NEW DELHI: Thirteen people lost their lives, and 101 others were rescued after a Mumbai boat accident caused a ferry to capsize while traveling from Mumbai’s Gateway of India to Elephanta Island. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
The Neelkamal ferry was en route to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination near Mumbai, when a naval speedboat collided with it. The incident occurred when a naval craft, undergoing engine trials, lost control and crashed into the ferry. The boat’s engine, which had recently been replaced, malfunctioned and got stuck in full throttle, causing the boat to veer off course and strike the ferry. The naval boat was carrying six individuals, including two naval personnel and four representatives from the company that supplied the engine.
Reports indicate that the ferry had over 110 passengers, including 20 children, while the naval boat had six crew members.
Rescue operations were quickly launched by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Police. The efforts involved 11 Navy boats, three Marine Police boats, and one Coast Guard vessel, with four helicopters deployed for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations to locate any remaining survivors.
Fadnavis stated that the ferry capsized after being struck by a speedboat, which he said was either from the Navy or Coast Guard, that lost control.
To assist the victims’ families, Fadnavis announced a financial aid of Rs 5 lakh from the CM’s Relief Fund. Prime Minister Modi also offered Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased.
CISF Jawans Rescue 56 People Using a Pilot Boat
The CISF jawans managed to rescue 56 individuals after a ferry collided with a Navy vessel off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday. The CISF reported that its personnel reached the site of the accident near Butcher Island, about 6 km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPA), using a patrolling boat.
The CISF’s patrolling boat, along with the pilot boat SHM-XXIII, rescued the 56 passengers, who were then taken to the JNPA landing jetty. Even though the accident occurred beyond the JNPA’s normal patrolling limits, CISF boats were immediately dispatched after receiving information from Port Control. The CISF said they helped at the JNPA landing jetty to safely transfer the rescued people to JNPA Hospital for treatment.
Eyewitness Describes the Incident
Ganesh, a 45-year-old passenger, recounted the horror of the incident. He noticed a speedboat-like craft circling around the ferry he was aboard, and a chilling thought crossed his mind: an impact was imminent—and it soon came to pass.
“The boat, which was later confirmed to be a naval vessel, was circling the Arabian Sea while our ferry was on its way to Elephanta Island,” Ganesh told PTI. “I boarded the ferry at around 3:30 pm.”
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“I briefly thought that the naval vessel might collide with our ferry, and within moments, it did,” said Ganesh, a resident of Hyderabad, who was one of the first 99 passengers rescued after the collision. He confirmed that there were over 100 passengers on the ferry, including children, at the time of the incident.
