Indian Navy Joins Search Near Galle

A vessel sails off the Galle coast after a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship, Iris Dena, off Sri Lanka, in Galle. (REUTERS)

The Indian Navy has sent its aircraft and ships to augment the search and rescue efforts for IRIS Dena that was hit an American torpedo Wednesday while it was on its voyage back to Iran after participating in exercise MILAN and the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam.

According to a Navy statement, the Navy launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft P8I at 1000 hr on Wednesday to augment the search efforts led Sri Lanka.

It said another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept stand for immediate deployment.

Additionally, INS Tarangini which was operating in vicinity was deployed for aiding the rescue efforts and arrived in search area 1600 hr on Wednesday when the SAR had been undertaken Sri Lankan Navy and other agencies.

The Navy added that INS Ikshak has also sailed from Kochi to augment the search efforts and continues to remain in the area to search for missing personnel as a humanitarian measure for ship wrecked personnel.Story continues below this ad

According to the Navy, a dress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo in the early hours of 04 March 26.

The ship, it said, was operating 20 NM West of Galle in the SAR region under Sri Lankan responsibility.