Who Cleared Naval Trial On Busy Maritime Route? Mumbai Police Seeks Detailed Info From Navy Over Boat Accident That Killed 14

The Colaba Police in Mumbai have written to the Indian Navy an the Maharashtra Maritime Board, seeking detailed information regarding the collision in the Arabian Sea between a ferry and a naval boat, which claimed 14 lives.

The accident occurred earlier this week when an Indian Navy boat, undergoing a trial, lost control and crashed into a ferry boat on its way to Elephanta island, claiming 14 lives and injuring several others.

The police asked why the trial was being conducted on such a busy maritime route and also sought to know who gave permission for the same, NDTV reported.

The protocols in place for the trial are also being investigated, according to the police sources cited in the NDTV report.

The probe is also looking into claims that the naval boat had a throttle problem, which caused it to lose control and crash into the passenger boat.

Further, it is also being investigated whether ferry boat had seated more passengers than capacity.

On Thursday, the Indian Navy announced the formation of a Board of Inquiry to probe the collision.

In response to the incident, authorities have mandated the use of life jackets for all passengers taking boat rides from the Gateway of India.

The death toll in the accident increased to 14 on Thursday after the body of one of the two missing passengers was found.

Search operation continues to locate a seven-year-old boy who is still missing.

Out of the 113 people aboard the two vessels, 98 were rescued, including two who sustained injuries.

Six personnel were aboard the naval craft, and only two of them survived the accident.

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