Cargo vessel capsizes off Bahrain coast

Dubai, Dec 25 (UNI) A cargo vessel from Gujarat, which rescued 13 Indian sailors when their ship capsized in stormy waters off the Bahrain coast, sank on its way to Iraq from Porbandar.

The 'Gulshan-e-Medina' capsized in stormy seas near the Iraqi port of Basra on Friday after it dropped off in Bahrain the rescued sailors on board another vessel from Gujarat, 'Al Rashid,' news reports said.

While the sailors of the former ship were picked up by another vessel and are now in Basra recuperating, those who were rescued from the latter were to be sent here on their way back to India.

Earlier, the crew of Al Rashid were scheduled to travel on board the Gulshan-e-Medina to Iraq and then make their way to their homeport of Porbandar.

As luck would have it, the sailors who were to be taken to Dubai on Thursday by another ship 'Mohammediya' witnessed another mishap when one of their colleagues fell and fractured his hand on board and had to be rushed to hospital.

Both the Al Rashid and the Gulshan-e-Medina were on their way to Khor Jubair, when they encountered strong winds and rough seas, which forced the 13 on the Al Rashid to abandon their ship.

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