A 22-year-old senior deck cadet, Karandeep Singh Rana, went missing from a merchant navy vessel

DEHRADUN: A 22-year-old senior deck cadet, Karandeep Singh Rana, from Uttarakhand has gone missing from aboard a merchant navy vessel on its way to China from Iraq, said his family on Friday.According to his father, Narendra Rana, the last contact with Karandeep came on Sept 20 morning. “Later that day, we received a call from the shipping company, Executive Ship Management Pvt Ltd, informing us that he went missing,” said the father.“The ship first went to Iraq and was later headed to China via Sri Lanka and Singapore. Karandeep reportedly disappeared somewhere on the Sri Lanka–Singapore route. He might be on the vessel, but we don’t have complete information,” said Narendra Rana to TOI.The father said he has written to Uttarakhand chief minister, and also lodged a request on the Prime Minister’s portal, seeking urgent intervention to trace his son.Meanwhile, the shipping company has confirmed the development and said a 96-hour search operation was conducted, and a “full investigation” would be carried out once the vessel arrives in China in the next few days.Executive Ship Management Pvt Ltd maintained: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic loss of cadet Karandeep Singh Rana. It is suspected that he was lost overboard on Sept 20 evening while on the vessel Front Princess. The ship’s crew searched for Rana for four days, and the Sri Lankan defence helicopters and other vessels also assisted in the search. Sadly, Rana could not be found.”The company added, “Our hearts go out to Karandeep’s family and friends at this tragic hour, as well as his shipmates who worked hard searching for him. Tragic incidents like this are complex and speculation can cause additional distress to both the family and friends of Karandeep. We should be mindful of this until the investigation is complete.”