In a late night rescue in telling weather conditions, 19 crew members of a drifting vessel were picked up by a Sea King chopper of the Indian Navy.
Another chopper was sent on Monday morning to bring back the ship’s master, who had stayed on board.
Late on Sunday night, the crew had sent a distress message about “extremely bad weather” and communicated that the ship, Jindal Kamakshi, was listing precariously to one side off the Mumbai coast.
“Information was received around midnight by the Indian Navy that a vessel in distress Jindal Kamakshi which was 40 nautical miles from Mumbai harbor and 25 nautical miles off Vasai coast had listed heavily,” a Defense spokesperson said.
“The distress message said the vessel listed heavily, with 20 persons on-board and requested assistance,” the official said.
The crew requested immediate evacuation. The navy sent a Sea King 42C helicopter to bring the men.
