13 Dead as Navy Speedboat Collides with Passenger Ferry off Mumbai Coast
A fatal collision between an Indian Navy speedboat and a passenger ferry near Mumbai left 13 dead. Rescue operations involving navy boats, helicopters, and local fishermen saved 102 survivors.
Mumbai: Tragedy struck near the Mumbai coastline as an Indian Navy speedboat, undergoing engine trials, lost control and collided with a passenger ferry on its way to Elephanta Island. The accident, which occurred around 4 PM, claimed 13 lives, including a naval officer and two representatives from the boat's original equipment manufacturer.
The ferry, identified as Neel Kamal, was carrying 110 passengers, of which 10 lost their lives. The navy craft, with five personnel onboard, saw three fatalities. In total, 102 survivors, including two from the navy speedboat, were rescued.
“A navy craft undergoing engine trials collided with a passenger ferry off Karanja, Mumbai, at approximately 1600 hours. The ferry was en route from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island,” the Indian Navy confirmed in an official statement.
A video of the collision, filmed from the ferry, surfaced hours later, showing the moment of impact and subsequent chaos. Visuals revealed passengers wearing life jackets being transferred to another vessel as the ferry began tilting dangerously.
The Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, expressed his condolences, stating he was "deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the collision."
The Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Police, and local authorities carried out an extensive rescue operation involving 11 navy boats, three Marine Police vessels, a Coast Guard boat, and four helicopters. Local fishermen and workers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority also played a crucial role in the rescue efforts.
Passengers aboard the ferry were traveling to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination known for its historic caves located east of the Gateway of India. While initial reports suggested the ferry was sinking, the navy clarified that the collision caused it to tilt rather than sink.
This tragic incident highlights the need for stricter safety protocols in waterways near Mumbai, which see heavy traffic due to the popularity of destinations like Elephanta Caves.
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