The Indian Coast Guard today evacuated a patient from the research vessel Sindu Sadhana belonging to the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa at about 290 nautical miles from the Chennai coast and shifted the patient to a local hospital.

The Coast Guard, positioned in Chennai, received a medical distress call from the vessel saying one Rajeev Kumar was suffering from severe lower abdomen pain and required medical assistance at the earliest.

(The research vessel has been undertaking oceanographic studies at about 550 nautical miles from Chennai).

Following this, the Coast Guard regional headquarters launched the medical evacuation operation by deploying Indian Coast Guard ship Varad from Chennai with a medical team.

A senior official said Varad, an offshore patrol vessel, undertook the medical evacuation in the mid sea from the NIO vessel at about 10 a.m. on Monday and brought the patient safely to Chennai at 9 a.m. today.

According to the official, the patient was managed by the Coast Guard medical team during the passage. The patient, on examination, was diagnosed to be suffering from acute Tenthritis (hernia) and intestinal infection.

Rajeev was shifted to a local hospital for further medical management.

The Coast Guard vessel, Varad, commanded by Commandant Anwar Khan, executed the medical evacuation operation in the extreme rough weather conditions in keeping with the chartered responsibilities of Coast Guard.