MANGALURU: Indian Navy personnel rescued nine persons on board a vessel that was stuck at Mulky Rocks off Mangaluru coast due to the cyclonic storm on Monday morning. Coast Guard Karnataka DIG SB Venkatesh confirmed that a day-long operation by a naval chopper and a ship helped rescue the trapped persons.
The vessel which was anchored at NMPT had drifted after it was caught in the high tides triggered by cyclone Tauktae on Sunday morning. Later, it was found stuck near Mulky rocks. All those who ere trapped atop the vessel were safe and had groceries and water with them.
Rescue personnel were unable to carry out their operation on Sunday due to high tides and stormy winds, following which the state government had requested the Navy to deploy its choppers from Goa to save the stranded persons.
Meanwhile, three persons who had gone missing after their tug vessel toppled off the Mangaluru coast are yet to be traced. The vessel had eight persons on board, out of which two were found dead and three had swam to their safety.
Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and Deputy Commissioner KV Rajendra met Coast Guard DIG SB Venkatesh on Monday morning and held discussions on the ongoing rescue operation.