On Wednesday, a tragic boat accident occurred off the coast of Mumbai when a speedboat collided with a passenger ferry, killing 13 people. The victims included 10 civilians and 3 Navy personnel. The incident took place in the Mumbai Harbour, and the Indian Navy later confirmed that the speedboat involved was one of their crafts, which lost control due to an engine malfunction.
Engine Malfunction Leads to Accident
According to the Indian Navy, the speedboat was undergoing engine trials when it lost control due to a malfunction. This caused the boat to crash into a passenger ferry, which capsized shortly after the collision. The Navy released a statement explaining that “today afternoon, an Indian Navy craft lost control while undertaking engine trials in Mumbai Harbour due to engine malfunction.”
The Navy quickly launched a large-scale rescue operation. They used four naval helicopters, 11 naval crafts, one Coast Guard boat, and three marine police crafts to search for survivors and recover those affected by the accident.
Rescue Operations and Losses
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that 101 people were rescued from the incident site. However, 13 people died, including both civilians and Navy personnel. The Neelkamal ferry, which was carrying passengers to Elephanta Islands, was hit by the speedboat around 4 pm. The ferry was a popular choice for tourists visiting the island near Mumbai.
The exact number of people on the ferry and the speedboat at the time of the crash is not yet known.
Condolences from Defence Minister
India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, expressed his sadness over the loss of lives in the accident. On social media, he wrote, “Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the collision between the 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.” He also mentioned that extensive search and rescue efforts were ongoing.
Conclusion
The Mumbai boat accident has left many people grieving, with both civilians and Navy personnel among the victims. The Indian Navy is continuing its search and rescue efforts to find any missing people, while the families of the victims are receiving condolences from officials. The cause of the crash, an engine malfunction, has highlighted the dangers of such accidents, and authorities are working to ensure the safety of all involved in these operations.
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