Thirteen persons died and 99 others were rescued after a Navy craft crashed into a ferry off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday, the Navy said.
At about 4 pm, a Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with passenger ferry Neel Kamal off Karanja near Mumbai, the Navy said in a statement.
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The ferry was carrying passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination.
“Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched by the Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police. Four naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, one Coast Guard boat and three Marine Police boats were involved in the rescue efforts,” the Navy said.
“The survivors picked up by Navy and civil craft in the area have been transferred to jetties and hospitals in the vicinity. So far 99 survivors have been rescued,” it added.
The accident led to the loss of 13 lives, including a Naval personnel and two from the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) on board the Naval craft, the Navy said.
Accounting of all personnel is in progress along with SAR efforts in the area, it said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur that 101 persons have been rescued.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that the Mumbai ferry mishap will jointly be probed by the Navy and the police.
Addressing the media, Fadnavis said, “Near Mumbai, on Buchar Island, a passenger vessel named Neelkamal capsized around 3:55 pm after colliding with a Navy boat. So far, 101 people have been rescued, but 13 lives have been lost as of 7:30 pm. Among the deceased, 10 were civilians, and three were Navy personnel. Two critically injured individuals are being treated at Navy Dockyard Hospital. The Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and police deployed 11 crafts and four helicopters for the rescue operation. The incident will be jointly investigated by the police and the Indian Navy.”
