India intensifies search for missing Malaysian airliner

The Navy has deployed its INS Saryu and INS Kesari for the operations.

The Vishakhapatnam-based Eastern Naval Command has deployed its aircraft assets including the P8I aircraft for search in the Bay of Bengal.

“Additional ships and aircraft are on standby to augment the search. So far, no sighting or detection has been reported by any of the units,” the Navy said.

The Navy has maintained continuous liaison with the operations centres of the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force so as to coordinate the ongoing multi-national efforts involving over 14 countries, 45 ships and 60 aircraft.

The Navy has coordinated search over an area spanning over 2,50,000 sq km in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal thus far and search operations are expected to continue.