Ahmedabad:

The India Coast Guard today rescued a fishing boat and five of its crew from drowning in the Arabian sea off Dwarka coast.

A defence spokesperson said, ‘ At 0744 hrs Indian Coast Guard Station Okha received a distress call from an Indian Fishing Boat (IFB) Sri Padmani Krupa about flooding in her engine room. Her reported position was 60 nautical miles from Dwarka Light house.’

‘ Coast Guard prepared Interceptor Boat (IB) C-413 for deployment with despatch. Ensuring best possible speed, the IB reached the scene of rescue by 1200 hrs and noticed the fishing boat partially listed with engine room mostly submerged. The 05 crew of the boat had a sigh of relief when the Coast Guard Damage Control Team lowered two diesel driven and one submersible pump to de-flood sea water. Water was pumped out till 1445 hrs, the CG rescue team also repaired a huge crack in the bulkhead by applying quick drying cement minimising the ingress of water. Once the boat was buoyant enough, tow was established with other boats in the area for escorting her to Porbandar. The prompt response by Indian Coast Guard saved yet another distressed fishing boat and lives on board,’ he said.

DeshGujarat