Cyclone Nilam: Choppers, boats rescue 15 sailors, five still missing

Between 6:30 and 7:30 am this morning, two Coast Guard choppers and small vessels rescued 15 sailors trapped on an oil tanker. Another five are still missing. The crew members of the Pratbiha Cauvery were collected this morning after they spent the night trapped on the ship which had been anchored near the Chennai port but was cut loose during the gales that preceded Cyclone Nilam's landfall last evening. Rescue operations were suspended at dusk on account of bad weather.