore and boarded a tanker bound for Iraq. From Iraq, the vessel headed to China via Sri Lanka. During the journey, Karandeep went missing.

Company officials told his family that he had gone alone to the deck and had not been seen since. Despite an extensive search on board and in nearby waters, he could not be found.

In a statement, Executive Ship Management Pvt Ltd said a 96-hour search was carried out and a full investigation will begin once the ship reaches China. The company described the loss as “profoundly tragic.”

Meanwhile, Karandeep’s family has appealed to both state and central authorities for help. His father said they have reached out through the Chief Minister’s Portal, the Prime Minister’s Portal, and the Ministry of External Affairs. He also met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday to request his personal intervention in the matter.

His father, Narendra, who works in a private firm, said the family is in constant touch with authorities and the company to obtain clarity about what happened. He added that Karandeep had dreamed of joining the Merchant Navy and was close to becoming a Third Officer.

References: news18, timesofindia

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