PRAYAGRAJ MERCHANT NAVY OFFICER STRANDED IN PAKISTAN FOR THREE MONTHS; FAMILY SEEKS CENTRE’S INTERVENTION

October 30, 2026

PRAYAGRAJ, OCTOBER 30, 2026: The family of Vineet Kishore Mishra, a merchant navy officer from Prayagraj who has been stranded at Karachi port in Pakistan for nearly three months, has appealed to President Droupadi Murmu and the Union government for assistance in securing his safe return to India.

Vineet's six-month employment contract expired in August, but he has reportedly remained at the Pakistani port despite repeatedly requesting the authorities to complete his formal sign-off and release him from duty. According to his father, Lalit Kishore Mishra, a retired Army personnel, the shipping company has neither paid the crew members nor arranged his son's release.

The family said Vineet had contacted the Indian embassy in Islamabad in September, but the matter remained unresolved. His father travelled to Delhi and submitted representations to Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking urgent diplomatic intervention.

Vineet is reportedly staying at Karachi port alongside five other Indian nationals and six Iranian crew members. They had arrived there on April 17. His family has also raised concerns about the high cost of mobile phone recharges, which has restricted communication with him.

His wife, Neha Mishra, is facing difficulties caring for their two young children, aged two years and ten months, during his prolonged absence. She said the family had approached several elected representatives and government offices, including the Union Home Ministry and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office, but had yet to receive a resolution.

The family continues to appeal to the Indian authorities to intervene through appropriate diplomatic channels and facilitate the officer's safe return.