13 killed as Navy speedboat collides with ferry near Mumbai
Mumbai/IBNS: At least 13 people including a naval officer died as a Indian Navy speedboat, which was undergoing engine trials, lost control and collided with a passenger ferry off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday, the Indian Navy said in a statement.
In the statement, the navy said 13 people including a naval officer and two people from the original equipment manufacturer were killed in the accident.
A video of the accident was captured on camera which shows the navy craft, carrying five people, speeding towards the ferry boat after losing control.
The ferry was carrying passengers from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination because of the rock cut cave temples famously known as the Elephanta Caves.
Ten ferry passengers were killed, while the remaining 102 including the two survivors from the navy craft were rescued.
#WATCH video
— Vallabh Ozarkar (@OzarkarVallabh) December 18, 2024
A Passenger boat en route to #Elephantacaves from #Gateway of India In #Mumbai capsized after Indian Navy's speed boat hit it.
The owner of the capsized boat, Rajendra Padate alleged that a speed boat which was circling nearby came & dashed into the boat. pic.twitter.com/s23Er7VnGu
"At about 1600 hours (4 pm), a navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with a passenger ferry, Neel Kamal, off Karanja, Mumbai. The ferry was carrying passengers from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island," the navy said in a statement.
Today afternoon, an #IndianNavy craft lost control while undertaking engine trials in Mumbai Harbour due to engine malfunction. As a result, the boat collided with a passenger ferry which subsequently capsized.
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 18, 2024
13 fatalities have been reported so far. Survivors rescued from the…
The Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police launched an immediate search and rescue operation.
"Four naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, one Coast Guard boat and three Marine Police boats are undertaking rescue efforts. The survivors picked up by Navy and civil craft in the area have been transferred to jetties and hospitals in the vicinity. So far 99 survivors have been rescued," it said.
The video of the speedboat colliding with the ferry surfaced over two hours after the accident happened.
Earlier, it was reported the ferry started sinking. However, the cause was not known.
The boat had sailed from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, off the Mumbai coast.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was "deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the collision between passenger ferry and the Indian Navy craft in Mumbai harbour..."
Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the collision between passenger ferry and Indian Navy craft in Mumbai Harbour. Injured personnel, including naval personnel & civilians from both vessels, are receiving urgent medical care.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 18, 2024
My heartfelt condolences to the…
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh from the CM's Relief Fund to the families of those who died in the accident.
More visuals show people wearing life jackets being rescued and shifted to another boat, while the vessel began tilting towards the water surface.
The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard carried out the rescue operation, with 11 navy boats, three boats of the Marine Police, and a boat of the Coast Guard deployed in the area, a defence official said.
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