Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, May 17: Indian Navy along with the Indian Coast Guard in a mission, rescued all the nine crew members of the tugboat 'Coromondel' which got stranded after hitting rocks off Mulky coast here on Sunday, May 16. The rescue operation took place on Monday, May 17.
According to the Indian Coast Guard DIG S B Venkatesh, all nine crew members were rescued. He also informed that the mission was completed.
The Indian Air Force as well as local police played a part in the rescue operations.
Indian Coast Guard DIG S B Venkates in discussion with district administration
It is said that with help of Indian Navy helicopter and a ship of Indian Coast Guard, all the nine members of the tugboat were rescued.
“Five members were rescued by the speed boat of Indian Coast Guard and four people were airlifted by the aircraft of the Indian Navy, which arrived from Cochin in the morning on Monday,” informed deputy commissioner Dr Rajendra KV.
Speaking to the media, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "From the past three days, the Indian Coast Guard, district administration and NMPT authorities have made immense efforts to trace the missing tugboat. Finally, through the WhatsApp message of members in the tugboat, they were traced. They were 6 kilometres away from Kaup. Their boat was trapped in between the rocks. Yesterday, an Indian Coast Guard ship tried to reach the boat, but, due to heavy tides and wind, they could not go too close to the tugboat. After bringing the issue to the notice of defence minister Rajanath Singh, two helicopters of the Indian Navy were sought for the rescue operations.
"Yesterday, the helicopters left from Goa but due to the heavy wind, it could not reach the destination. Later, they contacted the Indian Navy in Cochin for helicopters. As it was night, it was very difficult for the helicopters to fly. Today morning, five members were rescued by the speed boat of the Indian Coast Guard and four people were airlifted by the aircraft of the Indian Navy. Four people were admitted to the hospital in NMPT. Five people are coming to shore in a ship. I thank Coast Guard DIG, district In-charge minister, and deputy commissioner Dr Rajendra KV. MLA Bharath Shetty also cooperated in the operation. I also thank the chief minister and home minister for their cooperation."
All nine crew members have been shifted to the hospital. The men have been identified as Laxminarayan (24), son of Aravinda Mahatho, Bihar; Tushar Vishwas (29), West Bengal, Gowrav Kumara (27), Bihar; Moyjuddin Moli (40), Durga Noorpur, Ramnagar, West Bengal; Prashanth (29), Tamil Nadu; Rued Ahmed (26), Uttar Pradesh; Rahul Ahmed (26), Uttar Pradesh; Shantanu, West Bengal; Deepak (22), Tamil Nadu.
Chief minister B S Yediyurappa, in a tweet, thanked Coast Guard as well as others who took part in the rescue operation.