Search operations were intensified on Thursday to trace five missing crew of an oil tanker that ran aground off a city beach hours before the landfall of cyclone “Nilam” that swept through the northern parts of Tamil Nadu.
Coast Guard on Thursday rescued 15 sailors, who were stranded onboard Pratibha Cauvery that drifted in high velocity winds before it ran aground near the Eliotts Beach in South Chennai on Wednesday. Four ships, two helicopters and two Dornier aircraft have been pressed into service to locate the five missing seamen, shipping minister G.K. Vasan said.
The five sailors went missing after their life boat capsized in choppy waters while 16 were rescued by local fishermen and one drowned.
The ship had a crew of 37 on board.
Coast Guard deputy IG Kurdeep Singh said Coast Guard vessels, including Varuna and Rajshri, were involved in the rescue operations. Chennai Port Trust chairman Atulya Mishra announced that the DG Shipping would investigate the incident which occurred after the ship was asked to move to the high sea on October 30 as a precautionary measure in view of the cyclone.