New Delhi: The Indian Navy launched a massive rescue operation after a merchant vessel, with 20 people onboard, began sinking off Vasai coast in Palghar district on Monday.


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Sitanshu Kar, Principal Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence, confirmed that all 20 crew members, including the captain of the ship, have been safely rescued.


Kar took to Twitter to confirm the latest developments.



The incident took place last night after the crew members of 'Jindal Kamakshi' failed to contain the flooding of the ship and made the distress call at around 11:10 pm yesterday seeking assistance, DK Sharma, Indian Navy PRO reportedly said.


Watch the daring daring video of the rescue operation, which was posted on the official Facebook account of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.



“After receiving a distress call, we had immediately launched our SK 42C for visual inspection,” Sharma was quoted by ANI.


Rear Admiral B Dasgupta today said that INS Mumbai was dispatched at around 2 am, shortly after the distress signal was made, and it reached near the site of the ship at 7:30 am.


The crew members were then taken to the INS Shikra Naval Air Station in Colaba at around 9 am. Their medical tests will also be performed today.


The merchant vessel was 40 nautical miles from the Mumbai harbour and 25 nautical miles off the Vasai coast when it started tilting.


More vessels of the Indian Navy are reportedly being rushed to the site to ensure that the listing merchant ship does not drift towards Mumbai shorelines.