Search Continues for 22 Crew After Bulk Carrier Sinks Off Odisha Coast

Search and rescue teams from the Indian Navy and Coast Guard continued operations on Monday for 22 crew members of a Panama-flagged bulk carrier that sank in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast.

The vessel went down on Sunday. Intensive efforts over the following 24 hours had not located any of the missing seafarers by early reports. Weather and sea conditions in the area complicated the search.

Authorities have not released the name of the ship or the nationalities of the crew pending further confirmation. The Indian Coast Guard and Navy deployed multiple vessels and aircraft to the last known position.

Maritime accidents in the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season are not uncommon, though a complete loss of a bulk carrier with no immediate survivors is relatively rare. Investigations into the cause of the sinking will follow once the search phase concludes.

Families of the crew are awaiting updates as the operation continues.