Victims’ kin of capsized Mumbai boat await for updates on fate of their dear ones: ‘Where did they go?’

As passengers from the capsized boat were taken to hospitals across Mumbai, family members flocked to the Gateway of India, hoping for answers.

The situation was chaotic, with initial reports suggesting one casualty and 21 rescued. However, by the evening, the death toll had risen to 13.

The ferry, named Neelkamal and carrying more than 110 passengers to Elephanta Island off Mumbai coast, capsized after a Navy speedboat crashed into it on Wednesday.

A total of 101 victims were taken to hospitals across the Mumbai metropolitan region, with many still unidentified.

Relatives, who had only just learned of the disaster, rushed from post to post in search of their loved ones.

Among them was Santoshi Parmar, who had arrived from Vasai in search of her family.

“At around 5:00 pm, I received a call from my husband, who was on board the crashed boat. He was crying, telling me that our little niece had gone missing. Eight members of our family were on the boat heading to the Elephanta Caves. Now, two of them—my sister-in-law and my niece—are missing,” she said through tears.

Her relatives, who had come from Madhya Pradesh for a visit, were supposed to spend the day sightseeing at Elephanta Island.

Santoshi anxiously awaited the release of another list of victims, hoping to find where her missing relatives had been taken.

By Wednesday evening, the civic body confirmed that at least 110 people were taken to hospitals, with 13 confirmed dead.

The deceased were spread across multiple hospitals, including Mora’s NDK Hospital, JNPT Hospital, and Navy Dockyard Hospital.

Kamlesh Kumar, a resident of Kalbadevi, was also at the Gateway, looking for his family friend, Hansraj. Kamlesh explained that five family friends had arrived from Rajasthan for a housewarming ceremony in Mumbai and decided to visit Elephanta Island. “We got a call immediately after the accident, and we rushed to the scene. Four members of our family were found, but one—Hansraj—is still missing. His name wasn’t on the first list of victims, so we’re waiting for the next one to see where he is. Authorities assured us they will provide the updated list soon,” Kamlesh said.

Hitendra Rathod, who was with Kamlesh, shared the same concerns. While four members of their group had been located, they still did not know which hospital they were in.