According to a Navy statement, the Navy launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft P8I at 1000 hr on Wednesday to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka.2 min readNew DelhiMar 5, 2026 08:27 PM IST First published on: Mar 5, 2026 at 08:18 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookA vessel sails off the Galle coast after a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship, Iris Dena, off Sri Lanka, in Galle. (REUTERS)The Indian Navy has sent its aircraft and ships to augment the search and rescue efforts for IRIS Dena that was hit by an American torpedo Wednesday while it was on its voyage back to Iran after participating in exercise MILAN and the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam.According to a Navy statement, the Navy launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft P8I at 1000 hr on Wednesday to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka.It said another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept standby for immediate deployment.Additionally, INS Tarangini which was operating in vicinity was deployed for aiding the rescue efforts and arrived in search area by 1600 hr on Wednesday when the SAR had been undertaken by Sri Lankan Navy and other agencies.The Navy added that INS Ikshak has also sailed from Kochi to augment the search efforts and continues to remain in the area to search for missing personnel as a humanitarian measure for ship wrecked personnel.Most Read1US-Israel vs Iran War Live Updates: Sending 4 additional typhoon jets to Qatar amid Middle East conflict, says UK PM Starmer2US-Israel-Iran War Highlights: US Senate bid to limit Trump’s war powers fails, Israel launches ‘new wave of strikes’ in Tehran3Iran-Israel war flight cancellations: How Air India, IndiGo, Emirates, Etihad & other airline passengers can get refund and rebook tickets4US sinks Iran warship, returning from India, near Lanka; 87 killed5Dubai News Live Updates: UAE intercepts 6 ballistic missiles, 125 drones today, says Defence Ministry6‘Shahed-type drone’ that hit British air base in Cyprus was not launched from Iran: UK Defence MinistryStory continues below this adAccording to the Navy, a distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo in the early hours of 04 March 26.The ship, it said, was operating 20 NM West of Galle in the SAR region under Sri Lankan responsibility.AdvertisementLoading Recommendations...