Indian Navy Searches for 78 Missing from Barge Sunk by Storm

NEW DELHI - Indian navy ships and helicopters searched in extreme weather and rough seas Wednesday for 78 people still missing from a barge that sank off Mumbai as a deadly cyclone blew ashore this week. 

Navy Cdr. Alok Anand said 183 people were rescued within 24 hours by the three ships and helicopters engaged in the operation.  A survivor told the New Delhi Television news channel that he jumped into the sea with his life jacket and was later picked up by the navy.  In another operation, a navy helicopter rescued 35 crew members of another barge, GAL Constructor, which ran aground north of Mumbai, a government statement said.