Eighteen crew members rescued from the fire-stricken Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 were safely brought to the Coast Guard berth at New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) in Panambur by the Indian Navy’s INS Surat. Among the rescued, two were reported to be in critical condition, four sustained minor injuries, and 12 others showed signs of psychological trauma.

The injured were taken to AJ Hospital in Kuntikana late Monday night. A Coast Guard official stated, “The critically injured were stabilised aboard INS Surat and transferred under strict medical supervision upon arrival. Immediate evacuation was our top priority.” He also mentioned that immigration, port, and police teams coordinated effectively to ensure smooth medical transfers.

The incident occurred on Sunday when the container ship caught fire in the Arabian Sea off the Kerala coast. At the time, 22 crew members were aboard. While 18 have been rescued, four are still missing, and search and rescue efforts continue. Port personnel described emotional scenes as the rescued crew arrived—some leaning on fellow sailors for support, others carried on stretchers. Many were seen praying quietly or asking anxiously about the fate of their missing colleagues.