Barge toll hits 60 as 11 more bodies found, search on for 15 men

MUMBAI: Navy warships on Friday recovered bodies of 11 more personnel of barge Papaa (P-305) that sank 70km off the Mumbai coast after cyclone Tauktae stormed past the western coast, taking the total number of crew casualties to 60. The Navy is looking for 15 barge staffers still missing and has also initiated an underwater search to locate the wrecks of P305 and a tug, Varaprada, whose 11 members also remain untraced.
Six Navy warships have, since Monday, rescued 186 personnel of the total 261 who were on board P-305 when it sank, and two personnel from the tug Varaprada. Bodies brought on shore have been sent to JJ Hospital to complete formalities before they are handed over to families. Navy’s chief PRO, Commander Mehul Karnik, said 60 bodies of “Brave Nature Victims” had been recovered while search for the remaining 15 continued. “Search and rescue operation continues for the remaining crew.”
Three construction barges of Afcons, working on an ONGC project in the western offshore fields in the Arabian sea and one floater drilling rig of ONGC were severely impacted by Monday’s cyclone. All the anchors of P-305 gave way, and when it drifted, it hit an unmanned ONGC platform and eventually capsized.