Coast Guard rescues four ailing crew members from an offshore casino

Panaji, July 16 (IANS):  An Indian Coast Guard team rescued four ailing crew members early on Sunday from an offshore casino vessel anchored in the Aguada bay off Panaji after the vessel hit a sandbar due to drifting in choppy waters.

The four onboard casino vessel 'MV Lucky Seven' owned by former Haryana Home Minister Gopal Kanda were rescued following a helicopter-borne rescue operation, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard told reporters.

"We have rescued four crew members trapped onboard the vessel. They had minor injuries," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said the helicopter was pressed into service because the choppy waters made it difficult to rescue the crew members by a rescue boat.

The Mandovi river off Panaji is already home to five operational offshore casinos and the soon-to-be operational MC Lucky Seven is the sixth casino to join the fleet.