Bhubaneswar, Aug 23 (V7N)- A Panama-flagged cargo ship bound for Singapore has capsized and sunk in the Bay of Bengal, about 240 nautical miles off the coast of Odisha, India.
The vessel, MV Ocean-Winner, was carrying 24 crew members. Among them were 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one Bangladeshi national.
According to Indian authorities, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Sri Vijayapuram received information at around 11:48 am on Sunday that contact with the vessel had been lost.
The ship's operator, Victory Star Group Company Limited, subsequently issued an alert and requested assistance with search and rescue efforts.
Following the incident, the Indian Coast Guard and Navy launched a joint rescue operation. Two Coast Guard vessels, Bharad and Anmol, have been dispatched to the area, while another vessel, Vijit, from Sri Vijayapuram has also joined the operation.
The Coast Guard said two crew members have so far been rescued from a life raft.
A senior police officer told PTI that nearby vessels have also been alerted and requested to assist in locating and rescuing the remaining crew members.
Search and rescue operations are continuing in the Bay of Bengal.
END/SMA/AJ
