Cyclone Tauktae: Navy Rescues 60 People From Barge Adrift Off Mumbai
Mumbai: An official said on Tuesday that the Indian Navy rescued 60 people in a barge that swept across the Arabian Sea near Mumbai a few hours before the extremely severe cyclonic storm that hit the Gujarat coast at a speed of 185 kmph.
The Navy on Monday deployed three of its frontline warships after receiving a message to rescue 410 people aboard two ships off the Mumbai coast.
Ships deployed to assist the two ships included INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Talwar.
“As of 11 pm on Monday, a total of 60 people were rescued from barge P305, 42 by INS Kochi and 18 by offshore aid vessel Energy Star under extremely challenging sea conditions,” a Navy spokesman said.
He said the search and rescue (SAR) operation for the remaining crew continued overnight.
“In a separate effort, INS Kolkata rescued two survivors from the lifeboat fleet of Vara Prabha, and joined INS Kochi for the SAR of the Barge P305 crew,” he said.
He said the gal constructor, another ferry with 137 persons, was towed away from Colaba Point, eight nautical miles off Mumbai coast, due to engine malfunction.
He said, “The vessel was approached by the emergency towing vessel ‘Water Lily’, which arrived in its vicinity to provide assistance. The barge nelly has continued to drift due to the extreme maritime condition.”
The spokesman said that these ongoing rescue efforts would be enhanced at first light on Tuesday by naval aircraft and helicopters, weather permitting and the SAR effort would continue throughout the day.
The Navy officer said, “On receipt of the request for assistance for barge ‘P305’ away from diamond oil fields with 273 personnel in Bombay High Zone, INS Kochi expedited with a dispatch for search and rescue assistance. Departed. ”
The oil fields are about 70 km southwest of Mumbai.
A Navy spokesperson said that rescue operations on Barge 305 suffered in the midst of inclement weather.
(With PTI Inputs)
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