In a tragic accident near Mumbai Harbour, a collision between an Indian naval speedboat and a ferry heading to Elephanta Island resulted in 13 deaths on Wednesday evening. The accident occurred around 1.5 nautical miles (approximately 2.8km) from the Gateway of India, making it one of the deadliest incidents in the area’s recent history.
The speedboat, reportedly out of control during an engine trial, collided with the ferry Neelkamal near Butcher Island around 4 pm. The crash caused the ferry to sink, leading to the loss of lives, including one naval sailor and two employees from a boat manufacturing company who were aboard the speedboat for the trial.
Rescue efforts began swiftly, with a trawler and pilot boats from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) arriving at the scene within 15-20 minutes. However, it remains unclear if the ferry made a distress call or if nearby vessels raised the alarm.
This incident highlights the importance of stringent safety measures during sea trials and effective emergency protocols for ferry operations. Authorities are investigating the collision to determine the cause and prevent future tragedies.
