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 two dead and four critically injured.
According to officials, the search operation was carried out by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships and rescued all 110 people with 4 still in critical condition.
What happened that led to ferry capsize?
The incident occoured in evening around 6:30 pm where a speedboat rammed in the ferry near Uran, Karanja, according to a viral video.
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.
‘In constant touch with the district and police administration’
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis gave details about the case and 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.
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