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Inside story: Bad weather has prevented the Coast Guard from boarding this barge

A day after 12 mysterious barges were spotted on Wednesday along the picturesque Srivardhan coastline, about 200 kilometres from Mumbai, the Indian Coast Guard carried out two aerial surveys to keep a check on the barges.

The aerial survey disclosed that there are 12 barges - measuring 50 metres - stacked on board Dina Barge, the main carrier. The barges are abandoned and there are no crewmembers on board. Investigating agencies say they could still be in the area. Two aerial offshore patrol vessels were also sent to observe the suspicious barge, but bad weather prevented them from boarding the stranded ship.

Coast Guard commander AKS Panwar told MiD DAY, "A team of officers is investigating the case. We are trying to find out from where the barges have come."

However, what has raised eyebrows among intelligence officials is that nobody has claimed the barge, which is worth a few hundred crores. Investigating agencies plan to board the barge and collect evidence once the weather is normal. Srivardhan and the adjoining Dighi coast had witnessed large-scale landing of arms and RDX prior to the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai. Dighi port authorities said the barges have not grounded in their jurisdiction and that the barges have nothing to do with the port.

The presence of these barges is significant, as police has unearthed clinching evidence that the Pakistan Navy, in association with the Inter Services Intelligence, has trained Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists to target sensitive places and installations in Mumbai.