A major accident happened off the Mumbai coast, where at least 13 people died after a ferry boat was struck by a Navy vessel. As many as 101 people were rescued, while search operations are ongoing for at least five individuals who are still missing.

The deceased include 10 civilians and three Navy personnel, as confirmed by Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis in a statement to reporters in Nagpur. Among the injured, four are still in critical condition.
According to the Navy, the death toll reached 13 by 7:30 pm. "Thirteen fatalities have been confirmed so far.

Survivors rescued from the incident site are being transported to nearby hospitals," the Indian Navy posted on X. The Navy reported that the vessel lost control during engine trials in Mumbai Harbour due to a malfunction, leading to a collision with the ferry.

CM Fadnavis said the Neelkamal ferry, en route to Elephanta Islands, a popular tourist destination near Mumbai, was struck by the speedboat around 4 p.m.

Fadnavis mentioned that the rescue operation is ongoing, with the team having rescued many passengers. "We are in contact with the rescue team and local authorities, and we are closely watching the situation," he said. He also assured that financial help would be given to the families of the deceased. The families of the victims will receive Rs 5 lakh from the CM Relief Fund.

A large-scale rescue operation was launched by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. According to a defence official, 11 Navy boats, three Marine Police boats, and one Coast Guard boat were deployed to the area. Four helicopters are also involved in the search and rescue efforts.

An FIR has been filed at Colaba police station against the driver of the Navy speedboat and others, based on a complaint by survivor Natharam Chaudhary. The FIR includes charges under sections 106(1), 125(a)(b), 282, and 324(3)(5) of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Eyewitnesses reported that a speeding boat was circling the ferry before it collided with it. The ferry departed from Gateway of India around 3:30 PM and was approximately 5 to 8 km into its journey toward Elephanta when the collision occurred. The distance between Mumbai and Elephanta is around 30 km, and the journey typically takes 40 to 45 minutes.

One passenger recalled, “I boarded the ferry around 3:30 PM. About 10 kilometres into the sea, a speeding boat crashed into our ferry. Water started flooding the boat, and the driver quickly told us to put on life jackets. I managed to put mine on, but by then, the boat had already started sinking. I swam for about 15 minutes before another boat came to rescue me."

The passenger also mentioned that life jackets were not provided until the water started entering the boat.
The speeding boat that collided with the ferry was carrying 8 to 10 people. One of the passengers on board suffered a leg injury, while others died in the collision.

What Fadnavis said about the incident

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he has instructed the district administration to use all necessary resources for the rescue operation.

“We have received reports about the Neelkamal boat accident while it was on its way to Elephanta. Boats from the Navy, Coast Guard, Port, and Police teams were immediately sent for help. We are in regular contact with the district and police administration, and thankfully, most of the passengers have been rescued. However, rescue efforts are still ongoing. I have ordered the district administration to deploy all required resources for the operation," the CM said in a post on X.

Speaking in the state assembly, Fadnavis stressed the seriousness of the incident and assured that all steps were being taken.