At least 13 peopജle died while over a hundred people have been rescued as a ferry with passengers and crew members on board capsized off Mumbai's coast on Wednesday, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
"Near Mumbai, at the Butcher Island, a Navy boat collided with 'Neelkamal' passenger vessel at around 3.55 pm. As per the information till 7.30 pm, 101 have been rescued safely and 13 people have died. Among the 13 deceased, 10 are civilians and 3 are Navy personnel. Two people who are critically injured are admitted to the Navy hospit🃏al. Using 11 craft and 4 helicopters, the Navy, Coast Guard and police have carried out the rescue operations. The final information regarding any more missing people will be available tomorrow morning. The bereaved families will be given Rs. 5 lakhs ex gratia from the CM relief fund. The whole incident would be investigated by the police and the Navy...", the chief minister said.
Further explaining the reason behind the mishap, Indian Navy posted on X, "Today afternoon, an Indian Navy craft lost control while undertaking engine trials in Mumbai Harbour due to engine malfunction. As a result, the boat collided with a passenger ferry which subsequently capsized. 13 fatalities have been reported so far. Survivors rescued from the incident site are being shifted to nearby hospitals. Search and rescue efforts have been immediately launched wherein 4 naval helicopters,🔜 11 naval crafts, one Coast Guard boat and three marine police crafts have been pressed in action for recovering the survivors."
According to ANI, n🍰ine of the total injured people were brought to the St. George's Hospital of Mumbai. Commenting on the development, Superintendent of St. George's Hospital Vinayak Sawardekar told ANI, "Nine injured have been brought to St. George's Hospital. The🌱ir condition is stable because they were wearing life jackets. They have been admitted for observation... We were anticipating more patients and we have received 9 so far."
An ex-gratia of rupees five lakh has been announced by CM Fadnavis for each of the families of those who died in the accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced an ex-gratia of rupees two lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased while the injured would be given rupees ꧙fifty 🐻thousand.
The ferry, called Neelkamal, was on way to Elephanta Islands, a popular tourist destination near Mumbai, when it capsized, a police official said. A small boജat dashed against Neelkamal around 4 pm, the police official told news agency PTI.
A defence official earlier told that theꦿ Navy and Coast Guard have launched a massive rescue op📖eration, with 8 Navy boats and three boats of Marine Police and a boat of Coast Guard being deployed in the area.
Extending condolences to the families of the deceased, President Droupadi Murmu said, "I am shocked and saddened to learn of the accident involving a passenger ferryboat and an Indian Navy craft boat near Mumbai Harbour. My condolence𝓡s to the families of those who have lost their lives. I pray for the swift success of the rescue and relief operations and a quick recovery of the survivors."
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also said he was "deeply saddened by the loss൩ of precious lives in the collision between passenger ferry and the Indian Navy craft in Mumb🔯ai harbour..."
Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Aaditya Thackrey also stated thaไt the matter has been raised in the House. "The CM has said that the rescue operat𒉰ions are underway. We hope that everyone is safe," said Thackeray.
