Residents of the Vypeen island were the first to respond. They were soon joined by rescue teams from coastal police, Coast Guard, Navy, marine enforcement wing, fire and rescue services department and the Port Trust.
In all, 16 boats from various agencies besides a helicopter each from the Navy and the Coast Guard were mobilised for the rescue efforts. Mohammed Yasin, Additional Director General of Police, Coastal Security, who was in charge of the rescue operation told The Hindu that scuba divers from the Navy and the Coast Guard scoured the bottom of the sea in search of survivors after the sunken vessel was hauled up with help from the Fire and Rescue Services and the Cochin Port Trust. Since the undercurrent towards the sea was strong in the evening, a naval vessel was tasked with searching the outer channel for floating bodies.
