Mumbai: A tragic accident took place when a ‘Neelkamal’ passenger boat, heading towards Elephanta from Mumbai’s Gateway of India, collided with an Indian Navy speedboat on Wednesday. In the chaos that followed, a German tourist saved the life of a five-year-old boy. The child is currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
At the time of the accident, Priyansh, the rescued boy, was with his parents, who had traveled from Chakan in Pune district for a day out. While the boat was en route to Elephanta, a speedboat suddenly struck it, leading to a major disaster. Many passengers lost their lives and several are still missing. A search operation is underway at sea to locate the missing people.
Raigad district collector reviews situation
The German tourist who saved Priyansh reported that one of his foreign friends, who was also on the boat, is still missing. Reports suggest there were three foreign nationals on board, although authorities have not yet confirmed this.
Raigad district collector Kishan Javale visited the hospital to review the situation and discuss arrangements with officials.
How the collision took place?
The collision, which occurred near Uran, Karanja, caused the boat ‘Neelkamal’ to capsize. The vessel was carrying over 120 passengers, 13 of whom have been confirmed dead. However, rescue teams have saved more than 100 lives so far.
According to the Navy, the speedboat involved in the collision was conducting engine testing when it lost control around 4 pm and collided with the Neelkamal. The Navy initiated a search and rescue operation in collaboration with the Coast Guard and Marine Police. The operation involved four Navy helicopters, 11 boats, one Coast Guard vessel, and three Marine Police boats.
