New Delhi: A day after Iranian warship IRIS Dena was shot by an American submarine in Indian Ocean, killing dozens of sailors on board, the Indian Navy said on Thursday that a search and rescue mission was launched after it received a distress call.
“A distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo in the early hours of 04 March 26 as reported by the Sri Lankan Navy,” Indian Navy
said in a statement about the attack within Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone, about 19 nautical miles off the southern port city of Galle.
Of the 130-odd people on board IRIS Dena, at least 87 sailors died and 32 were rescued, while the rest are missing.
Indian Navy said it deployed an aircraft, and vessel to locate and rescue the Iranian warship, which was heading back from India after participating in a maritime exercise in Vishakapatnam.
“A long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 1000 hr on 04 March 26 to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka. Another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept standby for immediate deployment,” read the Navy statement read.
INS Tarangini, which was operating in the vicinity, was deployed to aid the rescue efforts, Navy clarified.