Coast guard ship catches fire, 28 members rescued

Visakhapatnam: The crew of offshore support vessel Coastal Jaguar had to abandon their vessel and jump into the waters to save themselves from fire which engulfed the vessel all of a sudden. Followed by a loud explosion, a thick smoke emanated from the vessel, and the crew jumped off the vessel to escape from getting burnt on Monday.

According to sources, ICGS Rani Rashmoni was diverted for the rescue operation along with Visakhapatnam Port Trust boats. They came to the rescue of the crew.

Sources said, of the 29 crew present in the vessel, 28 have been rescued and the search for the missing crew is in progress.

ICGS Samudra Paheredar, ICG helicopter and ICGS C-432 were pressed into action to further augment the rescue operation.

However, the reason for the fire accident is yet to be ascertained.