New Delhi: The Indian Navy responded to a tense maritime emergency by assisting the sinking Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which had reportedly succumbed to a torpedo strike from a US submarine off Sri Lanka’s coast.
The frigate, en route home after participating in India’s Milan multinational naval exercise, sent out a distress signal that prompted a coordinated rescue effort.
The incident unfolded 20 nautical miles west of Galle in Sri Lankan waters, where the vessel sank early Wednesday, claiming at least 87 Iranian sailors’ lives, according to Sri Lankan officials. The Colombo Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received the emergency message, triggering immediate involvement from regional forces.
Responding promptly, the Indian Navy dispatched a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 10 am to bolster Sri Lanka’s search operations. Another aircraft, ready with parachutable life rafts, stood by for deployment. The sail-training ship INS Tarangini, nearby, rushed to the site and arrived by 4 pm, joining hands with Sri Lankan Navy teams already on scene.
Further reinforcing the mission, INS Ikshak sailed from Kochi to scour for missing personnel and remains active in the area. In an official statement, the Indian Navy affirmed, “Upon receiving the information, the Indian Navy immediately started rescue and relief operations. Coordination with Sri Lanka for search and rescue efforts is ongoing.”
This collaborative response underscores India’s commitment to maritime safety amid geopolitical undercurrents, even as questions swirl around the torpedo’s origin.