As many as 70 bodies of crew members, who were onboard Papaa-305 construction barge and tug vessel Varaprada working at an ONGC project site, have been recovered from the Arabian Sea, according to a tweet by the Indian Navy. The crew members were working at a project site of Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd. (ONGC).

The ONGC is continuing a search and rescue operation with the Navy and Coast Guard.

Tauktae hit the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai in the early hours of May 17. Wind speed rose to nearly 150-180 km/hour, with 6-8-metre high waves where ONGC’s major production installations and drilling rigs are located.

Three construction barges of M/s Afcons working on a project of ONGC in Western Offshore fields in the Arabian Sea and one floater drilling rig of ONGC were severely impacted in the cyclone and Barge P-305 sank during the cyclone.

Forty-two bodies have been identified so far and handed over to their families, 25 bodies are yet to be identified, a Mint report said.

According to the petroleum and natural gas ministry, five vessels with 714 personnel were caught in the cyclonic storm as Tauktae pounded the Arabian Sea. A total of 628 people were rescued.

 These vessels were Sagar Bhushan drillship, construction barges—Support, Station-3, Gal Constructor and P-305—with Varaprada handling the anchor of Gal Constructor, it added.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) is extending logistical help to families of affected crew members of Barge P-305, the state-run driller said Sunday.

"The company will provide all necessary logistical help and support for the dependent family members to travel to Mumbai and back besides making arrangements for families to take back the mortal remains of the deceased persons to their hometowns," it added.