Fourteen Indians aboard cruise vessel MSV Sri Krishna Sagar, which sank in international waters off Iraq on December 27, are feared dead, according to sources.

A Norwegian tanker sailing some 50 miles south of the Basra Oil Terminal, the scene of the tragic mishap, managed to rescue two survivors the next day and airlift them to safety in Bahrain.

According to Indian diplomatic sources in the Bahraini capital, Manama, they were later flown to Mumbai.

US Fifth Fleet Naval Command sources in Bahrain told Khaleej Times on Sunday night that the USS Howard was also involved in the search and rescue operation.

Even as round-the-clock search and rescue mission continues, sources said the chances of finding survivors are now dim.

The Indian-flagged vessel, it is learnt, belonged to the Tadia family in Mumbai and was on a scheduled sailing in the Gulf waters. Details of crew and passengers on board the ill-fated vessel are not available so far.

This is the third Indian vessel that has sunk in the same vicinity in the past one month. However, crew of the first two vessels were rescued.