Indian Coast Guard rescued 78 stuck onboard fishing boat ran aground

MUMBAI: Seventy eight people, including 18 children, were rescued and brought back to the shore after the fishing boat in which they were returning ran aground minutes after it started sailing from Elephanta Island on Tuesday. The incident occurred when the 78 people—34 men, 33 women and 11 children—onboard was heading back to their homes at Nhava village after performing Maha Shivratri pilgrim.
The rescued were taken safely to the Belapur Hover Port and disembarked after a 30 minutes rescue operation was carried out by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Air Cushion Vessel (ACV—H 194). The incident occurred at 4.45pm around 5 nautical miles (7.4 km) off Mumbai Coast after the ferry boat Navrang met with the mishap after it hit the rock. According to the defence official, the boat is not a registered ferry boat service.
Immediately alert SOS was sent from the boat and the state government immediately alerted the ICG about the incident. The rescue operation was carried out before the boat could have sunk and the passengers were pulled to the ICG hovercraft before heading towards the port. “There were 78 people onboard—34 men, 33 women and 11 children—rescued after the Hovercraft (H-194) were pressed into action from Belapur. The team led by commandant Sandeep Safaya reached the spot in no time and carried out speedy operation and saved the lives,” said ICG inspector general SPS Basra.

The ICG received the SOS at around 5.10pm and immediately the ACV reached the spot and rescued all onboard. A spokesperson from the Indian Defence said the ferry boat was stranded off Gharapuri Island (also called as Elephanta Island). “The incident occurred after the ferry boat sailed from Nhava village to Gharapuri Island. The rescued passengers disembarked at Belapur Hover Port at 6.15pm,” said the spokesperson.
It is a local fishing boat from Nhava village which the passengers has used to ferry to the island to visit a temple situated in Elephanta Island to offer prayers. “People were seen panicked when the rescue team reached the spot within 10 minutes on receiving the distress call. People has already stood on the boat after it hit rock bottom. The boat has started tilting when the ICG rescue team reached the spot,” said an ICG official who was part of the rescue operation.