Ferry Capsizes Off Mumbai Coast After Collision With Speed Boat
A ferry travelling from Mumbai’s Gateway of India to Elephanta Island capsized in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday after being struck by an Indian Navy speed boat. The vessel, Neelkamal, was carrying 80 passengers when it was hit at the stern near Uran, Kunja.
A video captured from the ferry shows the speed boat, with six men onboard, recklessly zig-zagging before ramming into the ferry, causing it to tilt and sink. Rescue operations involving the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), local police, and fishermen are underway.
An Indian Navy statement said: “More than 10 people are feared dead in the ferry incident off the Mumbai coast. The incident happened when a naval speed-craft undergoing trials in the sea went out of control and rammed into the ferry. The naval boat’s engine had been recently changed and the new engine was being tested. The engine got stuck in full throttle and the boat went out of control and rammed into the ferry Neelkamal. The naval boat had 6 persons on board including 2 naval personnel and 4 members from the firm which had supplied the engine. The ferry had 80 adult passengers along with five crew members. The number of children present on the ferry is being ascertained as they were not issued tickets. The search operations are going on. More details awaited.”
Visuals show survivors in life jackets being transferred to safety as the vessel continued to sink.
Public ferries are a popular mode of transport for tourists visiting Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site located east of Mumbai. Investigations into the cause of the collision are ongoing.
