New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Monday rescued 11 crew members from the distressed MV ITT Puma during a challenging night-time search and rescue operation.
According to an official statement, the Mumbai-registered general cargo vessel was enroute from Kolkata to Port Blair when it reportedly sank about 90 nautical miles south of Sagar Island in West Bengal.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Chennai initially received a distress signal late on Sunday evening.
The ICG’s Regional Headquarters (North East) in Kolkata promptly mobilised two ICG vessels and a Dornier aircraft to the site. The Dornier aircraft, equipped with advanced night-capable sensors detected adrift life rafts and sighted survival red flares from the distressed crew.
Guided by the aircraft, the ICG ship reached the coordinates where two life rafts were found tied together, housing the survivors.
Despite challenging weather conditions, the ICG ships Sarang and Amogh, alongside the Dornier aircraft, executed a coordinated sea-air rescue, ensuring the safety of the crew during the late hours of Sunday and the early hours of Monday.
