Mumbai Boat Accident: A Survivor Reveals the Cause of the Tragedy.
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Summary: The Navy received criticism from survivors for its careless actions during engine trials. They said the driver was showing off.
A Navy speedboat struck a passenger ship off the coast of Mumbai, killing 14 people. The tragic event has drawn the attention of several organizations. At the time of the collision, the driver of the Navy boat was "showing off," according to Gaurav Gupta, a survivor who lost his aunt in the tragedy.
At approximately 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the Navy boat, which was undertaking engine trials, lost control and struck the passenger ferry Neel Kamal close to Karanja in Mumbai. The ferry was carrying people to Elephanta Island, a well-liked tourist attraction, from the Gateway of India.
Gaurav Gupta questioned the Navy's claim that the speedboat's "engine failure" caused the collision, stating that the driver was having fun and "showing off." At the same time, many passengers, including himself, were filming the speedboat as it zigzagged across the water.
"The driver was in a playful mood, zig-zagging through the waters. Suddenly, he turned the speedboat and headed directly towards us. He must have thought he could pass by our ferry narrowly, but his stunt ended in tragedy," said Gupta.
"I met my aunt after many years. She came for my wedding, and I took her for sightseeing and a ferry ride in the sea. I had no idea it would be the last day of her life."
The Mumbai Police are looking into who approved the "engine trial" operation and why the Indian Navy performed trials on a busy sea route. According to police, they are also thinking about whether the trial was conducted following the proper rules.
Since it was discovered that the ferry was overcrowded with more than 100 passengers while having a capacity of only 84, the Mumbai boat accident has sparked grave questions over safety procedures.
