Bhubaneswar/Paradip: The agencies engaged in the search and rescue operation of 22 sailors from the Panama-flagged ship MV Ocean Winner that sank off the Odisha coast August 22 expanded their area in the Bay of Bengal Monday, but are yet to find them, officials said.
The Chinese Embassy in India has contacted the Odisha government following the accident, as the majority of the crew members were from that country, they said. Three ships of the Coast Guard and one Navy aircraft and 150 personnel of both the wings of defence are scanning the water surface at sea, without any breakthrough.
The MV Ocean Winner with 24 crew members on board was carrying 72,000 tonnes of iron ore to China via Singapore. Two of the crew members, both Chinese nationals, were rescued as they were floating on water in life rafts Saturday.
There has been no breakthrough since Saturday. However, the possible location of the ship sinking has been identified by sighting an oil leak on the surface of the sea.
However, the rescue and search operation is going on, an official said. The area of operation has been expanded, suspecting that the sailors might have been pushed to a new area due to current and waves, he said. The sea condition in the Bay of Bengal remains rough to very rough due to the formation of a low-pressure area, causing problems for the rescue teams, he added.
Two crew members have been rescued and are undergoing medical treatment. There is no information about the death of anyone in the incident, Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said. The two survivors, who are now under treatment in a Coast Guard rescue ship, are likely to be brought to Paradip, which is 230 nautical miles from the coast.
The two could reach Paradip Tuesday, an official said, adding that the Chinese Embassy was in touch with the Odisha government after the accident that took place during the daytime Saturday.
