Indian Coast Guard rescues a police boat off Mumbai coast

Mumbai, July 1 (ANI): The Coast Guard on Wednesday rescued nine persons from a police patrol boat that got entangled in a fishing net under the newly opened Bandra-Worli Sea Link bridge in Mumbai.

"We got the news around 7 in the morning that people were struck in swamp and thus were not able to come out due tidal conditions. Thus we commissioned a helicopter and brought back four policemen and one fisherman," said Arun Vadkar, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Coast Guard.

"Four launch operators' refused to come out as they wanted to save their trawler. But we again went there on helicopter because the policemen told us that trawler was drifting towards rocks. So this five plus another four, in total we rescued nine persons as others are coming in second trip," he added.

According to reports, the patrol vessel which had four police personnel, a fisherman and four operators was on a surveillance mission, as part of the security arrangements for the inauguration ceremony of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

"As per the orders of our seniors we were sent for patrolling. It was a security measure taken for Sonia Gandhi. We had to stay in the sea due to low tide and unsuitable waves yesterday night. And we moved around 5.30 in the morning. Our boat got trapped in fishing net around 6 and thus we got stuck there," said Patil, a rescued policeman. (ANI)