Xpress News24
A major maritime accident occurred in the Bay of Bengal near the Odisha coast, where a Panama-flagged cargo vessel, MV Ocean Winner, sank on Saturday after losing communication. A total of 24 crew members were onboard the ship at the time of the incident, comprising 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar, and one from Bangladesh. Fortunately, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) acted swiftly and has successfully rescued two people so far, while a massive search and rescue operation is underway for the remaining missing crew.
The Accident Occurred 240 Nautical Miles Off Paradip Coast
According to information from the Indian Coast Guard, the cargo vessel sank approximately 240 nautical miles off the Paradip coast in Odisha. Communication with the MV Ocean Winner was lost shortly before it went down. Officials stated that the ship had departed from the Odisha coast on Friday, loaded with iron ore destined for Singapore. While there was initial ambiguity regarding the exact number of survivors, the Coast Guard later officially confirmed that two individuals have been rescued.
Joint Rescue Operation by Indian Coast Guard and Navy
As soon as news of the ship sinking broke, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy launched a joint search and rescue operation. Other commercial and merchant vessels operating nearby were also put on high alert to assist in locating the missing crew members. The primary objective of this rescue mission is to trace and secure the safety of the remaining crew lost at sea. However, the exact circumstances and causes behind the sinking of the vessel remain unclear so far.
Search for Missing Crew Continues, Awaiting Further Details
Teams comprising the Coast Guard, Navy, and other rescue personnel are continuously scouring the sea for survivors. Detailed information regarding the exact cause of the accident and the current status of the missing individuals is still awaited. Administration and security agencies are keeping a close watch on the situation, making every possible effort to safely rescue the rest of the crew.
