Kochi, March 6 -- The Indian Navy mounted a rapid search and rescue (SAR) operation following a distress call from the Iranian vessel IRIS DENA on March 4, 2026, south of Sri Lanka.
According to reports from the Sri Lankan Navy, the ship sent out a distress signal in the early hours while operating 20 nautical miles west of Galle, within the SAR region under Sri Lankan responsibility, defence sources said.
Upon receiving the alert at MRCC Colombo, the Indian Navy immediately dispatched a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 1000 hours on March 4 to support ongoing search efforts led by Sri Lanka.
A second aircraft equipped with air-droppable life rafts was kept on standby for immediate deployment. INS Tarangini, already operating in th...