Issuing a statement, The Indian Navy says that it responded to a distress call from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena after it encountered an emergency off the southern coast of Sri Lanka on March 4.
According to the Indian Navy, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo received the distress call in the early hours of March 4 after the vessel reported trouble while operating about 20 nautical miles west of Galle, within Sri Lanka’s search and rescue region.
Following the alert, the Indian Navy launched search and rescue support by deploying a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at around 10.00 a.m. the same day to assist operations led by Sri Lankan authorities. Another aircraft equipped with air-droppable life rafts was kept on standby for immediate deployment if required.
The Indian Navy vessel INS Tarangini, which was operating in the vicinity, was also directed to the search area and arrived at about 4.00 p.m. to assist the rescue efforts. In addition, the survey vessel INS Ikshak sailed from Kochi to augment the ongoing search for missing personnel.
The distress call was issued after the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena was struck and later sank in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, resulting in heavy casualties. Sri Lankan authorities rescued 32 sailors and recovered dozens of bodies during the rescue and recovery operation.
The Indian Navy said coordination with Sri Lankan authorities on the search and rescue efforts is continuing as part of humanitarian assistance for the shipwrecked personnel.