Indian Navy Responds to IRIS Dena Distress Call with Coordinated Search and Rescue Efforts

The Indian Navy has initiated Search and Rescue (SAR) operations after receiving a distress call from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena. The vessel was reported to be 20 nautical miles west of Galle, situated within Sri Lanka's Search and Rescue area.

The distress notification was picked up by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo during the early hours of March 4, 2026, as confirmed by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Upon being alerted, the Indian Navy promptly began providing support to the rescue efforts already underway by Sri Lankan authorities.

A long-range maritime patrol aircraft was dispatched at 1000 hours on March 4 to aid in the search operations. Additionally, another aircraft equipped with air-droppable life rafts was kept on standby for rapid deployment if necessary.

The sail training vessel INS Tarangini, which was in the vicinity, was redirected to join the rescue mission and arrived in the search area by 1600 hours on March 4.

By the time INS Tarangini reached the location, the Sri Lanka Navy and other agencies had already commenced search and rescue activities.

Furthermore, the Indian Navy has sent INS Ikshak from Kochi, which has reached the site and is actively participating in the ongoing search for missing individuals.

The Indian Navy clarified that this operation is being carried out as a humanitarian initiative to aid those affected by the shipwreck.

There is ongoing collaboration between Indian and Sri Lankan authorities as search efforts persist in locating any survivors still missing.