Mumbai Boat Accident: 4 Helicopters And Rescue Teams Deployed; Devendra Fadnavis Monitors Rescue Ops

At least one person lost their life after a boat carrying 30 passengers capsized near Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon. The ferry vessel, named Neelkamal, was en route to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination, from the Gateway of India when the incident occurred.

According to authorities, the accident took place around 4 PM after a small boat collided with Neelkamal. Rescue operations were launched immediately.

The Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Police have initiated large-scale rescue efforts. A Navy spokesperson confirmed that 11 Navy boats, three Marine Police boats, one Coast Guard boat, and four helicopters have been deployed for the search and rescue mission. Personnel from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, local police, and fishermen in the area are also contributing to the operations.

So far, 21 passengers have been rescued, while efforts continue to locate the remaining individuals. Latest reports indicate that 55 people have been taken to Navi Mumbai for medical attention. Meanwhile, GT Hospital and St. George's Hospital in Mumbai have been put on high alert to handle any emergencies.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken cognizance of the situation. Speaking in the state assembly, he said, "According to preliminary information, 20 of the 35 people on board have been rescued. About seven people are still missing, and rescue operations are ongoing."

The Chief Minister further added in a post on X (formerly Twitter),"We have received reports of an accident involving the boat *Nilkamal*, which was heading towards Elephanta. Boats from the Navy, Coast Guard, Port, and Police teams have been immediately dispatched for assistance. We remain in constant touch with the district and police administration. Fortunately, most passengers have been rescued, but rescue operations are still underway. Orders have been given to deploy all necessary machinery for the rescue effort."

The exact cause of the boat capsizing is because a speedboat carrying four men was seen zig-zagging off the Mumbai coast. Within seconds, the speedboat veered towards a ferry and collided with it.