Search and rescue (SAR) teams from the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have successfully evacuated all nine crewmembers of a supply tug that ran aground in bad weather off the coast of Kaup in the south western state of Karnataka on Monday, May 17.
Officials said strong winds and large waves brought about by Cyclone Tauktae caused the tug Coromondel Supporter IX to drift towards shore until it struck some rocks six kilometres off the coast.
The Indian Coast Guard patrol vessel ICGS Varaha and a helicopter from the Indian Navy base at Goa immediately deployed to the area to render assistance. The coast guard personnel took five of the survivors aboard their own vessel while the navy helicopter aircrew evacuated the remaining four.
All nine crewmen have since been brought to various hospitals for treatment.