New Delhi [India], December 14 (ANI): The Indian Coast Guard on Saturday carried out a swift medical evacuation of a 62-year-old Ukrainian national who suffered a heart attack while onboard a merchant vessel off the coast of Goa, the force said.
According to the Indian Coast Guard, Coast Guard Ship C-420 conducted the emergency medevac of the crew member from the Malta-flagged merchant vessel MV Interasia Amplify. The rescue operation was carried out promptly after a distress call was received, ensuring the patient was safely evacuated for urgent medical treatment.
The Indian Coast Guard described the operation as a reflection of its “resolute commitment to safeguarding lives at sea,” highlighting its readiness to respond to maritime emergencies at any hour.
In a separate maritime security operation earlier this week, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended 11 Pakistani fishermen after their fishing boat was found inside Indian waters near Jakhau in Gujarat without permission, according to Defence PRO Gujarat.
The fishermen were traveling in a boat named Al Wali. All 11 were brought to Jakhau Port along with the vessel, and authorities said searches of the boat and interrogation of the fishermen are ongoing.
The Defence PRO said the operation was carried out on December 10, when Coast Guard units intercepted the Pakistani fishing boat inside India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Indian Coast Guard said the interdiction underscored Bharatiya Tatrakshak’s sustained maritime operations and India’s commitment to securing its maritime frontiers while maintaining robust enforcement of international maritime laws. It added that continuous vigilance across India’s maritime domain remains a cornerstone of the national maritime security strategy.
Earlier this week, India and Bangladesh also completed a coordinated humanitarian exchange of fishermen, with both sides repatriating those who had inadvertently crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line while fishing.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian fishermen who inadvertently crossed the boundary had recently been arrested by Bangladeshi authorities, while Bangladeshi fishermen had also been apprehended by Indian authorities under similar circumstances.
The two governments successfully concluded the release and repatriation of 47 Indian fishermen and 38 Bangladeshi fishermen, along with their operable vessel, on December 9. In January 2025, the Government of India facilitated the release of 95 Indian fishermen and, in a reciprocal manner, released 90 Bangladeshi fishermen.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the mutual repatriation arrangement was guided by humanitarian and livelihood concerns of fishing communities on both sides.
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