Tragic Boat Incident in Mumbai: Body of 6-Year-Old Recovered; Death Toll Reaches 15
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Mumbai, Dec 21 (NationPress) The remains of a six-year-old boy, who had been unaccounted for following the December 18 incident involving an Indian Navy speedboat colliding with a packed passenger ferry near the Gateway of India, were located after almost 72 hours, according to an official announcement made on Saturday.
Rescue crews had previously discovered the body of another individual from the waters of the Arabian Sea on Friday, bringing the total number of casualties in this coastal city's most tragic maritime event to 15.
The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Disaster Control team and the Indian Navy confirmed this recovery on Saturday.
However, the Indian Navy reported that search operations are still ongoing in the area surrounding the accident—approximately 5 km away—to locate the wreck of the ferry and ensure that no additional victims are trapped within.
It is important to note that on Wednesday around 4 p.m., an Indian Navy speedboat that was undergoing engine trials encountered a malfunction, lost control, and collided at full speed with the private ferry, “Neelkamal,” which was transporting around 110 tourists to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Elephanta Islands.
This collision resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, with an additional two missing, whose bodies have been recovered, including one Indian Navy personnel and three OEM representatives.
The Mumbai Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the incident, while the Indian Navy has initiated a Board of Inquiry to determine the specifics of what transpired.
Most of the tourists involved were from outside Maharashtra, along with some foreigners who were thrown into the sea due to the force of the catastrophic collision, which occurred in one of the main shipping channels of the busy Mumbai Harbour, close to the small Butcher Island oil terminal, while en route to the Elephanta Islands.
The deceased included 3 minors (one of whom was a girl), 5 women, and 7 men, according to officials, with several injured individuals still receiving medical care.
Leaders including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and various political figures have expressed their condolences regarding the tragedy and the loss of life.
