Suspicious boat triggers panic near Bhuigaon beach in Vasai

The boat was seen drifting close to Bhuigaon beach. Pic/Hanif Patel

A suspicious small barge type vessel was spotted off Bhuigaon beach in Vasai West on Thursday, spreading panic among locals. The local police were alerted by informers. Later, Vasai police informed the Coast Guard officials in Mumbai. The probe is on to find more about the boat.

Coast Guard officials carried out an aerial survey of the Bhuigaon beach and hovered over the suspicious vessel but could not see movement of anybody on board, said a senior official from Coast Guard.

"We received information from Vasai police about a suspected boat in the sea. We launched an aerial survey and no person was seen on board. It was found in a shallow water area where the ships cannot go, so we have requested the police to launch an investigation from the land," a senior Coast Guard official told mid-day.

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"The boat is located very close to land, somebody can walk across to it. It is premature to say if the boat is suspicious because it might have been grounded and gone adrift. But nothing can be authenticated at present because we have to find whose boat it is," the officer added.

The name of the boat and its IMO number were not legible from the top when the Coast Guard officials conducted aerial surveillance. Coast Guard officials are in touch with the local police in Vasai to assist them in the investigation.

Senior police officers remained tight-lipped over the matter. However, police sources said they will conduct a drone investigation of the boat on Friday and try to find its owner.