Bangalore: An Indian satellite has helped in saving the lives of 28 persons by detecting the distress signals from a Chinese cargo vessel, M V Yujiya, which sank in the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on August 29.

ISRO said that soon after the distress signals were detected by the Satellite Aided Search & Rescue transponder on board ISRO's INSAT-3A spacecraft, the rescue authorities of Indian Coast Guard were alerted by ISRO's Indian Mission Control Centre in Bangalore, and all the 28 persons on board the vessel were rescued.

The incident happened on August 11, ISRO said in a statement, adding, the Centre is part of the international "COSPASS-SARSAT" Satellite Aided Search & Rescue Programme.

It was noted that INSAT-3A, launched on April 10, 2003, carries a Search & Rescue transponder that keeps a constant vigil over the Indian Ocean region, complementing the COSPASS-SARSAT satellites, for detecting distress signals from beacons carried by maritime, aviation and land users.

The satellites transmit the distress signals to the Local User Terminals established by ISRO at Bangalore and Lucknow. The alert signals are then passed onto the Search & Rescue Coordination Centres at Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi, along with location information, for rescue operations.

On July 24, this Satellite Aided Search & Rescue System detected a distress signal from a Panama cargo vessel, M V Jubilee, which was sinking in the Bay of Bengal, and all the 21 crew members were also rescued, ISRO said.

PTI