2024 Mumbai boat accident

The 2024 Mumbai boat accident refers to a mid-sea collision (in maritime terms, allision) on 18 December 2024, that killed 15 people when an Indian naval boat collided with a passenger ferry which then capsized off the coast of Mumbai, India.[1][2][3]

Collision

On 18 December 2024, around 04:00 pm (local time), Neel Kamal, a privately-owned passenger ferry was headed towards the Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Elephanta Island, from the Gateway of India in Mumbai, India.[4] An Indian Navy craft with six persons on board was undergoing engine trials when it lost control and collided with the passenger ferry.[5] At least 13 people were killed including three navy personnel, while two more were missing.[6]

The ferry was permitted to carry up to 90 people, including six crew members and 84 passengers. However, at the time of the collision, the ferry was overcrowded, carrying over 110 passengers.[7]

On 19 December 2024, the body of a 43-year-old man was found close to the ferry taking the death toll to 14.[8]

On 21 December 2024, the body of a missing 7-year-old child was found within Mumbai harbour, increasing the death toll to 15.[5]

Responses

By the evening, 101 people were rescued by the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and police, with eleven naval craft and four helicopters taking part in the search and rescue mission, according to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis.[9]

On 19 December 2024, the Indian Navy formed a 'Board of Inquiry' into the collision to establish the facts of the case.[10]

The Mumbai Police also registered a first information report against the Navy craft driver at Colaba police station.[10]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of INR 200,000 (USD 2,356.63) from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each killed in the boat collision and INR 50,000 for the injured.[11]

Following the collision, the Maharashtra Maritime Board introduced new regulation that requires all ferry passengers in Maharashtra to wear life jackets during their trip.[12]

References

1. "Mumbai boat accident: Naval craft driver lost control during engine trials causing collision with ferry, say police". The Hindu. 20 December 2024.
2. "Mumbai ferry crash: Man and child still missing after ferry-navy craft collision". The Hindu. 19 December 2024.
3. "Mumbai Boat Accident Highlights: 13 killed after Navy craft hits ferry boat with 110 on board off Mumbai's Gateway of India". The Indian Express. 17 December 2024.
4. "At least 13 dead after naval vessel hits passenger boat off Mumbai". Al Jazeera. 18 December 2024.
5. "Mumbai boat accident: Body of missing boy found off Mumbai coast; toll rises to 15". The Hindu. 21 December 2024.
6. "Thirteen dead after naval speedboat hits ferry off Mumbai". BBC. 18 December 2024.
7. "Mumbai boat accident: Overcrowding on passenger boat and not enough jackets say Mumbai Police sources – CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 20 December 2024.
8. "Mumbai ferry accident: One more body recovered, toll rises to 14; Navy orders probe". The Economic Times. 20 December 2024.
9. Stockwell, Esha Mitra, Billy (18 December 2024). "At least 13 dead after navy boat and passenger ferry collide near popular Mumbai tourist destination". CNN.
10. "Indian Navy Constitutes "Board Of Inquiry" To Probe Mumbai Ferry Accident". NDTV. 19 December 2024.
11. "Mumbai boat accident: Thirteen dead after naval vessel hits passenger ferry". Reuters. 19 December 2024.
12. "After Mumbai boat accident, life jackets for ferry passengers made mandatory". The Indian Express. 21 December 2024.