The Indian Navy announced on Thursday that it had launched a search and rescue operation after receiving information about a distress call from the now-sunk Iranian warship IRIS Dena.
In an official statement, the Indian Navy said it had deployed aircraft and naval vessels to assist efforts off Sri Lanka’s southern coast.
According to the military body, the distress alert was received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo in the early hours of March 4. The ship was reported to be operating around 20 nautical miles west of Galle, within the search and rescue region overseen by Sri Lanka.
Also Read | Iran says Frigate Dena, 'Indian Navy's guest', was struck 'without warning' by US in international waters
"A distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo in the early hours of 04 March 26 as reported by the Sri Lankan Navy. The ship was operating 20 NM West of Galle in the SAR region under Sri Lankan responsibility. On receipt of the information, the Indian Navy promptly launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 1000 hr on 04 March 26 to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka," read the statement.
Acting on the information, the Indian Navy immediately initiated support operations, deploying a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at around 10:00 am on March 4 to assist the search effort led by Sri Lankan authorities.
Another aircraft equipped with air-droppable life rafts was kept on standby for rapid deployment if required.
Naval training ship INS Tarangini, which was operating in the vicinity, was diverted to support the rescue mission and reached the search area by around 4:00 pm on March 4. By the time it arrived, Sri Lankan naval units and other agencies had already begun search and rescue operations in the region.
The Navy also dispatched INS Ikshak from Kochi to reinforce the ongoing effort. The vessel remains in the area to help locate missing personnel as part of humanitarian assistance for shipwrecked sailors.
“Another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept standby for immediate deployment. INS Tarangini which was operating in vicinity was deployed for aiding the rescue efforts and arrived in search area by 1600 hr on 04 March 26,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.
"By this time SAR had been undertaken by Sri Lankan Navy and other agencies. INS Ikshak has also sailed from Kochi to augment the search efforts and continues to remain in the area to search for missing personnel as a humanitarian measure for ship wrecked personnel. Coordination with the Sri Lankan side on Search and Rescue efforts is ongoing," it added.
Also Read | Iran warns US will ‘bitterly regret’ sinking warship, launches new attacks and calls for Trump’s blood
The rescue mission follows the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean earlier this week during the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The vessel had reportedly been operating in the region after participating in a naval engagement linked to the wider confrontation.
Sri Lankan authorities had earlier said several sailors were rescued near the southern port city of Galle, while many others remained missing, triggering an international search effort in the busy maritime corridor.
IRIS Dena torpedoed by the US
The rescue mission follows the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean earlier this week amid the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
According to US officials, the vessel was struck by a US Navy submarine using a Mark-48 heavyweight torpedo, the principal anti-ship weapon deployed by American submarines since the 1970s.
The torpedo detonates beneath a vessel, creating a powerful gas bubble that can fracture the keel and rapidly sink the ship. The incident marks the first time since World War II that an American submarine has sunk an enemy vessel using a torpedo in combat.
Also Read | Iranian sailors recovering in Sri Lankan hospital after US submarine attack, authorities say
Sri Lankan authorities said 32 Iranian sailors were rescued from the waters near Galle after the strike, while dozens of others remain missing. The frigate is believed to have been carrying a crew of around 180 sailors.
Iran has strongly condemned the attack.
Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of striking the ship in international waters without warning.
“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning,” Araghchi said in a post on X, warning that Washington would “bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
The incident occurred along one of the busiest maritime corridors in the northern Indian Ocean, close to key shipping routes linking the Middle East and Asia.
In an official statement, the Indian Navy said it had deployed aircraft and naval vessels to assist efforts off Sri Lanka’s southern coast.
According to the military body, the distress alert was received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo in the early hours of March 4. The ship was reported to be operating around 20 nautical miles west of Galle, within the search and rescue region overseen by Sri Lanka.
Also Read | Iran says Frigate Dena, 'Indian Navy's guest', was struck 'without warning' by US in international waters
"A distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo in the early hours of 04 March 26 as reported by the Sri Lankan Navy. The ship was operating 20 NM West of Galle in the SAR region under Sri Lankan responsibility. On receipt of the information, the Indian Navy promptly launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 1000 hr on 04 March 26 to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka," read the statement.
Acting on the information, the Indian Navy immediately initiated support operations, deploying a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at around 10:00 am on March 4 to assist the search effort led by Sri Lankan authorities.
Another aircraft equipped with air-droppable life rafts was kept on standby for rapid deployment if required.
Naval training ship INS Tarangini, which was operating in the vicinity, was diverted to support the rescue mission and reached the search area by around 4:00 pm on March 4. By the time it arrived, Sri Lankan naval units and other agencies had already begun search and rescue operations in the region.
The Navy also dispatched INS Ikshak from Kochi to reinforce the ongoing effort. The vessel remains in the area to help locate missing personnel as part of humanitarian assistance for shipwrecked sailors.
“Another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept standby for immediate deployment. INS Tarangini which was operating in vicinity was deployed for aiding the rescue efforts and arrived in search area by 1600 hr on 04 March 26,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.
"By this time SAR had been undertaken by Sri Lankan Navy and other agencies. INS Ikshak has also sailed from Kochi to augment the search efforts and continues to remain in the area to search for missing personnel as a humanitarian measure for ship wrecked personnel. Coordination with the Sri Lankan side on Search and Rescue efforts is ongoing," it added.
Also Read | Iran warns US will ‘bitterly regret’ sinking warship, launches new attacks and calls for Trump’s blood
The rescue mission follows the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean earlier this week during the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The vessel had reportedly been operating in the region after participating in a naval engagement linked to the wider confrontation.
Sri Lankan authorities had earlier said several sailors were rescued near the southern port city of Galle, while many others remained missing, triggering an international search effort in the busy maritime corridor.
IRIS Dena torpedoed by the US
The rescue mission follows the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean earlier this week amid the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
According to US officials, the vessel was struck by a US Navy submarine using a Mark-48 heavyweight torpedo, the principal anti-ship weapon deployed by American submarines since the 1970s.
The torpedo detonates beneath a vessel, creating a powerful gas bubble that can fracture the keel and rapidly sink the ship. The incident marks the first time since World War II that an American submarine has sunk an enemy vessel using a torpedo in combat.
Also Read | Iranian sailors recovering in Sri Lankan hospital after US submarine attack, authorities say
Sri Lankan authorities said 32 Iranian sailors were rescued from the waters near Galle after the strike, while dozens of others remain missing. The frigate is believed to have been carrying a crew of around 180 sailors.
Iran has strongly condemned the attack.
Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of striking the ship in international waters without warning.
“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning,” Araghchi said in a post on X, warning that Washington would “bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
The incident occurred along one of the busiest maritime corridors in the northern Indian Ocean, close to key shipping routes linking the Middle East and Asia.
