Barge P305 tragedy: Did ONGC ignore email sent by crew requesting help amid Cyclone Tauktae?
Barge P305 tragedy: Did ONGC ignore email sent by crew requesting help amid Cyclone Tauktae?
Desk officer of barge P305 had emailed ONGC warning about the inclement weather and requested guidance on steps that should be taken to ensure safety of all personnel on board. The email was sent days before Cyclone Tauktae hit the boat.
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UPDATED: May 26, 2021 19:59 IST
INS Kochi rescuing crew members of Barge P305 that sunk in the Arabian Sea as Cyclone Tauktae wreaked havoc. (Photo: Indian Navy)
Did ONGC ignore a crucial weather report sent to it by the ill-fated barge P305, days ahead of Cyclone Tauktae wreaking havoc at sea? Did it ignore a request for help from the barge that later sank amid the cyclone, killing at least 70 of the 261 people on board?
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Afcons will give between 3.5 million rupees ($48,065) and 7.5 million rupees to families of those deceased and the offshore contractor said it would also establish a trust to support the education of their children.
“The families of the deceased would receive a total compensation equivalent to balance period of service up to 10 years salaries through a combination of ex gratia pay-outs and insurance compensation,” said a statement from Afcons Infrastructure.
ONGC said it would also pay compensation of 200,000 rupees to the families of the deceased workers and 100,000 rupees compensation to survivors.
However, unconfirmed local media reports claimed families of those impacted are considering legal action as they believe compensation of up to 30 million rupees ($412,000) could be awarded.
âWe were told to stop working on May 15 and come back to the barge,â Naresh said. âBut we were not given any instructions or told that weâll be going back to the shore. They just moved our barge 200 metres away from the oil platform.â
So, P305 remained in open water. On the morning of May 17, when Cyclone Tauktae ushered in winds of 150-200 kmph and waves 10 metres high, six of the bargeâs anchors snapped. The barge then rammed into an oil platform which punctured a hole in the vessel, causing water to gush in.
Survivors and relatives of those dead or missing all asked