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Body of 7-year-old boy missing since Mumbai ferry-Navy boat crash found; death toll rises to 15
Mumbai ferry accident: The boy, identified as Zohan Pathan, whose mother also died in the accident, hailed from Goa.
Mumbai ferry accident: The body of a seven-year-old boy, who had been missing since the tourist ferry-Indian Navy boat crash off the Mumbai coast on December 18, was found on Saturday. The boy, identified as Zohan Pathan, whose mother also died in the accident, hailed from Goa.
With the recovery of the body of the seven-year-old boy, the death toll in the December 18 tragedy rose to 15. A naval helicopter and boats of the Navy and Coast Guard were deployed to look for the missing passengers as part of the SAR operation, the official said.
On Thursday, the body of a 43-year-old man was recovered.
The Indian Navy has launched a probe into one of the deadliest crashes in the city's harbour area.
Of the 113 persons on board both the vessels, 15 died and 98, including two injured, were rescued. There were six persons on board the Navy craft, of which two survived, the official said.
The tragedy struck when the speeding Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with the passenger ferry – 'Neel Kamal' – off near Mumbai coast. The ferry, with more than 100 passengers, was on its way from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist attraction which has a collection of ancient caves.
According to the documents issued by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), the boat had permission to carry 84 passengers and 6 crew members, but it was overloaded, a police official said.
The MMB, which is conducting an investigation into the accident, has cancelled the licence of the ferry as the vessel was overloaded, thus violating the Inland Vessel Act. The ferry had a capacity of 90 persons, an official said.
Case against Navy craft driver
A case has been registered against the Navy craft driver at the Colaba police station, the official said.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections invoked in the FIR included those related to causing death by negligence, actions that endanger the personal safety or life of others, rash or negligent navigation of a vessel and acts of mischief that cause wrongful loss or damage to individuals or the public.
The accident-affected craft is in the custody of the Navy, and police will demand it whenever needed for investigation, the official said.
(With inputs from PTI)
