Mumbai Boat Accident Responders Recall Horror: ‘People Screamed, Frantically Waved At Us’

Mumbai Boat Accident Responders Recall Horror: ‘People Screamed, Frantically Waved At Us’

Some boat drivers, who rushed to help victims after a ferry capsized while en route to Elephanta Island from Mumbai’s iconic Gateway of India on Wednesday evening, said they had never witnessed such a horrific incident in their lives.

They said people were screaming and frantically waving to secure help.

Thirteen people, including 10 civilians and three Navy personnel, died and 101 others were rescued after a ferry capsized, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday. According to sources, seven men, four women, and two children were among the dead.Around 4 pm, a Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with passenger ferry Neel Kamal near Jawahar Dweep (Butcher Island) near Mumbai, the Navy said in a statement.

Arif Bamane, a driver of the Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT) pilot boat Poorva, described the scene as tragic and chaotic upon their arrival. “People were screaming for help, and some were crying,” he said, recalling seeing a young girl lying motionless, her lungs filled with water.Bamane and other rescuers performed chest compressions and helped her start breathing again. Gradually, her breathing returned to normal.Mumbai

‘Priority was rescuing women & kids’

Bamane shared that their priority was rescuing women and children. He mentioned that a fishing trawler and another tourist boat had already reached the scene before them. He and his team had been heading back to Mumbai from Jawahar Deep on Wednesday evening when the control room notified them of the accident and instructed them to head to the area near JD5 as quickly as possible. Despite having only four people aboard their boat, they did everything they could to help the stranded individuals before other boats arrived. Among those calling for help were three to four foreigners, he noted.

“We tried to save as many people as possible,” Bamane added, explaining that they rescued around 20 to 25 individuals, who were later transferred to naval boats that arrived on the scene.

With 18 years of experience as a boat driver, Bamane said he had been part of smaller rescue operations in the past, but this one was the most horrifying and tragic. “This is the biggest rescue operation I’ve ever seen,” he remarked.

Iqbal Gothekar, the driver of a small tourist boat, told PTI that about 25 to 30 minutes after departing from Elephanta Island at 3:35 pm, he learned about the incident and was among the first to reach the site. “The people on the capsized boat were frantically waving their hands for help,” said Gothekar, a Raigad district native who has been a boat driver since 2004. He mentioned that a fishing trawler had also arrived by the time they reached the spot.Mumbai

Gothekar’s boat rescued 16 individuals, bringing them safely to the Gateway of India, where they were handed over to the police. “In my career, I’ve never witnessed anything like this,” he said, reflecting on the tragedy.

The capsized ferry, with a capacity of 80 people, had departed from the Gateway of India for Elephanta Island about 45 minutes before the accident, which occurred near Butcher Island, according to sources.iPhone SE 4 may be called the iPhone 16e: Launch timeline, price, and all we know

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