The Indian Navy has launched an investigation into a serious collision involving one of its submarines and a fishing vessel named Marthoma. The incident occurred approximately 70 nautical miles northwest of Goa, prompting an immediate response from naval and coast guard authorities.
Onboard the Marthoma were 13 crew members; tragically, two individuals are still unaccounted for following the incident, while the remaining 11 have been successfully rescued. The submarine was on patrol along India’s western coastline when the collision took place.
In the aftermath, a coordinated search and rescue operation was quickly activated by both the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. This multi-faceted operation has involved the deployment of several ships and aircraft tasked with locating the two missing crew members.
A spokesperson for the Navy confirmed on Friday that the search efforts are being overseen by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai. They stated, “Additional assets, including those from the Coast Guard, have been diverted to the area to support the efforts. Coordinated search and rescue operations for the remaining crew of Marthoma are in progress.”
The spokesperson further indicated that an internal inquiry has been ordered to investigate the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident. The priority remains high for ongoing search and rescue operations aimed at finding the two missing crew members. The situation is being monitored closely as authorities work diligently to ensure the safety and recovery of those involved.