A domestic merchant ship caught fire off the coast here with one crew member suffering severe burns today as the Navy launched a rescue operation, a Defence official said.
The ship "MV Nalini" caught fire while being anchored at 14.5 nautical miles south west off Kochi and has lost power and propulsion, prompting it to send out a request for evacuation of its crew members.
A defence spokesperson here, quoting a message received from the ship with 22 crew members onboard, said one man has suffered 80 per cent burns.
The Southern Naval command here has dispatched an advanced light helicopter while a Sea King copter was being prepared for launch later in case more crew members were to be evacuated, he said.
Besides, the Coast Guard and the Cochin Port Trust had sent a 'Charlie' boat and a tug respectively in response to the evacuation request, the spokesperson said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
