A ferry, carrying 110 people including crew, en route to Elephanta Island from Mumbai’s iconic Gateway of India, capsized after a navy speedboat rammed into it, leaving 13 dead including 10 civilians and 3 Navy personnel
According to officials, the search operation is being carried out by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships and rescued 101 people with 4 still in critical condition.
What happened that led to ferry capsize?
The incident occurred in evening around 6:30 pm where a speedboat rammed in the ferry near Uran, Karanja, according to a viral video.
As per the officials the incident happened when a naval speed-craft undergoing trials in the sea went out of control and rammed into the ferry. The naval boat’s engine had been recently changed and the new engine was being tested.
Also Read: 13 dead after ferry with over 100 passengers capsizes near Gateway of India in Mumbai; rescue operations underway
The engine got stuck in full throttle and the boat went out of control and rammed into the ferry Neelkamal.
A video of the incident that is going viral showed the speedboat from a far distance trying to take a turn, apparently to avoid the crash but still it lost control and crashed into the ferry off Mumbai coast.
Over 10 people feared dead: Indian Navy
The Navy officials told ANI that more than 10 people are feared dead in the ferry incident off the Mumbai coast. According to the official, the incident happened when a naval speed-craft undergoing trials, as the engines has been changed, in the sea went out of control and rammed into the ferry.
The naval boat had 6 persons on board including 2 naval personnel and 4 members from the firm which had supplied the engine. The ferry had 80 adult passengers along with five crew members, official said.
” The number of children present on the ferry is being ascertained as they were not issued tickets. The search operations are going on. More details awaited,” Indian Navy officials said.
‘Efforts underway, 11 rescue crafts and 6 helicopters deployed’
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis gave details about the case and said that a total of 101 people have been rescued and 13 people have died.
According to Fadnavis, while speaking with mediamen outside Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday evening, 11 rescue crafts and 6 helicopters were deployed to carry out the operation. Efforts are ongoing to ascertain if any individuals are still missing, with a final report expected by tomorrow morning.
The Chief Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased.
In a post on X, the CM said that the a team of Navy, Coast Guard, Port and Police teams have been immediately dispatched for assistance.
“We have received reports of an accident involving the boat Nilkamal, which was heading towards Elephanta. Boats from the Navy, Coast Guard, Port and Police teams have been immediately dispatched for assistance. We are in constant touch with the district and police administration and fortunately most of the citizens have been rescued. However, rescue operations are still underway. Orders have been given to the district administration to deploy all the necessary machinery for the rescue operation.,” he said in a post on X.
While addressing the state assembly, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said, “I have received preliminary information. Approximately 30 to 35 people have been on that boat. Out of them, 20 people have been rescued. Preliminary information is that 5 to 7 people are still missing. I will make a statement in the House as soon as I receive detailed information. The boat had left for Elephanta at around 3.15 pm.”
Deputy CM on ferry incident
Meanwhile, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde directed authorities to expedite the rescue operations, which were launched by the Indian Coast Guard and local police.
“Deputy CM Shinde took information about the rescue operations from the Mumbai City and Raigad District Collectors. Giving instructions to speed up the rescue operations with the help of the Navy, JNPT, Coast Guard and local fishing boats, deputy chief minister Mr Shinde told the system,” deputy CM’s Office said in a statement.
“Upon receiving information about the accident of the ferry boat going to Elephanta, deputy chief minister Shinde contacted Raigad District Collector Kisan Jawale and Mumbai City District Collector Sanjay Yadav over the phone and inquired about the rescue operations. At the same time, he also spoke to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ports) Sudhakar Pathare over the phone and inquired about the information,” the statement added.