Boat With Around 56 People Capsizes Off Mumbai Coast 2024 12 18
ReutersDec 19, 2024
India: 13 Dead as Navy Speedboat Crashes Into Mumbai Ferry
Above: A view of ferries after a boat that capsized off the coast in Mumbai, India on Dec. 18, 2024. Image copyright: Imtiyaz Shaikh/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
At least 13 people died, including a naval officer, when an Indian naval speedboat collided with a passenger ferry off Mumbai's coast at approximately 4 pm (local time) on Wednesday.
The ferry was carrying 110 people from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island when the naval vessel, which was conducting engine trials, lost control due to an engine malfunction and crashed into it.
The Spin
Narrative A
The state police and the Indian Navy will probe this accident. However, it likely occurred after the naval boat's newly installed engine got stuck at full throttle, making it impossible to prevent the collision despite attempts to turn away from the ferry.
Narrative B
Passenger boats, often overcrowded, make regular trips to ferry tourists to the Elephanta Caves throughout the year. The naval vessel's operation during testing in a busy passenger route raises questions about safety protocols and the timing of such trials in areas with regular civilian maritime traffic.
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