Elephanta boat tragedy: FIR filed against Navy speedboat driver

An FIR was filed against the driver of a speedboat after an Indian Navy speedboat lost control and crashed into a ferry off Mumbais Gateway of India on WednesdayAn FIR under relevant sections of the new criminal code BNS was registered at the Colaba police station in south Mumbai against the Navy speed boat driver and others responsible for the tragedyThe FIR was filed on a complaint lodged by survivor Natharam Chaudhary 22 a resident of Mumbais Sakinaka areaThe BNS sections invoked in the FIR included those related to causing death by negligence actions that endanger the personal safety or life of others rash or negligent navigation of a vessel and acts of mischief that cause wrongful loss or damage to individuals or the publicThirteen persons died and 99 others were rescued after a Navy craft crashed into a ferry off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday the Navy saidAt about 4 pm a Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with passenger ferry Neel Kamal off Karanja near Mumbai the Navy said in a statementThe ferry was carrying passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island a popular tourist destinationSearch and Rescue efforts were immediately launched by the Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police Four naval helicopters 11 naval craft one Coast Guard boat and three Marine Police boats were involved in the rescue efforts the Navy saidThe survivors picked up by Navy and civil craft in the area have been transferred to jetties and hospitals in the vicinity So far 99 survivors have been rescued it addedThe accident led to the loss of 13 lives including a Naval personnel and two from the OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer on board the Naval craft the Navy saidMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur that 101 persons have been rescuedDeeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the collision between passenger ferry and Indian Navy craft in Mumbai Harbour Injured personnel including naval personnel amp civilians from both vessels are receiving urgent medical care Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted on XMy heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families Extensive search amp rescue efforts are ongoing by the Indian Navy amp Coast Guard deploying multiple assets to locate missing persons Singh addedFadnavis said 13 persons including 10 civilians and three from the Navy were declared dead by Naval doctors till 730 pm Two seriously injured personnel from the Navy are admitted to the naval hospitalHe said the Navy Coast Guard and Mumbai Police launched rescue operations immediatelyFour naval helicopters and 11 crafts were pressed into service The rescue operations are underway he saidFadnavis declared financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of victims of the extremely unfortunate tragedy from the CMs Relief Fund