One person drowned after a boat carrying 25 people capsized when it hit a rock near a lighthouse off Mumbai's coast on Wednesday evening. The boat was carrying press personnel and Maharashtra state officials, who were to witness the commencement of Shivaji Memorial's construction 200 m out to Arabian Sea. There were no life jackets on the fast-moving boat, sources said.
The state government has ordered the Maharashtra Maritime Board to conduct an inquiry into the incident.
The body of Siddhesh Pawar, 34, a Vakola resident who ran an accountancy firm, was recovered after more than two hours, and was taken to St George's Hospital. His wife, whom he had married less than a year ago, fainted at the facility and was administered saline water, while his uncle was admitted to the intensive care unit.
State Councillor Vinayak Mete, the event organiser who is heading the committee to oversee the statue construction, said five boats had been arranged for the guests. Two boats had reached the project site when the third, Manas-3, with 25 people, hit a rock and was ruptured.
He said state Chief Secretary DK Jain and some other officials, who were already at the site, contacted the Navy and Coast Guard for rescue. Two choppers were requisitioned and all passengers on board, except Pawar, the boat were shifted to another boat.
It was around 3.15 pm that the first boat left with a few journalists and Shiv Sangram activists including Pawar. The second was a VIP speedboat ferrying Mete, chief secretary Jain, officials from the Chief Minister's Office, the public works and other departments.
"At about 4:15 pm, we received a report from the state administration about capsizing of Manas 3 near the Shivaji Smarak site. The boat belongs to Maharashtra Government and was carrying senior officials. The ICG launched its helicopters and hovercraft immediately. Hovercraft ACV H 192 was diverted and it reached location within 15 minutes," said Indian Coast Guard Commandant Avinandan Mitra.
According to the information provided by the city administration's disaster control unit, the boat had tilted at Prongs Reef Lighthouse off Nariman Point, after which the fire brigade, the police, the Coast Guard, Navy and ambulances were pressed into action.
"Twenty-four people were evacuated safely. Around 8 pm, one body was recovered by the diving team. The distressed boat was towed to Sassoon Dock," said a Coast Guard official.
"An accidental death case has been registered. We will conduct an inquiry and the authorities concerned will be questioned," additional commissioner of police, south region, Pravin Padwal, told DNA.
Manoj Saunik, principal secretary, public works department, said, "We will have to wait for investigations that will be conducted by Maharashtra Maritime Board. We will cooperate for carrying out investigations into the same." MMB Chief Executive Officer Vikram Kumar said: "A detailed investigation will be carried out to probe any wrongdoing."
Victim Siddhesh Pawar's uncle Prakash Ambre said: "He had gone to the site because he felt it was a good thing that was happening and wanted to see it."
His maternal uncle, Vikrant Ambre, secretary of Shiv Sangram Sena, was admitted to ICU after hearing the news. "Siddhesh's wife fainted and we have put her on saline," said Madhukar Gaekwad, medical superintendent, St. George's Hospital.
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