The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has saved as many as 195 lives off Mumbai in 25 operations in 2015.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has saved as many as 195 lives off Mumbai in 25 operations in 2015.
There were a total of 10 cases of medical evacuation, where vessel crew was rescued after a cardiac arrest or injury, while 15 were search and rescue operations, reveals the yearly report of ICG, which is in possession of The Asian Age.
Of these 25 operations, the ICG failed to save lives six operations, including the Pawan Hans aircraft crash incident that occurred on November 4, last year. In another operation, the ICG was unable to rescue two students who went missing from Kashid beach on August 16.
Recently, the ICG divers participated in a search and rescue operation for Tarannum Ansari, the teenager who had fallen into the sea at Bandstand, while attempting to take a selfie.
ICGs most successful rescue operation was near Elephanta Island, where it saved 78 people from a stalled ferry on February 17.
In another operation, the ICG saved 33 lives in a fire incident on a vessel, Vest foxin, on May 31. At least 19 people were saved when a fishing boat Laxmi collided with a rock on August 28, near Sindhudurg.
According to the rescue operation report for the south-western coastal region, the ICG were able to save 398 persons in 388 search and rescue operations and 34 medical evacuations in 2015.
A senior official from the ICG, who did not wished to be named told this newspaper, that one of the biggest challenges they faced during a rescue operation is the weather condition. “When vessels start sinking, it’s really difficult to eject the people out. Some time heavy winds also makes things difficult,” said the official.
According to sources, ICG choppers can’t operate during night hours, and when operations take a long time, it’s a worry. Shallow water also restricts their moment, said a source.
