Cargo ship catches fire off Colombo coast, Navy sends help

The Indian Navy tonight sent two ships to help a cargo vessel which had caught fire off the coast of Colombo.

Fire broke out on merchant ship MV-Daniela, which was traced at 11 nautical miles off the Sri Lankan coast. The cause of the blaze was not yet known.

The Navy has dispatched two of its ships -- INS Ghariyal and INS Darshak -- to assist the vessel and would reach it shortly, an official spokesperson said.

"It is reported that fire broke out on the merchant ship as she is in urgent need of assistance presently MV Daniela is 11 nautical miles due west of Colombo," Navy spokesperson Capt D K Sharma tweeted.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)