New Delhi, 23 August

Two survivors have been rescued from the Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying 24 people on board, that sank in the Bay of Bengal, and search operations are underway, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Sunday.

The Panama-flagged vessel, which was carrying iron ore from Paradip Port to China, sank around 230 nautical miles from the Paradip coast of Odisha.

"Deeply concerned by the unfortunate incident involving MV OCEAN WINNER off the coast of Odisha. The Panama-flagged vessel was carrying iron ore from Paradip Port to China," Sonowal said in a social media post on X.

All agencies are coordinating closely and search and rescue efforts are underway, he said.

"2 survivors have been successfully rescued and are being given medical care; their rank and identity are currently being verified," the minister said.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has intensified search and rescue operations.

The MV Ocean Winner was carrying "20 Chinese, three Myanmarese and one Bangladeshi" on board.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) diverted MT Aisopos, a commercial vessel that was in the vicinity, to search for the vessel or liferafts and render assistance, and the vessel recovered two survivors from two liferafts at about 2000 hrs.

The ship was heading to Singapore carrying 72,100 mt of iron ore fines from Odisha. It had left the Paradip coast at 10.42 pm on August 20, officials said.