Indian Navy Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi has offered heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of those who lost their lives.
The Indian Navy confirmed that the search-and-rescue operations are in progress, and Adm. D.K. Tripathi CNS expressed condolences on behalf of the Indian Navy to the bereaved families of individuals killed in the Mumbai Boat Tragedy, according to an official statement.
The Mumbai Boat Tragedy
During the night of 18 and 19 December 2024, Search and Rescue operations continued in the vicinity of the incident.
The unfortunate incident of collision between a boat and an Indian Navy craft occurred on Wednesday off the coast of Mumbai.
The passenger boat ‘Neel Kamal’ from Mandwa to Elephanta Island was reported to have been struck by a Navy craft while it was conducting engine trials.
About 100 people were rescued from both the Neelkamal boat and the Navy ship.
The injured were rushed to JJ Hospital, GT Hospital, SSG Hospital, and private establishments for treatment. Tragically, thirteen lives were lost in the incident.
Of the 113 persons on board both vessels, 13 died and 98 people, including two injured, were rescued.
The Navy craft had six persons aboard; two of them survived, the official said.
The missing passengers are identified to be Hansraj Bhati, aged 43, and seven-year-old Johan Mohammad Nisar Ahmed Pathan, police said.
Thirteen persons have been reported dead, including Navy personnel and two contractual naval employees, as the Navy craft crashed into the passenger ferry Neel Kamal, which was carrying more than a hundred passengers from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Island on Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police have started their inquiry into the matter and are gathering information from the Mumbai Maritime Board (MMB).
Coordination from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Maritime Police ensured the rescue operations were initiated.
The vessel is involved, along with 11 ships from the Navy, three ships from the Marine Police, and one ship from the Coast Guard, which have been combing the area.
To locate the other passengers on board, four helicopters have been called in for SAR operations.
The State’s involvement:
Fadnavis stated that a speed boat from either the Army or Coast Guard, before it capsized, crashed into the ferry, probably losing control on the way.
Fadnavis announced a monetary aid of Rs 5 lakh from the CM’s Relief Fund to the kin of the victims of that “extremely unfortunate” incident. Prime Minister Modi announced Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia for the relatives of the dead.
Passenger’s Encounter:
“Scary: A passenger on the ferry narrates,
Ganesh, 45, standing aboard the ferry, had just one chilling thought when he saw a speedy vessel on course for the ferry: it might be inevitable; it was.”
“The ship, later identified as a naval vessel, was going round and round in the Arabian Sea while our ferry was on its way to Elephanta Island, which is one of the most visited places by tourists from Mumbai. I got on the ferry around 3:30 PM,” said Ganesh while addressing PTI.
“I did have a passing thought that the naval craft might collide with ours, and a few seconds later… it did,” the witness, who was on the deck of the doomed Neel Kamal ferry, said.
This was witnessed by a resident of Hyderabad, who was among the first 99 of the rescued passengers after the impact. He mentioned that there were over 100 passengers on the ferry when the accident occurred, including children.
