Boat operators who swiftly responded to the victims of Wednesday’s tragic ferry accident off the Mumbai coast were among the first at the scene, describing the incident as unprecedented in their experience.
The catastrophe claimed the lives of 13 individuals while others were rescued after a Navy vessel, which was undergoing engine trials, lost control and collided with the passenger ferry Neel Kamal near Mumbai’s Karanja around 4 pm on Wednesday. The ferry was transporting passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a well-known tourist spot.
The Navy reported that one of its personnel and two individuals from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) aboard the Navy craft were among the fatalities. The Mumbai police identified the deceased as seven men, four women, and two children.
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“When we arrived, the scene was tragic and utterly chaotic. People were screaming for help, and some were in tears,” reported Arif Bamane, the driver of the Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT) pilot boat Poorva, as quoted by news agency PTI.
Bamane recounted seeing a young girl lying motionless after water had filled her lungs. He and other rescuers administered chest compressions, reviving her and eventually stabilizing her breathing.
Bamane emphasized that their priority was rescuing women and children first.
Prior to Bamane’s team, a fishing trawler and another tourist boat had already reached the site. Bamane noted that they were en route back to Mumbai from Jawahar Deep when they received the alert about the accident. With only four people on board, their boat immediately headed to the accident site near JD5.
“We tried to save as many people as possible,” recounted Bamane, noting that they successfully rescued approximately 20-25 individuals before transferring them to naval boats that arrived shortly thereafter.
With 18 years of experience in boat driving, Bamane mentioned that while he had participated in smaller rescue operations before, this was by far the most harrowing.
“This is the largest rescue operation I have witnessed to date,” he added.
Iqbal Gothekar, the driver of a small tourist boat, informed the news agency that about 25 to 30 minutes after departing from Elephanta Island at 3:35 pm, he became aware of the incident and was among the first to reach the site.
Gothekar, a native of Raigad district and a boat driver since 2004, described the scene as people on the capsized ferry frantically waved for help. By the time they arrived, a fishing trawler was also present at the scene.
Gothekar’s boat successfully rescued 16 individuals and safely transported them back to the Gateway of India, where they were subsequently handed over to the police. “In my career, I have never witnessed such an incident,” Gothekar remarked while recounting the tragic event.
The ill-fated ferry, which had a capacity to carry 80 passengers, had departed from the Gateway of India en route to Elephanta Island approximately 45 minutes prior to the collision near Butcher Island, as reported by sources.