- 13 Dead and 2 Missing After Indian Navy Speedboat Collides with Ferry off Mumbai
- Three of the victims were Navy personnel
- More than 100 passengers have been rescued, teams still searching for two missing
13 Dead and 2 Missing After Indian Navy Speedboat Collides with Ferry off Mumbai
At least 13 people have died and two are missing after an Indian navy speedboat crashed into a passenger ferry off the coast of Mumbai. Three of the victims were Navy personnel. More than 100 passengers were rescued, according to Maharashtra state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The incident occurred around 6:00 AM local time (11:30 GMT) on Wednesday, as the privately-owned ferry was en route to the Elephanta Caves, a popular tourist destination. Footage shared online shows the speedboat circling before it collided with the ferry, which later capsized.
Search and rescue operations were still ongoing by Thursday lunchtime, with teams continuing to search for the two missing passengers.
Survivors reported that the ferry staff failed to provide any guidance or instructions after the collision, leaving passengers to fend for themselves. A navy official stated that ferries and speedboats in the area follow clearly marked paths, and there is sufficient space in the harbour to avoid such incidents. The official added that more details would be available once the navy speedboat is recovered.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, calling the incident “saddening.” He announced compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,352) for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees ($588) for those injured in the accident.