Mumbai: The driver of the Navy speedboat that collided with a ferry packed with passengers on way to a tourist site off the Mumbai coast was in a "playful mood" and was "showing off", said a survivor who lost his aunt in the crash.
The survivor, Gautam Gupta, on Thursday recounted the moments leading up to the horrific speedboat-ferry collision on Wednesday afternoon that claimed the lives of 14 individuals, including Navy personnel.
The ferry was on its way to Elephanta Island, which has a collection of ancient caves, from the Gateway of India in south Mumbai when it sank off the city coast after the collision.
Gupta, a vegetable vendor from Nalasopara in adjoining Palghar district, was on the ferry 'Neel Kamal' with his aunt and relatives who had travelled to Mumbai to attend his wedding last week.
"I met my aunt after many years. She came for my wedding, and I took her for sightseeing and a ferry ride in the sea. I had no idea it would be the last day of her life," said a distressed Gupta.
Gupta, contesting the Navy's claim of "engine failure" in the speedboat leading to the crash, described the vessel's driver as someone who was "showing off."
He said many passengers, including himself, were busy recording videos of the speedboat as the driver zig-zagged through the waters. "It felt like a display," Gupta said.
As they headed towards Elephanta Island, he said the speedboat approached with 5 to 6 people on board.
"The driver was in a playful mood, zig-zagging through the waters. Suddenly, he turned the speedboat and headed directly towards us. He must have thought he could pass by our ferry narrowly, but his stunt ended in tragedy," Gupta said. Initially, Gupta did not grasp the gravity of the situation.
"One occupant from the speedboat was thrown onto our ferry. We assumed our ferry was safe and that no damage had occurred. But soon, the ferry began to sink," he said.
Four-year-old girl, pregnant woman among three injured
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday said three persons injured in the boat tragedy off Mumbai coast includes a four-year-old girl and an eight months pregnant woman.
Making a statement in the Lower House of the state legislature, he said the third injured is a Navy personnel and his condition is serious.
"The condition of the four-year-old girl and the pregnant woman is stable," he said.
The driver of the naval speed boat and other concerned have been booked under clause 106 (1) (causing death by negligence), 125 (a), 125 (b) (rash or negligent acts that put human life or personal safety at risk), 282 (whoever navigates any vessel in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life), 324 (3), 324 (5) (mischief causing damage to property) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), he added.
"The rescue operations are still continuing. Out of the 110 passengers, 96 have been rescued," Pawar said.
Comments