Coast Guard rescue 11 sailors from sinking vessel

In a daring and swift operation, the Indian Coast Guard successfully rescued 11 crew members from the sinking merchant vessel ITT Puma late Sunday night. The vessel, en route from Kolkata to Port Blair, encountered severe sea conditions that led to its distress call and subsequent sinking.

The ITT Puma sank approximately 90 nautical miles (around 167 km) south of Sagar Island, a location roughly 100 km from Kolkata. The vessel had departed from the West Bengal capital and was headed towards the Andaman and Nicobar Islands when it ran into trouble.

Upon receiving the distress signal, the Indian Coast Guard promptly mobilized its assets, including the ships Sarang and Amogh, which were supported by a Dornier aircraft. The Coast Guard’s rescue teams braved extremely inclement weather, characterized by high seas and poor visibility, to reach the site of the sinking vessel.

"The Indian Coast Guard conducted an unprecedented swift night operation, rescuing 11 precious lives in a coordinated sea-air Search and Rescue (SAR) operation," the Coast Guard stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The operation was a testament to the readiness and efficiency of the Indian Coast Guard in handling maritime emergencies under challenging conditions.