Mumbai: The Navy on Thursday morning launched a fresh aerial search and rescue mission, deployed helicopters to scour the waters off Mumbai coast, where the Barge P-305 went adrift under the impact of Cyclone Tauktae before it sank Monday. So far 186 people have been rescued and 37 bodies recovered from the wrecks of the barge and two personnel from the tugboat Varaprada.
The rescue team is sieving the sea for the crew of the Gal Constructor and Support Station-3 deployed by engineering firm Afcons for its ONGC. P-81 reconnaissance aircraft and Sea King helicopters, as well as Coast Guard and ONGC vessels, were deployed in the massive rescue operation conducted by the Navy.
All 137 people on Gal Constructor, which ran aground during the storm, were rescued Tuesday, the Coast Guard said.
Support-Station 3, which was drifting northwest in the Mumbai High oilfield was located by INS Talwar and is now being towed back to Mumbai harbour by ONGC support vehicles. All the 201 personnel on board are reported to be safely rescued.
The Yellow Gate Police in south Mumbai on Wednesday registered an accidental death report (ADR) in connection with persons on the barge whose bodies have been recovered.
On Thursday morning the Coast Guard located another missing tug Sangeeta, with a crew of 10; about 10 nautical miles west of Maharashtra’s Tarapur. The Coast Guard found the ship and has provided food, water, and medical support to the crew, while it is being towed back.