The Indian Coast Guard on Wednesday saved 22 lives by transporting the crew members of a skinning cargo vessel to a safe place.

All the 22 crew members were aboard Maldivian bulk carrier Asian Express, which suffered a technical glitch in engine system and started sinking nearly 60 nautical miles northwest off Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep.

Indian Coast Guard DIG T. K. S. Chandran also revealed that of the 22 crew members, eighteen were Maldivians and four were Indians.

Speaking on the topic, Mr. Chandran said, "Despite heavy flooding, the ship is floating as of now, but all 22 crew, 18 Maldivians and four Indians, have been safely transported to Coast Guard vessel Varuna."

The DIG added that the Indian Coast Guard was alerted by the vessel's master after it started to drift in jerky waters following an engine breakdown.

The ship was on its way to Male from Pakistan's Mohamed Bin Qasim Port. It was reportedly also loaded with cargo of sand and cement.

In the past two months, it was the second vessel accident off the archipelago of Lakshadweep group of island. Last month, five passengers lost their lives when fishing boat carrying them from Amini to Kadmat had sunk.