13 killed, 99 rescued after Navy speedboat rams ferry

According to the Navy, one of its personnel and two from the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), who were on board the speedboat, were among the dead.

According to preliminary information from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), over 110 passengers, including five crew members, were on board the ferry, Neelkamal, when the incident took place around 4 pm. The ferry departed Gateway of India around 3.15 pm and capsized near Uran in Karanja after being hit by the Navy craft.

The ferry owner’s brother, who was at the spot, said the accident occurred when the Navy boat, which was circling nearby, hit the ferry at high speed. “The Navy speedboat came and dashed the ferry,” Rajendra Patade told reporters. He said the ferry used to make trips to Elephanta from Gateway of India every day around 3 pm. According to local ferry owners, Patade and his brother run four such boats.

“The impact of the speedboat ramming the ferry was so strong that the ferry broke into two parts,” said former MLC Jayant Patil, who was also present at the site.

Officials who were part of the rescue operation said the Navy speedboat had six persons on board.

In a statement, the Navy said, “At about 1600 h … 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. Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched by the Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police…. The accident has reportedly led to the tragic loss of 13 lives, including 1 Naval personnel and 2 OEM (personnel) onboard the Naval craft… So far, 99 survivors have been rescued.”

According to the Navy, four naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, one Coast Guard boat and three Marine Police boats were undertaking rescue efforts. The survivors were transferred to jetties and hospitals in the vicinity.

A senior police officer said they have registered an FIR against the occupants of the Navy boat based on the complaint of the ferry occupants.

Around 5.45 pm, the first batch of the rescued passengers arrived at the Gateway of India and they were escorted to the nearby Colaba police station for further enquiries, before being escorted to hospital.

According to the BMC, 56 of those rescued were taken to the JNPT Hospital. One person taken to JNPT hospital was declared dead while the condition of three is stated to be critical.

Apart from them, 22 people were taken to a hospital in the Navy dockyard. Of them, two were declared dead while 20 were stable.

Besides them, 10 people taken to NDK Hospital, Mora, were declared dead. One taken to Ashwini Hospital is critical.

Twelve people were taken to Karanje Hospital and 9 to St George Hospital. The condition of all 21 was stable, the BMC said.

Stating that the incident will be investigated both by Navy and police, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “The incident of a passenger boat of Neelkamal Company capsizing in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai city is very unfortunate.”

“According to the information given by Navy Vice Admiral Sanjay Jagjit Singh, the Navy doctors have declared 13 people dead till 7.30 pm. Out of these, 3 are Navy personnel and 10 are civilians…. The search operation is still ongoing. Therefore, detailed information will be available by tomorrow,” Fadnavis said.

“The kin of the deceased will be given financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each from the CM Relief Fund. The mishap will be investigated by the Navy and the state government officials,” he said.

The three on the speedboat who died were identified as Navy officer Mahendra Singh Shekhawat and OEM personnel Praveen Sharma and Mangesh. The 10 other dead included Rakesh Ahire, Akshata Ahire, Mithu Rakesh Ahire (8 years), Mahi Pawra (3), Safiana Pathan, Deepak V and Mohamed Rehan Qureshi. Three others — two women and one man — remain unidentified.