Mumbai: In a shocking incident, a haphardly-driven rigid inflatable boat (RIB) of the Indian Navy crashed into a ferry carrying 80 tourists from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Caves on Wednesday afternoon killing at least 13 persons, including three Navy personnel.
The ferry, "Nilkamal" on a regular trip from the Gateway of India to Elephanta when it was suddenly hit on the stern by speeding Indian Navy's RIB undergoing sea trials and capsized.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is at Nagpur attending the winter session of the legislature, made a statement in the house confirming the death of 13 persons and announced a granǰt of Rs 5 lakhs to the families of each of them. About 70 others were rescued.
Mariners have questioned the Indian Navy's lackadisical attitude of operating a high speed RIB in the high density traffic lanes between the Gateway of India - Uran sea lanes. “It is shocking the Indian Navy allowed engine trials in the high traffic area,” raged a senior mariner managing the super yachts of a top industrialist moored at the Gateway of India.
Senior naval commanders expressed dismay at the poor seamanship of Indian Navy sailors leading to accidents at sea and at anchor.
“It is shameful that a naval rating cannot handle a RIB and it crashed into a passenger ferry. Training standards have fallen down and need drastic improvements befitting the sword arm of the Indian Navy,” said a senior naval officer with the western naval command HQ.
Video shots taken by passengers in other ferries clearly showed the RIB being driven rashly and and then hitting the ferry throwing several screaming passengers into the choppy waters. “Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with a passenger ferry Neelkamal off Karanja, Mumbai," an official stated.
Preliminary reports from the Joint Operations Center (JOC) indicate that the "Neelkamal" ferry boat, en route to Elephanta Caves, capsized on approximately at 3:15 PM. The boat was reportedly carrying over 110 passengers.
Rajendra Padate, the owner of "Neelkamal" said, “My boat has a capacity of 130 passengers, and on this trip, there were 80 onboard, travelling from Gateway of India to Elephanta Caves. A Navy speed boat collided with our ferry, leading to the accident.”
Rescue efforts were initiated by the Navy, in collaboration with the JNPT, Coast Guard, and Yellow Gate Police Station, alongside local fishermen. DCP Dr. Pravin Mundhe confirmed, “Eleven Navy boats, 3 Marine Police boats, and 1 Coast Guard vessel are actively involved in the operations. Additionally, 4 helicopters are conducting search and rescue (SAR) operations.”
Shravankumar Chaudhari, Who first shoot the video of Ferry collision incident | File Photo
The coordinated efforts aim to locate and rescue any remaining passengers, and further details will emerge as the investigation unfolds.
Ashok Rao, an eyewitness, shared chilling details of the accident. He stated, “After the ferry started, around 5 to 8 kilometers into the journey, another boat began circling ours. Eventually, it collided with our ferry, causing it to capsize.” Rao added, “I managed to find a life jacket and swam for about 15 minutes before spotting another boat nearby and getting help.”
Authorities are probing the circumstances leading to the incident, with a focus on identifying any lapses in safety or protocol. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
According to Indian Coast Gaurd a total of 99 survivors were rescued by Indian Navy, Coast and civilian vessels in the vicinity. “A total of 13 lives were lost in the tragic accident including a navy personnel personnel and two engine manufacturer officials onboard the Naval craft,” confirmed the Indian Navy spokesperson.
The western naval command has been plagued with a series of accidents causing loss of lives and severe damages to front line warships and submarines.
Last month Scorpene class submarine INS Karanj had collided with a fishing trawler FV Marthoma, in the Arabian Sea, about 70 nautical miles off the coast of Goa while surfacing during Sea Vigil coast defence exercises leading to death of two fishermen while 11 were rescued.
The submarine sustained major damages to the propulsion system estimated to be about Rs 10 crore. The Navy has lodged an FIR with the Yellowgate police against the captain of the fishing boat and other crew for causing death by rash and negligent act and endangering human life.
A total of 57 people were brought to JNPT Township Hospital in Nhava Sheva of which one boy aged around eight years was brought dead. According to police, the identity of the boy is yet to be confirmed. Of the 57 people, 16 were females and 41 males, including six children. One man and woman were Germans, identified as Gabrila Orosco and Henrik Gosoling.
Narrating the incident Santosh Jadhav (48) from Mira road said, that whole experience was scary but they didn’t lose courage and kept encouraging others to not lose hope while they were stranded in the water for close to an hour.
“My niece and a nephew from Palghar had come to visit us and hence we decided to go to Elephanta caves. We started at 3.20 pm from Gateway of India and by around 4pm, a speeding boat which we are told belonged to Navy, crashed onto us damaging the boat. We were in the lower deck. There was a total chaos. Water entered the boat from everywhere. We grabbed on to the boat that was floating. My family was with me. There were kids right from the age of two years who were in the water,” Jadhav said, adding, “The sight was something that I don’t want to recollect. I kept telling everyone to have courage. After close to an hour, we were saved by Navy boats. We are grateful to the navy, jnpt officials and the authority of JNPT who helped us in the hospital with clothes, food and tea.”
Jadhav was his wife Sunita (35), daughter Arya (18), neice Vidhi (21) and nephew Prashik (17). At the time of the rescue, Jadhav was separated from his wife but was relived to find that his wife was safe at Colaba. “I spoke to my son who went to Colaba to check on her,” Jadhav added.
According to hospital authorities, none of the patients brought in had any major injuries but were in shock. They were provided with biscuits, tea, clothes and first aid treatment and made to rest. “After confirming the identities of the patients, bus arrangement would be made to drop them to Mumbai,” said a police officer from Nhava SHeva Police STtaion.
Meanwhile for Ashraf Pathan (38), from Goa, who came to Mumbai on Tuesday with his wife and two sons aged seven years and 10 month old, it is still a harrowing experience as he has no idea where his wife and seven year old son is.
“The 10 month old baby was with me but my wife and elder son still remain missing. I have no information on them from Mumbai as well. The accident happened because to the men who were on the speed boat that hit our boat. When the accident happened, we were at the upper deck,” Pathan recalled.
“We have arranged two buses from Dadar and CST for the people o travel,” Dinesh Patil, JNPT authority, said.
Tehsildars and former sarpanchs of the nearby villages in Uran Taluka had reached the hospital to extend support. The JNPT Township hospital had around 45 minutes of time to prepare for the emergency they were going to face. Around 25 nurses and doctors from the hospital were prepared to attend the patients.
“There were minor injuries like scratches and tissue abresions. Some were treated for hypothermia as well. All have been discharged except for 57 year old woman whose oxygen saturation level has gone down,” Medical officer Priya Bisht from the hospital said.
FIR under Cr no 283/24 u/s 106(1), 125 (a) (b), 282, 324 (3)(5) of BNS has been registered in colaba police station in relation to incident of Neelkamal boat capsizing against Navy speed boat driver and responsible others, on the complaint of survivor Natharam Chaudhary, 22-year-old resident of Sakinaka Mumbai.
