Cargo Ship Sinks in Bay of Bengal

A Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying 24 crew members sank in the Bay of Bengal, around 240 nautical miles from Odisha's Paradip coast.

The incident occurred on Saturday, with most of the people aboard reportedly being Chinese nationals.

Vessel Was Bound for Singapore

The vessel was carrying iron ore from Odisha and was travelling towards Singapore when it sank.

According to information provided to PTI, the ship had left the Odisha coast on Friday before the incident occurred at sea.

Coast Guard and Navy Launch Rescue

The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have launched a search and rescue operation following the sinking.

Their teams are working to locate the crew members and evacuate those who may still be in the water or aboard survival craft.

A senior police officer said it was not immediately clear how many crew members had been rescued.

Nearby Ships Alerted

Other vessels operating in the vicinity have also been alerted and asked to assist with the rescue operation.

Their proximity could help authorities locate crew members and provide immediate assistance while specialised rescue teams continue operations.

Mostly Chinese Crew

The vessel had 24 crew members, most of whom were Chinese, according to officials.

Further details about the crew and their nationalities are expected to emerge as the rescue operation progresses.

Cause of Sinking Unknown

The circumstances that caused the vessel to sink were not immediately known.

Investigators are expected to examine the vessel's condition, weather and sea conditions, its cargo and other operational factors to determine what happened.

Rescue Efforts Continue

The immediate priority for the authorities is to locate and rescue all crew members.

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are continuing their operations in the area, with nearby vessels also being asked to assist.

Conclusion

A Panama-flagged cargo ship carrying 24 crew members has sunk around 240 nautical miles off Odisha's Paradip coast.

The vessel was carrying iron ore from Odisha to Singapore, and most of its crew members were Chinese.

The Indian Coast Guard and Navy have launched a rescue operation and alerted nearby vessels to assist. The cause of the sinking has not yet been established.