Crew rescued from sinking container vessel off the coast of Lakshadweep

Kochi: All 22 crew members of a Maldivian container vessel that had started sinking near the Lakshadweep coast have been rescued.

The vessel had developed an engine snag, Coast Guard sources said on Wednesday.

The ship had a crew of 18 Maldivians and four Indians and the Coast Guard vessel 'Varuna' helped in the rescue operations.

The Male-bound vessel 'M V Asian Express' was coming from Mohamed Bin Qasim Port in Pakistan and had developed some engine problem on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning it had started sinking.