Overcrowded ferry runs aground off Elephanta, passengers rescued

Mumbai: At least 78 passengers, mostly tourists, were rescued from an overcrowded ferry which ran aground in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast Tuesday evening, official sources said.

The rescue operation was carried out by a hovercraft of the Indian Coast Guard near the world famous Elephanta Island when the regular tourist ferry, Navrang, suddenly ran aground.

The incident happened around 4.45 p.m. during its 11-km return voyage from the island to the Nhava village on the mainland.

While manoeuvering to leave the jetty, the ferry hit a submerged mud-patch rendering the engines dead.

The passengers panicked as the vessel became unstable without access to the shore due to the tide rising. The local police were alerted for help.

Though teams came in one police boat and two civil boats, they could not help the stranded passengers due to treacherous naviation problems, following which the coast guard was informed.

The ICG activated its teams in a hovercraft and rescued all the stranded passengers.

All the passengers, including 20 women, 18 children and 40 men, are safe and unhurt, and were dropped at the Belapur hoverport by 6.30 p.m.

The details and cause of the incident were being ascertained as the overcrowded ferry did not have any life-saving equipments on board, the sources said.

The passengers comprised tourists visiting the Shiv temple on the island on the auspicious occasion of Shiv Jayanti Tuesday.

The Elephanta Islands harbour the UNESCO World Heritage site of Elephanta Caves comprising Hindu and Buddhist sculptures, dating back to 4th century AD. It is a major draw for both domestic and foreign tourists round the year.