A Panama-flagged cargo vessel reportedly sank in the Bay of Bengal, about 240 nautical miles off the Odisha coast on Saturday, triggering a large-scale search-and-rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy.
The vessel, identified in preliminary reports as M/V Ocean Winner, was reportedly sailing from Paradip carrying iron ore to Singapore when it sank.
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The ship was carrying 24 crew members, most of them believed to be Chinese nationals, while one Bangladeshi national was also reported to be among those on board. The circumstances leading to the sinking were not immediately known.
Maritime authorities were also yet to officially confirm the number of people rescued, those missing or any casualties.
According to preliminary information, some crew members were believed to have abandoned the vessel and were in the water wearing life jackets or had taken refuge in lifeboats while awaiting rescue. Nearby vessels were alerted to assist in the operation.
The Indian Coast Guard and Navy deployed assets to locate the vessel and rescue its crew.
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The coordinated operation was continuing, with authorities monitoring the situation and seeking further information on the whereabouts of the crew.
There were also varying reports about the vessel's location, with some local accounts placing the incident around 200 nautical miles from Paradip.
The official alert, however, put the distance at about 240 nautical miles off the Odisha coast.
Details regarding the vessel's cargo, the precise cause of the sinking and the final status of all 24 crew members were awaited from maritime authorities.
(With PTI Inputs)
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