MUMBAI: A seemingly out-of-control Indian navy speedboat collided with a tourist ferry bound for Elephanta Island about 1.5 nautical miles (nearly 2.8 kilometers) from the Gateway of India on Wednesday, in one of the deadliest accidents in Mumbai’s port area. Caused 13 deaths. The dead included a Navy sailor and two crew members from a shipbuilding company who were part of the team conducting the trials.
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The collision occurred near Butcher Island near Mumbai at around 4 pm, causing the ferry to sink. The initial rescue was carried out by a trawler and pilot boat from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) on the mainland, which took about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the scene. However, it is unclear whether the Neelkamal ferry sent a distress signal or whether a rescue was initiated based on information from other nearby ships.
Man thrown into the air tells horror story
“I was recording video of a speedboat, thinking it was performing a stunt, when suddenly it hit our ferry. To my complete disbelief and shock, on impact, a passenger on the speedboat was thrown into the air , fell on the ferry deck next to me. His motionless body was badly mutilated,” said Gautam Gupta (25). He recorded a viral video moments before the speedboat collision and survived the capsizing incident.
Gupta is currently undergoing treatment at St. George’s Hospital along with his cousin Linta Gupta (30), while his aunt is still missing. He was traveling to the Elephanta Caves with his aunt and her daughter from his hometown in northern India on Wednesday when tragedy struck. Gupta and his cousin were among nine survivors treated at St. George’s Hospital with minor injuries and were in stable condition. Every survivor wears a life jacket.
Survivors noted the lack of proper emergency protocols, with ferry staff providing no guidance or making any announcements following the collision, and passengers scrambling to put on life jackets for their own safety, unsure of their next steps.
The speedboat was hit by an obstacle during engine testing and the speedboat failed to change course.
Survivors were moved to nearby docks and hospitals, the official said. They included four women and two children.
The injured were taken to government and naval hospitals for treatment. Many of those taken to hospital received first aid and were discharged as they did not suffer any serious injuries, an official said. Four people are reported to be in critical condition.
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The passengers on board the ship belonging to Mumbai were from Malad East, Korla, Mulund, Navi Mumbai and Narasopara. People from outside Mumbai come from Rajasthan, Baramati, Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Gujarat, Raipur, Hyderabad. There were some foreigners on board.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis announced a condolence payment of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased while talking to reporters in Nagpur. He also assured that local authorities and the navy would conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the collision and address gaps in safety protocols. The Navy has formed a Board of Inquiry (BOI). An FIR has been registered against the naval speedboat pilot and others.
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Eleven rescue boats and six helicopters were deployed for the operation. Efforts were underway to find out whether anyone was still missing, with a final report expected on Thursday, he said. He added that further updates on the rescue mission and findings would be announced soon. Police said a case is being registered against those responsible for the accident at the Colaba police station.
The speedboat that collided with the ferry was described as a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) carrying six people – two Navy personnel and four OEM staff. While it was undergoing engine testing at sea, a suspected technical failure occurred. Video recordings from passengers on the ferry showed the RIB was unable to change course and rammed the vessel at high speed.
Subhash More, a captain employed at Gateway, claimed that naval vessels often come dangerously close to ferries operating from Gateway. They move at high speeds, affecting the stability of our vessels and causing imbalances in our vessels.
“Considering the condition of our vessel, we have complained several times to naval personnel and asked them to keep their distance. At times, they claimed they came close to inspect our vessel,” Moore added.
