Search and rescue teams from India’s Coast Guard and Navy continued their efforts on Sunday after a Panama-flagged bulk carrier sank off the country’s eastern coast. Two Chinese seafarers were rescued, while 22 crew members remain missing.
The vessel, named Ocean Winner, was carrying iron ore from Paradip port in eastern India and was bound for China. It sank about 240 nautical miles from the port on Friday. According to Shyam Jagannathan, director general of India’s Maritime Administration, the two rescued Chinese crew members reported that the ship developed a sudden list and went down within eight minutes, forcing everyone to abandon ship.
Of the 24 crew on board, 18 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar, and one from Bangladesh are still unaccounted for. Officials note that the chances of finding survivors usually drop sharply after the first 12 hours, yet the search has not stopped. The Indian Navy is working closely with the Coast Guard, which has already sent two vessels from Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) to join the operation.
The exact cause of the sinking is still unknown. An initial report from the Maritime Administration confirmed the ship’s departure from Paradip on Friday and its cargo of iron ore. The rapid sinking left little time for the crew to prepare or send detailed distress signals.
Rescuers continue scanning the area in the hope of locating the missing sailors. The incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by bulk carriers operating in busy shipping lanes off India’s coast. Families of the missing crew from China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh are waiting for any positive news as the coordinated search efforts press on.
Authorities remain focused on the rescue mission while investigations into how the Ocean Winner sank so quickly are expected to follow once operations at sea conclude.
