Some boat drivers who hurried to assist victims of the ferry tragedy off the Mumbai coast were horrified by the scene of chaos. They described it as the most disturbing incident they had ever witnessed. The tragedy occurred around 4 pm on Wednesday when a Navy vessel, undergoing engine trials, lost control and collided with the passenger ferry Neel Kamal near Karanja. According to the Navy, 13 people were killed and 99 were rescued.
The drivers of some boats who rushed to help the ferry tragedy victims off the Mumbai coast were aghast to see chaos at the site with people screaming for help and said they never witnessed such a horrific incident in their lives.
Thirteen persons died and 99 were rescued after a Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with the passenger ferry Neel Kamal off Karanja near Mumbai at around 4 pm on Wednesday, the Navy said.
The ferry was en route from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist spot.
Arif Bamane, a driver of the Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT) pilot boat Poorva, described the scene as “tragic and completely chaotic” upon arrival. “People were screaming for help, and some were crying,” he said. He also recalled seeing a young girl lying motionless, having inhaled water into her lungs.
According to Bamane, a fishing trawler and another tourist boat had already reached the scene before his team. He added that he and his crew were returning to Mumbai from Jawahar Deep on Wednesday evening when they received information about the accident from the control room. They were then instructed to rush to the location near JD5 as quickly as possible.
“We tried to save as many people as possible,” Bamane said,
Iqbal Gothekar, the driver of a small tourist boat, told PTI that he was informed of the incident 25 to 30 minutes after departing from Elephanta Island at 3:35 pm. He was one of the first to arrive at the accident site.
“In my career, I have never witnessed such an incident,” Gothekar said
The Mumbai Ferry Tragedy
The Mumbai ferry tragedy took place on December 18, 2024, when a naval speedboat collided with the passenger ferry Neelkamal, causing it to capsize and resulting in a tragic loss of life. The incident occurred at approximately 3:55 PM near Butcher Island, about 8.25 km from the Gateway of India. The Neelkamal was carrying around 110 passengers on its way to Elephanta Island when it was struck by a Navy speedboat that had lost control during engine trials.
Thirteen people lost their lives in the accident, including a naval officer, two contractual workers from the speedboat’s manufacturing company, and two children.
