The Russian-made MI 172 helicopter, carrying employees from an offshore rig to the Bombay coast, crashed on Monday with 29 workers from India's state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp on board. Three bodies had already been recovered while two managed to survive.

Choppy seas and high winds made rescue work over the past two days difficult as the coast guard and Indian navy joined ONGC divers in the search. The helicopter was found overturned at a depth of 55m, less than 200m from the rig.

The crash has prompted talk of a national strike from ONGC employees over what they say is a lack of safety checks on helicopters. However, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday passed an injunction, restraining the employees from going on strike.

Several unions across the country have also threatened a separate strike from today over the court ruling.

Bombay High is India's largest oilfield, producing about half of the country's crude output. About 150 ONGC staffers are ferried daily by a dozen helicopters with seating capacity ranging from nine to 29.