Board Of Inquiry Ordered, Two Still Missing: Navy After 13 Killed In Mumbai Ferry Tragedy

Two persons from the ferry are still missing even as the search and rescue operations are in progress by eight Navy craft and a naval helicopter, augmented by a Coast Guard vessel, the Navy said.

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Thursday offered condolences to the grieving families of the thirteen persons who died and wished for a speedy recovery of the injured after a Navy speedboat crashed into a ferry off the Mumbai coast.

The Navy said that a board of inquiry has been ordered into the accident to establish the facts of the case. 

"Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, CNS, and all personnel of the Indian Navy offer heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of those who tragically lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in Mumbai Harbour, and wish for a speedy and full recovery of those who were injured," a Navy statement said.

Thirteen persons died and 99 others were rescued after a Navy craft crashed into a ferry off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday. Two persons from the ferry craft are still reported to be missing even as the search and rescue operations are in progress by eight Navy craft and a naval helicopter, augmented by a Coast Guard vessel, the Navy said.

"Two persons from the ferry craft are still reported to be missing, towards which, Search and Rescue operations are in progress by eight Navy craft and a naval helicopter, augmented by a Coast Guard vessel," the statement added.

It further said that the search and rescue efforts have continued throughout the night of December 18 - 19 in the vicinity of the accident.

The incident unfolded at around 4 pm on Wednesday, when a Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with passenger ferry Neel Kamal off Karanja near Mumbai, the Navy said in an earlier statement. 

The ferry was carrying passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination.        

The Navy had immediately launched a search and rescue operations in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police and four naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, one Coast Guard boat and three Marine Police boats were deployed for rescue efforts.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of victims of the extremely unfortunate tragedy from the CM's Relief Fund. 

An FIR has also been registered under relevant sections of the new criminal code BNS at the Colaba police station in south Mumbai against the Navy speed boat driver and others responsible for the tragedy, an official said.