Mangaluru, May 18 (PTI) The operation to lift the tug vessel 'Alliance' that sank off the coast here on Saturday and ran aground near Padubidri beach in Udupi district, began on Tuesday.

The operation is being monitored by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), which had contracted the vessel owned by Underwater Services Company Limited.

The company has given the contract to Yojak company for the operation to rescue the tug.

Sources said the tug will first be secured with iron ropes so that it does not shift from the current position.

After this, the vessel will be either lifted or an attempt to turn it into an erect position will be undertaken.

The 'Alliance' vessel had eight occupants on board when it capsized.

Two of them died, while three swam ashore with the help of life jackets.

The remaining three are missing.

The three missing people are chief officer Ashfaq Ali Khalpe, seaman driver S K Mainuddin Haqa and diver Pawan Chand Katoch.PTI MVG SS

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)