ONGC reaches out to families of sunk barge

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC NSE -0.53 %) has started reaching out to families of the dead, missing and survivors of the private contractor-operated barge that sank in the Arabian Sea after being battered by a severe cyclone.

While Indian Navy, Coast Guard, ONGC teams and private contractor Afcons are putting in all efforts to locate the missing personnel through sea vessels and aerial search, the state-owned firm has extended an immediate relief of Rs 1 lakh to the survivors and Rs 2 lakh to the deceased and missing persons’ families, company officials said.

“Teams have formed which have started visiting the families to hand over immediate relief amounts,” an official said. “So far, 13 families have been provided with the immediate relief and the rest will be handed over the cheques at the earliest possible.