The Indian Navy on Friday said that they located the capsized Chinese fishing vessel in Southern Indian Ocean and also sighted the fishing vessel’s liferaft and guided fishing vessel Lu Peng Yuan Yu 017 towards it.
The Indian Navy on Wednesday responded to a request from the Chinese Navy and offered assistance in the ongoing search. Th Navy deployed its “Air MR assets” in the Southern Indian Ocean Region to rescue the sinking Chinese fishing vessel.
"Continuing with the Search and Rescue efforts, #IndianNavy's P8I aircraft undertook extensive search in the area & located the capsized fishing vessel on #18May & relayed its position to the PLA (N) warships for further assistance," the Navy said in a tweet today.
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A Chinese deep-sea fishing vessel capsized on Tuesday in the central Indian Ocean, which has so far left 39 people on board missing, including 17 Chinese mariners, 17 Indonesian mariners and five Philippine mariners.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told media on Wednesday that the Chinese and foreign vessels have arrived at relevant waters to conduct a search and rescue operation after the fishing vessel “Lupeng Yuanyu 028” capsized.
The P-8I aircraft carried out multiple and extensive searches on Wednesday despite adverse weather and located multiple objects possibly belonging to the sunken vessel, the Navy said.
"In a display of India's obligations as a credible and responsible partner for ensuring safety at sea, the Indian Navy units also coordinated search and rescue efforts with other units in the area and guided the PLA Navy warships transiting to the scene of the incident," the Indian Navy said.
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Two people from the Chinese fishing vessel which sank in the central Indian Ocean were confirmed dead while China appreciated the help from a host of countries in the region including India for responding to its call for search and rescue operations for the remaining 37 missing sailors.
(With inputs from PTI)
