A fun trip to Elephanta Island turned into a disaster on Wednesday when a ferry called Neelkamal flipped over. It was struck by a fast naval speedboat near Butcher Island. This boat was testing a new engine when it accidentally went out of control, according to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The crash happened at 3:15 PM, and chaos followed. Families and children were thrown into the sea as the ferry capsized. A viral video showed the naval boat spinning out of control before crashing into Neelkamal.
Brave Rescuers Save Lives
Nearby was a CISF patrol boat named Shera 1. When they got the emergency call, Constables Amol, Vikas, and Arun rushed to help. They arrived just ten minutes later, but by then, the ferry was already underwater.
Sawant, one of the rescuers, said, “We found nine or ten children. The first one we saved was just three years old. Our main job was to help all the kids.” Although their boat could only hold a few people, they managed to rescue 30 passengers and took them to a nearby port. Many were unconscious, and they provided CPR before transferring them.
The rescue operation quickly grew bigger. Four naval helicopters, eleven Navy boats, a Coast Guard ship, and three Marine Police boats joined in the effort. Survivors were taken to nearby docks and hospitals. There were six people on the naval speedboat, including two Navy members and four company representatives.
By 7:30 PM, 101 passengers had been rescued, but sadly, 13 people lost their lives, including two children and a Navy member.
Government Promises Support
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that families of those who died would receive ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. There would also be an investigation by state police and Navy officials to see what caused the accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised ₹2 lakh to help the victims’ families.
A passenger named Ganesh recalled, “The naval boat was spinning in the ocean. I thought it might hit us, and it did in seconds.” Another eyewitness saw people falling into the water and nearby boats coming to help. “People were screaming, and kids were crying,” Sawant said.
The naval speedboat was testing its new engine, which reportedly got stuck, making it impossible for the driver to control it. Neelkamal was a well-known ferry for tourists visiting Elephanta Island, famous for its ancient caves. As officials investigate, everyone is questioning how this accident could happen near civilian boats. This rescue operation showed how important it is for agencies to work together quickly to save lives.
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