India

Indian Seafarer’s Family Appeals to Delhi After Seven‑Month Stranding in Karachi

By Abhay

A three‑year‑old in Prayagraj keeps asking his mother when his father will return, a question that has become a painful reminder of a family’s long wait. Vineet Kishore Mishra, chief officer of a cargo ship, has been stranded at Karachi port in Pakistan since April, leaving his wife Neha, their 10‑month‑old daughter and his father Lalit Kishore Mishra in UP’s Prayagraj. The family has approached several politicians for help, but their efforts have yielded little. Now they have travelled to Delhi, staying in a hotel in Paharganj, hoping to meet senior government officials and appeal to the Prime Minister, President and the Ministry of External Affairs for assistance.

Neha told The Indian Express that she is often left speechless when her son asks about his father. "I have no answer. I tell him his father will return once his duty is over," she said.

Vineet had written to the Indian embassy requesting urgent intervention for the six Indian seafarers stranded aboard the cargo vessel at Karachi port. He warned of a prolonged blackout, shortages of essential supplies and deteriorating health conditions on board, and said the crew faced a serious risk to their lives. The crew’s employment contracts had expired several months ago, yet they were unable to leave the vessel.

The vessel was arrested by court order around April 29 after arriving at Karachi on April 17. Vineet had joined the ship on February 25 at Bandar Abbas anchorage in Iran. Seafarers claim their passports and seaman’s books are in the custody of authorities or the vessel’s agent, preventing them from arranging departure.

Lalit Kishore Mishra said the past seven months had been extremely difficult. He could only speak to his son for a few minutes when network connectivity was available. "The situation worsened after the vessel suffered a continuous blackout. They were getting food from the port authorities," he said.

Neha said the family is currently relying on her father‑in‑law’s pension to manage expenses. Two letters, one from an MP and another from an MLA, have been sent to the central government seeking intervention, but the family continues to wait for a breakthrough.