'No One Had Life Jackets': Mumbai Boat Tragedy Survivor Recalls Traumatic Experience

Mumbai: In a tragic incident, thirteen people lost their lives after a ferry Neelkamal collided with an Indian Navy speed-craft off the coast of Mumbai on Wednesday. While 101 people have been safely brought to land, the rescue operations still continue as two people are missing. A Mumbai Boat Tragedy survivor has narrated the trauma he had to go through and how he lost his aunt in this unfortunate accident.

‘No One Had Life Jackets… We Had Lost My Aunt’: Mumbai Boat Tragedy Survivor

Gautam Gupta, a survivor from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, lost his aunt in the accident. He recalled the traumatic experience revealing that there weren't any life jackets on the boat and how he lost a family member in these sudden turn of events. He said, “No one on the boat had life jackets. After the collision, we tried pulling several people out of the water. About 20-25 minutes later, the Navy rescued us, but by then, we had lost my aunt.”

‘People Were Screaming… Some Were Crying’

The drivers of a couple of boats who were among the first to reach the site of the accident between a ferry and a Navy craft off the Mumbai coast said they never witnessed such a horrific event in their lives. Arif Bamane, a driver of the Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT) pilot boat Poorva, said, "When we reached there, the situation was tragic and completely chaotic. People were screaming for help, and some were crying,". He added that they prioritised rescuing women and children.

Bamane said a fishing trawler and another tourist boat had already arrived at the scene before them. Bamane said he and his team were heading to Mumbai from Jawahar Deep on Wednesday evening when the control room gave the information about the accident. They were instructed to reach the spot near JD5 as quickly as possible. He said their boat had only four people aboard, but they did their best to rescue the stranded individuals before other boats arrived. Among those crying for help, there were three to four foreigners, he said.

‘Tried To Save As Many People As Possible… It Was Most Horrific and Tragic’

"We tried to save as many people as possible," Bamane said, adding that they rescued about 20-25 people, who were later transferred to naval boats that arrived at the scene. With 18 years of boat driving experience, Bamane said he had witnessed small rescue operations before but Wednesday's incident was the most horrific and tragic. This is the biggest rescue operation that I have seen so far, he said.

He recalled a small girl lying motionless as water had entered her lungs. They performed chest compressions on her and helped her breathe again. Slowly, her breathing became normal, he said.

‘People on Capsized Boat Frantically Waving Hands for Help’

Iqbal Gothekar, a driver of a small tourist boat, told PTI that about 25-30 minutes after his boat departed from Elephanta Island at around 3.35 pm, he learned of the incident and was one of the first to reach the accident site. Gothekar, who has been a boat driver since 2004, said the people on the capsized boat were frantically waving their hands for help.

He said by the time they reached the spot, a fishing trawler had also arrived. A native of Raigad district, Gothekar stated that his boat rescued 16 people, bringing them safely to the Gateway of India. The rescued individuals were taken to a police post. "In my career, I have never witnessed such an incident," Gothekar said while recounting the event.

PM Modi, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Announce Ex-Gratia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased in the boat mishap in Mumbai on Wednesday. In a post on X, PMO India said, "The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the boat mishap in Mumbai. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000."According to PMO, PM Modi said, "The boat mishap in Mumbai is saddening. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. Those affected are being assisted by the authorities."

The Chief Minister announced that an ex-gratia of Rs5 lakh would be provided from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the families of those who lost their lives. Addressing the media, CM Fadnavis said, “Near Mumbai, on Buchar Island, a passenger vessel named Neelkamal capsized around 3:55 pm after colliding with a Navy boat. So far, 101 people have been rescued, but 13 lives have been lost as of 7:30 pm. Among the deceased, 10 were civilians, and three were Navy personnel. Two critically injured individuals are being treated at Navy Dockyard Hospital. The Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and police deployed 11 crafts and four helicopters for the rescue operation. However, the operation is still ongoing, and further information will be available by tomorrow morning regarding any missing persons. Families of those who lost their lives will receive an ex-gratia of Rs5 lakh from the CM Relief Fund. The incident will be jointly investigated by the police and the Indian Navy.”

Mumbai Boat Tragedy: 13 Dead, 101 Rescued and 2 Still Missing

The Neelkamal ferry was on its way to Elephanta Islands, a popular tourist destination near Mumbai, when the speed boat crashed into it around 4 pm. The tragic incident occurred when a naval speedcraft, undergoing sea trials after an engine replacement, went out of control and collided with the ferry Neelkamal. According to Indian Navy officials, the boat’s newly installed engine malfunctioned, getting stuck at full throttle, which led to the collision.

As of now, 101 people have been rescued, the death toll stands at 13 and two people are still missing - the rescue operation continues. According to a statement released by the Indian Navy, the mishap occurred when the navy vessel veered off course and collided with the passenger ferry. The impact led to the capsizing of the ferry, which had numerous passengers on board. As of the latest reports, 13 fatalities have been confirmed.

“Today afternoon, an Indian Navy craft lost control while undertaking engine trials in Mumbai Harbour due to engine malfunction. As a result, the boat collided with a passenger ferry which subsequently capsized. 13 fatalities have been reported so far. Survivors rescued from the incident site are being shifted to nearby hospitals. Search and rescue efforts have been immediately launched wherein 4 naval helicopters, 11 naval crafts, one Coast Guard boat and three marine police crafts have been pressed in action for recovering the survivors,” read the statement.