A tragic accident occurred off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday afternoon when a Navy speedboat collided with a passenger ferry, resulting in the deaths of 14 people. The collision took place near Karanja, Mumbai, at approximately 4 pm, as the ferry, Neel Kamal, was en route from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island.
Among the victims was the aunt of Gaurav Gupta, a vegetable vendor from Nalasopara in Palghar district. Gupta had taken his relatives, including his aunt, for a ferry ride following his wedding, unaware that it would be their last trip together.
Gupta, a survivor of the crash, disputed the Navy’s claim that the incident was caused by an engine failure. He described the driver of the Navy speedboat as “showing off” and said the boat was moving erratically, zigzagging through the water as many passengers, including himself, recorded videos of the speedboat’s manoeuvres. Gupta explained that the boat’s driver appeared to be performing a stunt when it suddenly veered toward the ferry.
“He was in a playful mood, zigzagging through the waters. Suddenly, he turned the speedboat and headed directly towards us. He must have thought he could pass by narrowly, but his stunt ended in tragedy,” Gupta recalled.
Initially, Gupta did not realise the severity of the situation, as one of the occupants from the speedboat was thrown onto the ferry. However, it soon became apparent that the ferry was sinking. Gupta mentioned that many passengers aboard the ferry were not wearing life jackets, adding to the confusion and panic after the crash.
He also questioned the Navy’s version of events, pointing out that if there had been any technical issue with the speedboat, the passengers would not have appeared so calm before the collision. He concluded that the crash was due to the driver’s reckless actions, rather than any mechanical failure.
The incident has raised concerns about safety measures and the responsibility of operators on the water, especially as the Navy’s speedboat was undergoing engine trials at the time. The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing, with both the Navy and local authorities looking into the event.
