The Colaba Police in Mumbai have sought detailed information from the Indian Navy and the Maharashtra Maritime Board regarding a tragic collision in the Arabian Sea between a ferry and a naval boat that has claimed 14 lives. The accident occurred earlier this week when a naval boat conducting a trial run lost control and crashed into a passenger ferry heading to Elephanta Island. Several others sustained injuries in the incident, prompting questions about the trial’s timing and location.
Authorities are probing why the trial run was conducted on one of Mumbai’s busiest maritime routes. The police have specifically asked for details about who authorized the trial and whether proper safety protocols were in place. Initial reports suggest a throttle malfunction in the naval boat may have caused it to lose control and collide with the ferry. Investigators are also scrutinizing the operational procedures followed during the trial to determine if negligence played a role.
In response to the incident, the Indian Navy has launched a Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. Meanwhile, authorities have introduced new safety measures, making life jackets mandatory for all passengers boarding boats from the Gateway of India. This move aims to prevent similar tragedies and enhance safety for travelers in the region.
The death toll in the accident rose to 14 on Thursday after the body of one of the two missing passengers was recovered. However, the search continues for a seven-year-old boy who remains unaccounted for. Of the 113 people aboard both vessels at the time of the accident, 98 were rescued, including two injured passengers. Six crew members were aboard the naval craft, and only two survived the crash.
The tragedy has raised serious concerns about maritime safety in the Arabian Sea, particularly in high-traffic zones. The incident has also put a spotlight on the coordination between naval operations and civilian maritime traffic, with many calling for stricter protocols and better communication between authorities.
As investigations continue, the families of the victims await answers about how this preventable tragedy occurred and what steps will be taken to ensure such incidents do not happen in the future. The Board of Inquiry’s findings are expected to shed light on accountability and operational lapses that led to this devastating accident.
