Passenger ferries at the Gateway of India in Mumbai
Mumbai/New Delhi: 13 lives were lost in a collision of an Indian Navy craft with a passenger ferry in the Arabian Sea off Karanja in Mumbai today. Among those who were killed included one naval personnel and two OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) representatives onboard the naval craft. Rescue operations were underway and so far 99 survivors have been rescued, the Indian Navy stated.
The accident happened due to an engine malfunction of the naval craft at around 16 hours. The Indian Navy craft was undergoing engine trials when it lost control and collided with the passenger ferry Neel Kamal, carrying passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island. The passenger ferry subsequently capsized.
The Indian Navy stated it immediately launched search and Rescue efforts in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that injured personnel, including naval personnel and civilians from both vessels, were receiving urgent medical care. He offered condolences to the bereaved families and said extensive search and rescue efforts were ongoing by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, deploying multiple assets, to locate missing persons.
The survivors picked up by the Indian Navy and civil craft in the area were transferred to jetties and shifted to hospitals in the vicinity.
Four naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, one Coast Guard boat, and three Marine Police boats were undertaking rescue efforts. An Indian Navy spokesperson said the accounting of all personnel was in progress along with the search and rescue efforts in the area.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the boat mishap and announced an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF)for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the injured.
The Prime Minister’s Office posted on X said: “The boat mishap in Mumbai is saddening. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. Those affected are being assisted by the authorities: PM @narendramodi”.
President Droupadi Murmu also condoled the deaths and stated she was “shocked and saddened to learn of the accident involving a passenger ferryboat and an Indian Navy craft boat near Mumbai Harbour”. She added, ” I pray for the swift success of the rescue and relief operations and a quick recovery of the survivors”.
– global bihari bureau
