World · India Bureau
Panama-flagged cargo ship sinks in Bay of Bengal; rescue underway
A cargo vessel carrying iron ore from Odisha sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, triggering a major search and rescue operation by Indian maritime authorities. The ship, crewed by 24 sailors, went down approximately 240 nautical miles off the Paradip coast.
LSN India ·
The Panama-flagged vessel departed from the Odisha coast on Friday while en route to Singapore with a cargo of iron ore when it encountered distress. The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have mobilized resources to locate and rescue the crew members, most of whom are reported to be Chinese nationals.
The precise number of crew members successfully rescued remains unclear, according to officials briefed on the ongoing operation. Nearby vessels have been alerted to assist in the search efforts across the Bay of Bengal, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
The sinking represents a significant maritime incident in Indian waters and highlights the risks faced by commercial shipping operating in the region. Authorities have not yet disclosed details regarding the cause of the vessel's sinking or the circumstances that led to the emergency. Rescue operations continue as maritime agencies work to account for all crew members aboard the ship.