13 dead, 110 rescued as navy boat rams into ferry off Mumbai coast

MUMBAI: Thirteen people, including an officer from the Indian Navy and two contractual naval employees, were killed when a ferry carrying over 100 passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island capsized on Wednesday afternoon, at Butcher Island, after a navy speedboat, which was carrying out engine trials, went out of control and dashed into it.

- Sameera Kapoor Munshi and Sabah Virani

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The Colaba police have registered a case against the driver of the navy speedboat under sections 106 (1) (causing death by negligence), 125 (a) (punishment for reckless or negligent acts that endanger the personal safety or life of others), 282 (offence of rash or negligent navigation), and 324 (mischief) of the BNS.

The police said one official of the Indian Navy died, while two people on board the navy boats who belonged to a private equipment supplier also died.

Butcher Island, also called Jawahar Dweep, is 8.25 kilometers from the Gateway of India. The passenger ferry had set sail at 3.15 pm and the mid-sea crash took place at 3.55 pm. At 4 pm, personnel from a pilot vessel of the Jawaharlal Nehru Authority (JNPA), which was near the accident site, started rescue operations and saved 40 passengers. Soon after, a few private vessels collaborated in the operation and were eventually joined by Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Police.

A statement issued by Navy said: "At about 1600 hours on December 18, 2024, a navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with a passenger ferry, Neel Kamal, off Butcher Island. Four naval helicopters, 11 naval crafts, three Coast Guard boats and an equal number of Marine Police boats were involved in the rescue efforts."

Primary investigation by the Indian Navy has shown that the engine of the naval vessel had malfunctioned, people aware of the matter said. The navy will also investigate if the engines were of inferior quality. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Indian Navy have ordered two separate inquiries into the accident.