Picture this: a fishing boat, its engine dead in the water, tossed about by the waves for five long days and nights. Ten crew members stranded far from shore, their hopes fading with each passing hour. But then, like a beacon in the storm, the Indian Coast Guard arrives.
On April 26th, the Coast Guard sprang into action after the fishing boat IFB Rijomon sent out a desperate distress call. The vessel, far off the coast of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, had been a helpless prisoner of the sea after a machinery breakdown.
It wasn't going to be an easy mission. The Coast Guard Ship Apoorva had to battle rough weather to reach the Rijomon, a journey of 114 nautical miles out to sea. By 5:30 PM, the Apoorva was on the scene, a lifeline in the vast expanse of the ocean.
The situation was grimmer than anyone thought. The crew of the Rijomon was starting to run low on food and water – their survival was hanging in the balance. The Apoorva's crew, trained for moments like this, sent over a boarding team to help. By 8:40 PM, in a carefully coordinated effort, the Apoorva began the long tow back to Ratnagiri harbor. The sea raged around them, but they were determined.
On April 27th, at 1:25 PM, the exhausted but relieved crew of the Rijomon was back on land. The fishing boat was handed off to another vessel for the final part of its journey into the harbor for repairs. The owner of the Rijomon was overflowing with gratitude – the Coast Guard, through skill and bravery, had saved ten lives.
This is just a reminder that out there, beyond the beaches and bustling cities, the Indian Coast Guard stands watch, ready to answer the call in the face of danger.
