New Delhi, 04 March (H.S.): An Iranian warship returning from India's International Fleet Review sank off Sri Lanka's coast following a submarine strike, leaving at least 101 sailors missing from its 180-strong crew while 78 were rescued, 32 critically injured and hospitalized at Karapitiya.

The IRIS Dena, a 1,300-1,500 ton Moudge-class frigate with anti-ship missiles and vertical launch systems, issued a distress call at 5:08 a.m. local time, 40 nautical miles south of Galle. Sri Lanka deployed navy vessels and aircraft; Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath cited an explosion, fueling speculation amid US-Israel-Iran hostilities that erupted days after the Visakhapatnam event on February 25, where Iran's Navy chief discussed maritime security with Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.

The incident heightens fears over Indian Ocean safety and energy shipping lanes as the conflict expands 4,000 km from the Gulf, with ongoing search efforts.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar