(Repeating with additional details)

Panaji, Apr 22 (UNI) A navy patrol vessel, INS Prahar, sank after colliding with a container ship off the Goa coast late last night, official sources said today.

All 73 crew members were rescued. No casualties or injuries have been reported, they said.

The 450 tonne INS Prahar, returning to Mumbai from Goa after participating in a major naval exercise, met with the accident at 2145 hrs at a distance of 20 nautical miles from the coast.

The container ship was identified as MV Rajiv Gandhi, owned by the Shipping Corporation of India.

The rescued crew have been evacuated to Goa. Six naval, two Coast Guard ships, passing merchant vessels, a dornier aircraft and two naval helicopters have been deployed for search and rescue in the area.

the cause of the collision is yet to be ascertained, sources said, adding that a high-level inquiry has been ordered.

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