<p>More than 410 persons are stranded in two barges in the Arabian Sea as Cyclone Tauktae wrecked havoc along the Maharashtra coast as it headed form Goa towards Gujarat.</p>.<p>The Indian Navy has launched Search and Rescue (SAR) operation and prepared for a major Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).</p>.<p>As many as 273 persons are stranded on a drifting barge 'P305' off the Heera oilfield of Bombay High region in Arabian Sea, nearly 100 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/cyclone-tauktae-mumbai-maharashtra-gujarat-kerala-karnataka-imd-bmc-impact-986718.html" target="_blank">Follow live updates of Cyclone Tauktae here</a></strong></p>.<p>INS Kochi has reached the site to undertake an SAR while INS Talwar would be reaching shortly.</p>.<p>"It is an accomodation barge and it has unmoored as the anchor broke off," sources said, adding that the sea state was "extremely rough" making it difficult to stabilise the barge.</p>.<p>With very rough sea conditions and wind speeds of over 100 kmph, the twin operations are taking time, leading to a cliffhanger-type situation.</p>.<p>In response to another SOS received from barge 'GAL Constructor' with 137 people onboard about 8 nautical miles off Mumbai.</p>.<p>INS Kolkata has reached the vicinity of the ship to render assistance - and may have to rescue the people in rafts and live boats.</p>.<p>The barge is closing land and hence the operation was very tough.</p>.<p>"Several other ships have been readied for HADR tasking in the wake of cyclone Tauktae that has wreaked havoc along the West coast of India," an Indian Navy official said.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, 6 khalasis on board a vessel are stranded and they are in touch with the Indian Coast Guard, which is trying to bring it to the Uttan coast in Thane district.</p>.<p>In the last four days, the Coast Guard and Navy ensured that 5,600 fishing boats along the west coast return to the ports and harbours and safe-routed 335 merchant vessel.</p>
<p>More than 410 persons are stranded in two barges in the Arabian Sea as Cyclone Tauktae wrecked havoc along the Maharashtra coast as it headed form Goa towards Gujarat.</p>.<p>The Indian Navy has launched Search and Rescue (SAR) operation and prepared for a major Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).</p>.<p>As many as 273 persons are stranded on a drifting barge 'P305' off the Heera oilfield of Bombay High region in Arabian Sea, nearly 100 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/cyclone-tauktae-mumbai-maharashtra-gujarat-kerala-karnataka-imd-bmc-impact-986718.html" target="_blank">Follow live updates of Cyclone Tauktae here</a></strong></p>.<p>INS Kochi has reached the site to undertake an SAR while INS Talwar would be reaching shortly.</p>.<p>"It is an accomodation barge and it has unmoored as the anchor broke off," sources said, adding that the sea state was "extremely rough" making it difficult to stabilise the barge.</p>.<p>With very rough sea conditions and wind speeds of over 100 kmph, the twin operations are taking time, leading to a cliffhanger-type situation.</p>.<p>In response to another SOS received from barge 'GAL Constructor' with 137 people onboard about 8 nautical miles off Mumbai.</p>.<p>INS Kolkata has reached the vicinity of the ship to render assistance - and may have to rescue the people in rafts and live boats.</p>.<p>The barge is closing land and hence the operation was very tough.</p>.<p>"Several other ships have been readied for HADR tasking in the wake of cyclone Tauktae that has wreaked havoc along the West coast of India," an Indian Navy official said.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, 6 khalasis on board a vessel are stranded and they are in touch with the Indian Coast Guard, which is trying to bring it to the Uttan coast in Thane district.</p>.<p>In the last four days, the Coast Guard and Navy ensured that 5,600 fishing boats along the west coast return to the ports and harbours and safe-routed 335 merchant vessel.</p>
