27 workers stranded aboard sinking vessel near Mangaluru rescued

The men were working on a project to contain sea erosion off Ullal coast The barge reportedly hit against a rock and began to sink High tide and heavy rain also played havoc in Coast Guard's rescue efforts

After being stranded at sea for over 12 hours, all the 27 members aboard the barge that was reportedly sinking, have been rescued by the Coast Guard near Mangaluru on Sunday. Distress signals were sent out by those on the barge after the vessel began to list and sink into the Arabian sea off Ullal Coast. The incident began on Saturday evening. It is said that the workers were working towards preventing the sea erosion project and the barge began to sink after it reportedly hit some rocks 200 mts from the shore, reports Daijiworld.

Although, the distress signals were sent on June 3, the rescue personnel could rescue only three men as high tide and heavy rain hampered their work. However, on Saturday, the Coast Guard used Hovercraft ACV H-196 and Amartya ship to bring the stranded workers on to the shore on Sunday.

The men were working on the project to prevent sea erosion that has wrecked the sea shores of Mogaveerapatna, Kotepura and Kodi since the last two years, it is said. The workers were installing reefs and the first instalment of the work was completed on Thursday. But on Saturday, the barge reportedly hit against the rock and the anchors attached to the barge reportedly broke due to the stormy sea and the vessel began to sink.

The barge belongs to Dharti company, a Mumbai-based company, it is said.