Cyclone Tautake: 663 crew rescued amidst challenging weather

Mumbai: In a joint search and rescue operations of the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard and ONGC, a total of 663 personnel onboard several vessels have been rescued amidst extremely rough and challenging weather following the cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea. 

Barge P305

Till this morning, a total of 184 persons, of the 273 on board the ‘P305’, were rescued from Barge P305, which sunk on Monday night, 70 km away of Mumbai west. 

On Tuesday evening, the Indian Navy pressed Indian Naval Ships Beas, Betwa and Teg into services to join INS Kochi and Kolkata for massive search and rescue operations under extreme sea conditions. 

“INS Kochi and INS Kolkata returning Mumbai harbour with rescuees. INS Teg, INS Betwa, INS Beas, maritime reconnaissance plane P8I and Seaking Helos continuing with search & rescue ops,” Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said on Wednesday.

The P8I and helicopters have been pressed into the service to scan the area using sensors.

Barge Gal Constructor 

On Tuesday night, all 137 crew on board have been evacuated to nearby Wardai beach, which is 90 km north of Colaba Naval base Mumbai. The vessel was adrift in the Arabian Sea at Colaba Point with water ingress in engine room. 

The two forces pressed their helicopters to lift the survivors to shore.

Support Station-3, Sagar Bhushan and Great Ship Aditi 

The operations are in progress off the coast of Gujarat for three vessels namely Support Station 3, Great Ship Aditi and Drill Ship Sagar Bhushan, which are 15-20 nautical miles South East off Gujarat coast (Pipavav).

Indian Navy’s INS Talwar is present at the site and coordinating with other vessels. 

Sagar Bhushan’, with 101 persons on board, is being towed to port. All crew is safe. Offshore vessels Samudra Sevak and Cheel are manoeuvring ‘Sagar Bhushan. 

“On Scene Commander INS Talwar. Situation stable. ONGC tugs towing Sagar Bhushan and Support Station 3. Food and water being provided to crew onboard these vessels by Indian Navy Helicopters,” Commander Madhwal said. 

Support Station-3’, with 196 on board, has successfully been anchored at sea after being dangerously adrift for more than 24 hours. 

“A tow line being connected and towing operations to bring it to harbour could commence last night. Five tugs were used to render assistance to the barge,” he had said on Tuesday night. 

The sea continues to be extremely rough with sea state 4-5 and winds 25-30 knots (approx 35 - 55 kmph), posing a challenge to the ships and aircraft involved in SAR operations.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona