Red flares help rescue of 11
15/10/2024
Red flares helped the Indian Coast Guard rescue 11 crew members after the Puma cargo vessel sank in West Bengal.
The India Coast Guard says it carried out “an unprecedented swift night operation, rescuing 11 lives in a coordinated sea-air search and rescue mission.’
The Puma was en route from Kolkata to Port Blair when it sank about 90 nautical miles south of Sagar Island.
The Maritime Search & Rescue Coordination Centre Chennai initially received a distress signal and the Regional Headquarters (North East) in Kolkata sent two ICG vessels, the Sarang and Amogh and a Dornier aircraft.
The Dornier aircraft spotted red flares fired by the crew and located two life rafts and the rescue was carried out in rough seas and challenging weather conditions.
Source: Press Information Bureau
