Indian Coast Guard
[Representational Image]Reuters

The Indian Coast Guard reportedly rescued 27 personnel from a flooding barge in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mangaluru, Karnataka, on Sunday. Four workers were earlier rescued late on Saturday, but the operations were suspended due to bad weather. The rest of the workers were saved at around 5.30 am on Sunday.

The vessel, Dredger Ibis, was reported to be in distress when it was kilometres south of the Mangaluru Old Port.

The Indian Coast Guard were informed about the emergency by the New Mangalore Port Trust at around 4.45 pm. The operations team sent Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Amartya, which was patrolling then, to help the distressed barge at the earliest.

ICGS Amartya arrived at the spot at 6.40 pm. After assessing weather, inflatable boat Gemini with a diving officer and a boarding team was sent Dredger Ibis. Despite bad weather, they managed to rescue four workers.

The Coast Guard Hovercraft, ACV H-196 was also deployed and ICGS Rajdoot was on standby.