The India Coast Guard on Thursday rescued 27 Bangladeshi fishermen, who were stranded on their fishing boat in Indian waters at sea. ICGS Amogh handed over the 27 Bangladeshi fishermen along with their boat to CGS Kamaruzzaman of the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
The Indian Coast Guard said in a statement that the boat had a steering gear breakdown and had been adrift for two days. On assessment, it was observed that the rudder of the boat was completely damaged and could not be repaired at sea, reports The Hindu.
At about 11.30am on April 4, Indian Coast Guard Ship Amogh, during a patrol at the Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Border Line (IMBL), sighted a Bangladeshi fishing boat Sagar II, adrift in Indian waters, the Coast Guard said in a statement on April 5.
As the sea and weather conditions were conducive, it was decided that the distressed boat would be towed to the IMBL and handed over to another Bangladeshi fishing boat operating across the IMBL or to the Bangladesh Coast Guard Ship, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard.
CGS Kamaruzzaman was deployed by the Bangladesh Coast Guard to tow the boat, which arrived near the IMBL at 6.45pm.
