The Indian Navy on Wednesday had to battle extreme weather conditions to rescue people from Barge P305 that sank in the Arabian Sea, 35 nautical miles from Mumbai, Cyclone Tauktae struck the western coast. The Navy rescued at least 186 survivors and recovered 26 bodies from Barge P305.

As the search operation for the missing continued in full swing, crew members and workmen of barge P305, who were rescued, thanked the Navy for saving their lives and recalled the horrors they witnessed in the sea before they were rescued.

Also read | In pics: Gusty winds, heavy showers in Mumbai due to Cyclone Tauktae

Swapnil Sawant, a resued crew member, hailed the Navy for saving his life. He was quoted by ANI saying, “the situation was very critical. The waves were very high. I salute the Navy for saving our life by putting themselves in danger.”

Amit Kumar Kushwaha, one of the rescued workmen, said that he was floating in the sea for as long as 11 hours, tussling for his life when he was rescued. “The Barge was sinking, so I had to jump into the sea. I was in the sea for 11 hours holding on to my life jacket when the Navy rescued us,” Amit Kumar Kushwaha told ANI.

Following this, another rescued workman, prior to his rescue from the sea, broke down and said that none of his colleagues would have been alive if not for the Navy. “A very big thanks to Navy official. I am alive because of them. Nobody would have been alive if not for them,” said the workman, who had severe injuries caused due to the sinking cyclone

Vikas Kumar, another crew member who was injured, told ANI, “I jumped in the sea when the barge was sinking and injured my leg badly. I would have died if not for the Navy.”

Also read | After Tauktae, cyclone Yaas heading towards India

Apart from this, the Navy had also rescued two more persons from – a tugboat, Varaprada, which went adrift in the Arabian Sea due to the cyclonic storm, Tauktae.

The rescue operations by the navy were undertaken in extreme weather conditions and in very rough seas.

As cyclonic storm Tauktae brushed past the western coast, the Barge P305 started drifting immediately after its anchors gave way off the Heera Oil Fields in Bombay High.

The intensity of the cyclone had weakened on Wednesday, but rains continued for the most part of the day.

Apart from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa, weather conditions of several other adjoining states were altered too. Weather conditions in several parts of Northern India including – Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi was impacted as well, as these areas have also received heavy rainfall.