During interrogation, the Bangladeshis told the ICG that they were wandering in the sea for three days without rations and water after losing their way to Thailand.

"The boat carrying these Bangladeshi nationals did not have a Compass, which could tell the direction in which they were moving and were wandering for three days in the sea.

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They had exhausted their rations and drinking water also," he said.

Giving details of the operation, Jain said, "A coast guard helicopter on surveillance sortie at 1030 hours on January 8 sighted a black coloured mechanised boat near Rutland Island south of Port Blair with 50-60 people on board waving for help after they had lost their way to Thailand."

The boat, he said, had sailed from Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh on January 1 towards the South-east Asian country and lost its way and came close to the Andaman islands.

After locating the boat, the chopper sent a message to the ICG regional headquarters in Port Blair, which dispatched a C-140 fast interceptor boat towards the mechanised boat to bring it safely to the shore.