Colombo: An Indian fishing vessel carrying 11 crew members ran aground in Sri Lankan territorial waters, prompting a rescue response from the island nation's naval forces, officials confirmed on Thursday. According to the Sri Lanka Navy, the trawler crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line into Sri Lankan waters and was allegedly undertaking bottom trawling prior to striking a reef. Sri Lankan Navy spokesman Commander Chaminda Walakuluge stated that the Indian vessel was carrying out unlawful fishing operations when the incident occurred on Wednesday, with 11 individuals on board. "Due to the impact of grounding on the reef, the trawler has sustained partial structural damage," the Sri Lanka Navy noted in an official statement. The Palk Strait, a narrow channel of water dividing Tamil Nadu from northern Sri Lanka, serves as a vital fishing zone for communities on both sides of the border.