Mumbai :
A motor boat going from Mumbai’s Gateway of India to Elephanta capsized in the middle of the sea. The accident occurred due to collision with a speed boat in Uran, Karanja. More than 120 people were aboard the boat named Neelkamal. So far 13 people have been reported dead. The rescue team has saved 101 people so far. The search for the rest is ongoing. Meanwhile, the state government has announced an assistance amount of Rs 5 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of those killed in the accident. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a high-level investigation into this accident.
Devendra Fadnavis said, “Navy, Coast Guard and Police have conducted a rescue operation with the help of 11 crafts and 4 helicopters. The dead include 10 civilians and 3 Navy personnel. 2 people are seriously injured, who are being admitted to the Naval Hospital. Final information about the people missing in the accident will be available on Thursday morning.
The owner of the boat alleges that while going from Mumbai to Elephanta Caves, the boat was hit by a naval patrol speed boat near Butcher Island in the Arabian Sea. Due to this the boat filled with water. Within no time it drowned. Immediately after the accident, the Navy along with the Coast Guard and Marine Police started the rescue operation.
divers were lowered into the sea
11 boats of the Navy, 3 boats of the Marine Police and 1 boat of the Coast Guard are engaged in the rescue operation. Apart from this, 4 helicopters are also engaged in rescue work. Divers have also been lowered into the sea. Ambulances are also present at the spot.
Scary video of the accident surfaced
A video of the incident has also surfaced, in which it can be seen that the boat is slowly sinking in water. People are being shifted to other boats after wearing life jackets.
#WATCH Mumbai Boat Accident | The Indian Coast Guard carried out rescue operations after a ferry capsized near the Gateway of India.
(Video Source: Indian Coast Guard) pic.twitter.com/dAGOT83v2X
— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2024
Fadnavis gave information about the accident in Maharashtra Assembly
CM Devendra Fadnavis has informed about this accident in Maharashtra Assembly. Fadnavis said, “Information was received that the Neelkamal boat going to Elephanta has met with an accident. Boats of Navy, Coast Guard, Port, Police teams have been sent for immediate assistance. We are in constant touch with the district and police administration.”
#WATCH Mumbai Boat Accident | Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, “Near Mumbai, at the Butcher Island, a Navy boat collided with ‘Neelkamal’ passenger vessel at around 3.55 pm. As per the information till 7.30 pm, 101 have been rescued safely and 13 people have died. Among. … pic.twitter.com/9hnAeeGpJD
— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2024
Three naval personnel also died
The CM further said, “Fortunately most of the citizens have been rescued. However, the rescue work is still going on. The district administration has been ordered to deploy all those systems for rescue work.” After this, Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur that those killed in this incident included 10 civilians and three Navy personnel. Quoting the Navy, he said that till 7.30 pm, 13 people have been confirmed dead in this incident.
Collision with naval craft
Today afternoon, an #IndianNavy The craft lost control while undertaking engine trials in Mumbai Harbor due to engine malfunction. As a result, the boat collided with a passenger ferry which subsequently capsized.
13 fatalities have been reported so far. Survivors rescued from the…
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 18, 2024
The Navy has also tweeted that due to engine failure, one of its craft lost control and collided with a boat. Relief and search operation is going on after the accident. Four Navy helicopters, 11 Navy crafts, 1 Coast Guard boat and three Marine Police crafts are engaged in this work. So far 99 people have been saved.
Rajnath Singh expressed grief
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 & civilians from both vessels, are receiving urgent medical care.
My heartfelt condolences to the…
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 18, 2024
Rajnath Singh wrote on Twitter, ‘Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the collision between a passenger boat and an Indian Navy craft at Mumbai port. The injured personnel, including naval personnel and civilians, are receiving immediate medical care. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Extensive search and rescue efforts are underway by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to locate the missing persons.