Mumbai Ferry Tragedy: First Responders Share Their Harrowing Experiences at the Scene

The collision between a ferry and a Navy vessel off Mumbai's coast resulted in a tragic scene, as described by those who first arrived. Thirteen lives were lost, and 99 individuals were rescued, according to the Navy. The Navy craft, during engine trials, lost control and hit a passenger ferry en route from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island.

Arif Bamane, a driver of the Mumbai Port Trust MBPT pilot boat Poorva, described the chaos upon arrival. "When we reached there, the situation was tragic and completely chaotic. People were screaming for help, and some were crying," he said. Bamane prioritised rescuing women and children amidst the turmoil.

Rescue Efforts Amidst Chaos

Bamane's team was heading to Mumbai from Jawahar Deep when they received news of the accident. They were instructed to reach the site near JD5 swiftly. Despite having only four people on board, they managed to rescue many stranded individuals before other boats arrived. Among those pleading for help were three to four foreigners.

With 18 years of experience in boat driving, Bamane noted that Wednesday's incident was unprecedented in its severity. "This is the biggest rescue operation that I have seen so far," he stated. He recalled performing chest compressions on a small girl who had water in her lungs until her breathing normalised.

Witness Accounts from First Responders

Iqbal Gothekar, another boat driver, recounted learning about the incident 25-30 minutes after departing Elephanta Island at around 3:35 pm. He was among the first responders at the accident site. Gothekar has been a boat driver since 2004 and described seeing people frantically waving for help from the capsized boat.

Gothekar's boat managed to rescue 16 people, bringing them safely back to the Gateway of India where they were taken to a police post. Reflecting on his career, he said, "In my career, I have never witnessed such an incident."

Details of the Incident

A fishing trawler and another tourist boat had already reached the scene before Bamane's team arrived. The capsized ferry had departed from the Gateway of India about 45 minutes prior to the collision near Butcher Island. It had a capacity of 80 passengers.

The tragic event highlighted the bravery and quick response of local boat drivers who played a crucial role in rescuing many lives amidst chaos and panic.