No sign of Indian sailor who fell overboard ship; search efforts pass 36-hour-mark

The Indian sailor who fell overboard a cargo ship near the Maldivian capital on Monday remains missing, despite 36 hours of search and rescue efforts.

The incident took place at around 11:35 pm on Monday, when a crew member of India-flagged cargo ship MSV Daula fell overboard. The ship was off the coast of Vilimale’ at the time.

The crew member who went missing in the incident was identified only as an Indian national.

ވިލިމާލެއާ ދިމާލު ބޭރުގައި އޮތް އިންޑިއާގެ ކާގޯ ބޯޓު "އެމްއެސްވީ ޑައުލާ"އިން އިންޑިއާގެ ރައްޔިތަކު ކަނޑަށް ވެއްޓިގެން، އެމީހާ ހޯދުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް އެމްއެންޑީއެފް މާލޭ އޭރިއާ ކޮމާންޑް ކޯސްޓްގާޑް ސެކަންޑް ސްކޮޑްރަންއިން ދަނީ ކުރަމުން. މި ހާދިސާގެ މަޢުލޫމާތު ލިބުނީ މިރޭ 23:35 ހާއިރު. pic.twitter.com/5GNqjtwcHP

— Maldives National Defence Force (@MNDF_Official) September 22, 2025

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Male’ Area Command’s Coast Guard Second Squadron was immediately mobilized for a search and rescue operation.

A spokesperson from the MNDF said on Wednesday morning that there has been no sign of the missing sailor.

However, search efforts continue, as soldiers conduct both aerial and sea searches for any sign of the missing sailor.