The Indian Coast Guard rescued 22 crew members of a cargo ship near Minicoy Island on Wednesday.
A press release issued by the Indian Coast Guard here on late Wednesday evening said that Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Varuna rescued 18 Maldivian and four Indian crew members from the cargo vessel -- m.v. Asian Express – 50 nautical miles north of Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep waters.
The general cargo vessel, en route from Port Md Bin Qasim in Pakistan to Male carrying cement and sand, was adrift due to engine failure for the past two days. The weather in the area was extremely hostile.
It said that the first information of the vessel was given by an Indian Naval Ship. ICGS Varuna, which was on patrol in Lakshadweep, was diverted and reached the position at 3 p.m.
In the meantime, the cargo vessel developed a vertical crack in the mid ship below the water line. The master and the crew members were unable to control flooding and abandoned the ship at 6.30 p.m.
Despite the prevailing weather conditions, the officers and men of ICGS Varuna rescued all the 22 crew members with the help of life boats, it said. K.M. Arun Kumar commanded ICGS Varuna, it added.
vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in