New Delhi/Mumbai: Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Friday conducted a first-hand assessment of Wednesday’s collision between a naval speedboat and ferry Neel Kamal off Gateway of India, while reviewing measures to strengthen safety and SOPs along the coastline amid questions about why the Navy trial was held in the busy Harbour area. He went to the Western Naval Command and naval hospital INHS Asvini during his day-long visit, apart from being briefed by senior officers on the accident.
Search continued on Friday for a seven-year-old boy. On Thursday, a body identified as that of Malad’s Hansaram Bhati was found trapped under the ferry, taking the toll to 14.
A coast guard team has been continuously searching for Zohan Pathan (7) with aircraft and hovercraft sorties, apart from navigation by ships. Ranjit Parmar, a relative of Malad’s Hansaram Bhati whose body was found on Thursday, said, “Even though he was a swimmer, he might have been unable to free himself because of being stuck.” A relative said they are worried about his son’s education as he was the only earning member of the family.
The naval board of inquiry (BoI), headed by a commodore (equivalent to a Brigadier in the Army) will ascertain the entire sequence of events that led to the speedboat colliding with the ferry, which was carrying over 100 passengers, after some of its systems apparently jammed during a trial run.
“There was an emergency stop provision in the speedboat (a rigid hull inflatable boat) but it is not clear whether it was used or not. The sailor driving the speedboat is in a critical condition in hospital,” a source said.
A naval sailor and three of the four from the technical team of the company, whose engine was being tested on the speedboat, are among the 14 casualties. “The impact of the collision killed four of the six on the speedboat. The passengers on the ferry who lost their lives drowned because life-jackets were not provided to them. The BoI will go into all the details,” the source said.
While Mumbai boat operators have repeatedly raised concerns over naval trials being conducted near the coastline, an officer said it is simply not possible to test such speed boats on high seas.
The accident hit-vessel was on a special journey on Wednesday afternoon arranged by the owners to cater to the demand. This was confirmed by the Gateway Elephanta Jal Vahatuk Sahakari Sanstha. The Mumbai Port Trust issues a roster on a daily basis allocating destinations for the ferry operators.
The sanstha has 92 members with an equal number of ferry boats. These boats operate between Gateway of India, Elephanta Island and Mandva (Alibag).
The Neel Kamal is one among the four ferry boats operated by Mahesh Tours and Travels, owned by Sunil Padte and Rajendra Padte. The wooden boat was put into operation around a year ago. This was a replacement to the scrapped one. (With inputs by George Mendonca & Umesh K Parida)
