Cyclone Tauktae Updates: Specialized Diving Team from INS Makar and INS Tarasa To Augment SAR Operations

New Delhi: The Indian Navy on Saturday informed deployment of additional succours in the Search and Rescue Operations of the crew of Barge P305 and Tug Varapradha. Specialized diving teams from INS Makar and INS Tarasa will be on board to augment the rescue operation. 

The Indian Navy said,” to augment the ongoing Search and Rescue Operations for the crew of Barge P-305 and Tug Varapradha, specialized diving teams onboard INS Makar (with sonar) and INS Tarasa sailed out early morning today from Mumbai for carrying out an underwater search.”

As of Friday, the Defence PRO stated 188 missing personnel, including two from anchor boat Varapradha were rescued. It also stated that an underwater search by the Indian Navy Survey ship is organised for locating wrecks of the Barge P-305 and Tug Varapradha using specialized teams and equipment.

The death toll on barge P305 that sank in the Arabian Sea on Monday reached 60 on Friday with the recovery of 11 more bodies even as the Navy and the Coast Guard continued the search for the 15 missing personnel from the barge and 11 from Varapradha. When contacted, an official said updates on overnight SAR ops are awaited. It is reported that the Mumbai police have announced a probe as to why the ill-fated barge remained in the turbulent area despite warnings about cyclone Tauktae.