A tragic boat collision occurred off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 13 people, including three Indian Navy personnel. The crash involved a speedboat, identified as an Indian Navy craft, which lost control and collided with a passenger ferry.
According to the Indian Navy, the incident was caused by an engine malfunction during engine trials in Mumbai Harbour. The Navy confirmed that the speedboat’s loss of control led to the collision, which caused the ferry to capsize.
The Navy issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “An Indian Navy craft lost control while undertaking engine trials in Mumbai Harbour due to engine malfunction. As a result, the boat collided with a passenger ferry, which subsequently capsized.” It also reported that rescue operations were swiftly launched, involving naval helicopters, naval crafts, and a Coast Guard boat to recover survivors.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
As of now, 13 fatalities have been confirmed, including 10 civilians and three Navy personnel. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that 101 people were rescued from the site of the incident. The ferry, the Neelkamal, was en route to Elephanta Islands, a popular tourist destination near Mumbai, when it was struck by the Navy craft around 4 pm.
Though the exact number of people on board both vessels has not been specified, the rescue teams, which included four naval helicopters and 11 naval crafts, have worked relentlessly to locate and assist survivors. Survivors were immediately transferred to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
Government and Official Reactions
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident. In a statement on X, Singh said, “Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the collision between passenger ferry and Indian Navy craft in Mumbai Harbour. Injured personnel, including naval personnel and civilians from both vessels, are receiving urgent medical care. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Extensive search and rescue efforts are ongoing by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, deploying multiple assets, to locate missing persons.”
The incident has raised concerns regarding safety protocols during naval trials and the handling of naval vessels in busy areas like Mumbai Harbour. Further investigations are expected to determine whether additional factors contributed to the tragic accident.
