Mumbai Boat Accident: A Navy speed boat crashes into the ferry, killing 13 people.
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Summary: A Navy boat doing engine tests lost control and hit the passenger ferry, Neel Kamal, resulting in 13 fatalities and 99 rescues.
According to Navy sources, a speedboat in the Indian Navy that was testing a recently installed engine malfunctioned and collided with a passenger ferry boat off the coast of Mumbai on Wednesday, killing thirteen people.
The ferry was en route to Gharapuri Island, home of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Elephanta Caves from Gateway of India.
Although an investigation has been launched to find out the exact cause of the tragedy, it is believed that the operator lost control of the boat due to an engine issue, which ultimately caused the accident.
A board of inquiry will be established to look into the incident, officials said, even though they are still unsure if one of the two Navy officers or the other four people (on board the speedboat) were in control of the boat.
A witness to the Mumbai boat disaster, which killed 13 people, has spoken candidly about the impact and its aftermath. The collision happened on Wednesday, December 18, at approximately 4 p.m., near Butcher Island.
About 110 people, including 20 children, were on the ferry, according to Indian Navy officials. Three Navy soldiers and ten civilians were among the dead.
When the crash happened, Gautam Gupta was on the ferry connecting Elephanta Island and Mumbai and the 25-year-old captured the impact on camera.
He said, "I was recording the video of a speedboat presuming it was doing stunts when it suddenly hit our ferry. To my utter disbelief and shock, on impact, one of the speedboat's passengers was flung into the air and crashed on the deck of our ferry just beside me. His motionless body was badly mutilated.”
According to Mumbai police, a formal complaint has been filed against the speedboat's occupants, including the navy boat driver.
An official said, “Whenever a major component, such as an engine, is fitted onto a craft, we conduct extensive tests along with the OEM to prevent any issues from arising at critical moments. For instance, if the manufacturer claims that the engine can reach speeds of 140 mph, we test it with them onboard to verify the claim. A similar test was being conducted.”
According to Navy sources, four Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) representatives and two Navy officers were testing the new engine in the speedboat. The tragedy claimed the lives of two OEM representatives, Pravin Sharma and Mangesh, as well as Indian Navy officer Mahendra Singh Shekhawat.
Statements by officials and survivor.
