Cargo ship crew stranded in Karachi for months; family of chief officer seeks government help

Summary

Three‑year‑old Vedansh Mishra keeps asking, “Mummy, when will Papa come home?” His father, Vine Kishore Mishra, the chief officer of a cargo vessel, has been stuck at Karachi port in Pakistan since April 2024. The family from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has travelled to Delhi and is pressing the Indian government for assistance.

Details

• Ship and crew: The cargo ship arrived in Karachi on 17 April 2024 and was placed under court arrest around 29 April. Six Indian seafarers, including chief officer Vine Kishore Mishra, remain aboard. Their employment contracts expired months ago, and they report a prolonged blackout, shortages of food and water, and deteriorating health.
• Family’s actions: Over the past seven months the Mishra family has approached multiple politicians, written to the Indian embassy in Pakistan, and filed two letters – one from an MP and another from an MLA – to the central government. In early November 2024 they checked into a hotel in Paharganj, Delhi, hoping to meet senior officials.
• Conditions on board: According to Vine Kishore Mishra, passports and seaman’s books are held by the vessel’s agent or Pakistani authorities, preventing the crew from arranging their own departure. The crew is receiving limited food from port authorities after a continuous power outage.
• Impact on family: Neha Mishra, the wife, says she can only answer their son’s questions with “Papa will return once his duty is over.” The family also has a 10‑month‑old daughter and relies on the pension of Vine Kishore’s father, retired army officer Lalit Kishore Mishra, for expenses.
• Calls for intervention: The family has appealed to the Prime Minister, the President, and the Ministry of External Affairs, but no concrete response has been reported.

How to verify

• Check recent statements from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs or the Indian Embassy in Pakistan.
• Look for updates from the Karachi Port Trust or Pakistani court records regarding the ship’s arrest status.
• Monitor local news outlets in Delhi and Prayagraj for any official meetings or interventions.

--- *This article is based on reporting by the Times of India and reflects the situation as of early November 2024.*