Mumbai, 21 December: The body of a seven-year-old child missing in the Neelkamal boat accident going from Gateway of India to Elephanta in Mumbai was recovered by the rescue team on Saturday afternoon. Thus, the death toll in this incident has increased to 15.
The Colaba Police Station and the Navy team are investigating this incident. This information has been given by the police.
According to police sources, the body of the missing seven-year-old child recovered by the rescue team this afternoon has been identified as Johan Mohammad Nisar Ahmed Pathan. This child was missing since 18 December after the Neelkamal boat accident. The child’s mother also died in the same accident. The mother and son were residents of Goa. Earlier, the rescue team recovered the body of 43-year-old Hansraj Bhati on Thursday. Thus, the total death toll in this incident has increased to 15.
The Indian Navy has begun investigation into the Neel Kamal boat accident, one of the deadliest accidents in the city’s port area. A naval helicopter and boats of the Navy and Coast Guard were deployed to search for the missing passengers as part of the SAR operation, an official said.
Of the 113 people on board the two ships, 15 died and 98, including two injured, were rescued, the official said. The naval ship had six people on board, two of whom survived, the official said.
The accident occurred when the high-speed naval boat undergoing engine testing lost control and collided with the passenger ferry ‘Neel Kamal’ off the Mumbai coast. The ferry, with over 100 passengers, was headed from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta tourist spot.
The case is also being investigated by a team from the Colaba police station.
A police official said that according to documents issued by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), the boat was allowed to carry 84 passengers and 6 crew members, but it was overloaded. This matter is being investigated.
