The Indian Navy on Tuesday rescued 148 people out of over 400 onboard two barges off the Mumbai coast in a challenging sea conditions as cyclonic storm 'Tauktae' brushed past the western coast.
Two barges with 410 persons on board have gone adrift off the Mumbai coast as the cyclonic storm 'Tauktae' over the Arabian Sea intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm on Monday.
A total of 146 persons from Barge P305 have been rescued till 8.45am on May 18 in extremely challenging sea conditions.
In a tweet by the official spokesperson of the Indian Navy, it read, "146 personnel rescued so far from barge P305 which is sunk on site. Aerial search commenced at first light with #IndianNavy P8I on task. Navy Helos standing by await improving of extreme weather conditions.
Its warships -- INS Kochi, INS Kolkata -- are undertaking the rescue operations for Barge 'P305' adrift off Heera Oil Fields in Bombay High. Operations being undertaken in extreme weather conditions and very rough seas.
The Navy also informed, that these ongoing rescue efforts will be augmented by Indian Naval aircraft and helicopters, weather permitting, at first light on 18 May and the SAR efforts will be continued through the day.
Tauktae is expected to make landfall in Gujarat. IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra informed that the cyclone is very likely to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district.