At least 13 people lost their lives on Wednesday in Mumbai Boat accident when an Indian naval vessel collided with a passenger ferry carrying over 100 passengers, causing it to capsize near Mumbai, India’s financial capital, officials confirmed. Rescue operations saved 99 people, with efforts ongoing to locate others.
The Indian Navy attributed the incident to an engine malfunction. “An Indian Navy craft lost control during engine trials in Mumbai Harbour, leading to a collision with a passenger ferry, which then capsized,” the Navy stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Local media footage showed the naval vessel, reportedly carrying five crew members, striking the ferry. One passenger recounted to ABP Majha news channel, “The speedboat crashed into our ferry, water began flooding in, and it overturned. The driver instructed us to wear lifejackets. I swam for 15 minutes before being rescued by another boat.”
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X, stating, “The boat mishap in Mumbai is saddening. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.” He also announced compensation of ₹200,000 ($2,356) for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
The privately-operated ferry, Neelkamal, was en route to Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination off Mumbai’s coast. The caves, dating back to the 5th-6th centuries AD, are accessible via regular boat trips from Mumbai’s Gateway of India.
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