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A Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying 24 crew members sank in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast on Saturday after communication with the ship was lost, prompting a joint search and rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy.

The Indian Coast Guard said it received information about the loss of contact with MV Ocean Winner, which had 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national on board.

So far, two crew members have been rescued, while efforts are underway to locate the remaining 22, officials said.

The vessel sank around 240 nautical miles from Paradip on the Odisha coast.

Ship Was Carrying Iron Ore To Singapore

According to the Coast Guard, the vessel had departed from the Odisha coast on Friday carrying a consignment of iron ore bound for Singapore.

Authorities lost communication with the ship before it went down. The exact circumstances behind the sinking have not yet been ascertained.

Coast Guard, Navy Launch Search Operation

Following the incident, the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy launched a coordinated search and rescue mission.

Other vessels operating in the vicinity have also been alerted and asked to assist in locating the missing crew members.

The operation is focused on finding the remaining sailors and assessing their condition. Officials are expected to provide further details as the search continues.

The Coast Guard confirmed that 24 people were aboard MV Ocean Winner -- 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national. With two survivors rescued, the search remains underway for the other 22 crew members.