The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has rescued two American citizens who were stranded on a sailing vessel near the Nicobar Islands. The rescue took place about 53 miles south of the islands in the Bay of Bengal, officials said on Friday.

The ICG said that its ship, Rajveer, was sent for the rescue after receiving a distress message from the US Consulate in Chennai. The message informed them about a US-flagged sailing vessel named Sea Angel, which was in trouble at sea.

"The Indian Coast Guard saved two US nationals stranded in a distressed yacht, a US-flagged sailing vessel, Sea Angel, about 53 miles south of the Nicobar Islands. On receipt of a distress message via the US Consulate at Chennai, ICG Ship Rajveer was deployed & responded to the distress situation, navigating through rough sea conditions," the ICG said.

The Coast Guard successfully carried out the rescue despite bad weather and high waves.

Three Sri Lankans rescued last month

This is not the first such operation in recent times. Last month, the Indian Coast Guard also rescued three Sri Lankan nationals. They had been left behind on a sandbar near Adam's Bridge, close to Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu.

"Three Sri Lankans who had set off from Sri Lanka to Dhanushkodi (Tamil Nadu) in an unidentified boat were dropped off at a sandbar by Adam's Bridge near Dhanushkodi. The Indian Coast Guard rescued them, brought them to Dhanushkodi, and handed them over to the Coastal Security Group Police. An investigation is underway," said the Coastal Security Group Police.

The police are now trying to find out more details about the boat and how the three were left behind.

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