The Indian Coast Guard handed them over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard after medical examination

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued 20 Bangladeshi fishermen from the sea off Sagar Island, which is close to the international maritime border between Bangladesh and India, on Tuesday.

Thet were rescued by the ICG in a swift coordinated search and rescue (SAR) operation when a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft on a surveillance sortie following cyclone Sitrang's landfall spotted their upturned boats and notified the SAR crew. They were swiftly saved and handed over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard, India's Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.

In order to clean up the region around the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha and to aid the sailors impacted by the storm, ICG launched its Dornier aircraft after cyclone Sitrang made landfall. To support SAR efforts and clean the region, the Coast Guard ships Vijaya, Varad, and C-426 were also redirected.

In line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed upon between the Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard, the fishermen were examined by a medical officer aboard an ICG ship to determine their fitness before being turned over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

In addition, the ministry's official press release noted that the Indian Coast Guard, in coordination with the governments of Odisha and West Bengal, had taken proactive measures to reduce the risk posed by impending weather or cyclones and had ensured the prompt and safe return of all fishing boats following the receipt of the first indication of the formation of "low pressure area."

Additionally, the Bangladesh Coast Guard received the warning. ICG issued advisories through its radar station and remote operating stations during the passage of the cyclone.