Thiruvananthapuram, 09 June(HS): Ships of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard are on a massive maritime operation 144 km south west of Kozhikode as a Singapore ship carrying hundreds of highly inflammable containers caught fire following a major explosion onboard the ship.

Though the fire engulfed the ship at about 10.40 in the morning, Coast Guard and Navy ships got the information around noon and they commenced the rescue operations instantly.

INS Surat rescued 18 mariners including five injured persons who are being transported to Mangalore. Four employees of the ill-fated ship MV Wan Hai 503 have gone missing and the mission is on to save them.

The rescued 18 mariners are expected to reach Mangalore port by 2200 hrs. Ships and aircraft are not in a position to reach anywhere near the burning ship because the fire has almost engulfed the ship, according to senior Coast Guard officials.

The ship was on its way to Navi Mumbai from Colombo when the explosion occurred underdeck that resulted in an inferno. The mishap occurring within days of a Liberian vessel sinking off Kochi coast has shocked Navy and Coast Guard officials. While the Liberian ship had many containers of calcium carbide, the Singapore box was carrying many inflammable materials like gunpowder and alcohol . The Coast Guard and Navy officials remained tight-lipped when asked about the possibility of saving the ship and the goods ot was carrying.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti