MUMBAI, Dec 19: A tragic collision between a Navy boat and the passenger ferry Neelkamal near the Mumbai coast claimed 13 lives, including 10 civilians and 3 Navy personnel. The incident occurred around 4:00 pm on December 18 during engine trials conducted by the Navy. According to an official statement, the Navy boat lost control due to an engine malfunction, leading to the fatal collision.
The impact caused the passenger ferry to capsize, prompting an immediate and large-scale search and rescue operation. Four naval helicopters, 11 naval crafts, one Coast Guard boat, and three marine police crafts were deployed to recover survivors. Reports indicate that over 100 people have been successfully rescued so far, while efforts continue to locate any remaining passengers.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their condolences over the loss of lives. Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased, along with ₹50,000 for those injured in the incident.
The Indian Navy has launched an investigation into the cause of the engine malfunction that led to the collision. The tragic event has cast a shadow of grief over the nation as the search and rescue operations continue along the Mumbai coast.
