Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 19 : Two individuals, including a man and a boy, are still missing following a boat accident in Mumbai on Wednesday evening, according to Indian Navy officials.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard leading the efforts. The operations involve eight naval crafts, one helicopter, and a vessel from the Indian Coast Guard.
The Navy has also ordered a Board of Inquiry to investigate the incident, and is working closely with other agencies, including the police, to determine the next steps.
The accident occurred when an Indian Navy boat, while conducting engine trials in Mumbai Harbour, lost control due to a malfunction. The boat then collided with a passenger ferry, causing the ferry to capsize.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), 105 people were hospitalized, with 90 of them either discharged or in stable condition. Two individuals remain in critical condition, and 13 have died. Rescue operations continue, with multiple agencies involved, including the Indian Navy.
Among the six people aboard the Navy boat, four lost their lives, and one is critically injured. The ferry, which had around 110 passengers, including 20 children, was struck during the incident.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed condolences and assured support for those affected, announcing an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of the victims.