The tragic collision between a boat and a Navy craft off the Mumbai coast has taken a grim turn, as new revelations highlight overcrowding and inadequate safety measures on the ill-fated boat. According to reports, the boat involved in the accident had a capacity of 90 passengers but was carrying 111 people at the time of the collision. Moreover, the vessel reportedly had only around 90 life jackets onboard, leaving several passengers without access to crucial safety gear during the emergency. Sources have suggested that adherence to proper safety regulations could have significantly mitigated the loss of lives in the incident. The tragedy, which claimed 13 lives, including a Navy personnel and two contractual naval employees, has raised concerns about safety compliance in passenger ferries operating in the region. Mumbai Police has initiated an inquiry into the matter and is collecting information from the Mumbai Maritime Board (MMB). Authorities are expected to examine whether the boat operator violated safety norms by exceeding passenger capacity and failing to provide adequate life-saving equipment. The incident unfolded when a Navy vessel, reportedly conducting engine trials, collided with the passenger boat 'Neel Kamal' en route to Elephanta Island. A total of 105 people were rescued from both the Neelkamal boat and the Navy ship. The injured were taken to various hospitals, including the JJ Hospital, GT Hospital, SSG Hospital, and private facilities for treatment. Tragically, 13 people lost their lives in the accident. Casualties and treatment details: JJ Hospital: 56 people were admitted, and after receiving initial medical attention, they were sent home. INHS Sanjivani, Karanja: 13 people were treated, with 10 declared dead, while 3 were discharged after receiving medical care. One person continues to receive treatment at INHS Hospital. St. George's Hospital: 10 people were admitted, with 7 of them discharged after treatment. Three people are in critical condition. INHS Ashwini: 2 individuals are in critical condition. Ongoing Search: Navy and other rescue agencies continue to search for additional victims in the accident site. The search operation continues for two missing passengers: Hansraj Bhati (43) and Johan Mohammad Nisar Ahmed Pathan (7). Assistance from the Navy and Coast Guard remains ongoing to locate the missing individuals.
19 December,2024 03:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bazarpeth police in Kalyan have booked a 65-year-old man, Zaki Khotal, for allegedly throwing acid on his 29-year-old son-in-law, Ibaad Falke, following a petty argument. Khotal had recently married off his daughter to Falke. The couple was planning their honeymoon and had chosen Kashmir as their destination. However, Khotal reportedly insisted they undertake an Islamic sacred pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia instead. The police stated that Khotal allegedly demanded the annulment of the marriage after Falke insisted on going to Kashmir for the honeymoon. This argument had been ongoing for several days. On Wednesday, a similar dispute occurred between Khotal and Falke. Later that evening, at around 7:45 pm, Falke left his house on his bike and headed toward Asha Towers, at Agra Road. While standing outside the tower, a bike approached him with Khotal as the rider. Khotal allegedly threatened to kill Falke and, moments later, threw a significant amount of acid on Falke's face and body. Falke screamed in pain as his skin burned. Nearby residents informed his family, who rushed him to Apex Hospital in Kalyan West. Atul Zende, DCP Zone 3, confirmed that Khotal is still absconding. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend him. Khotal has been booked under sections 124 (1) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation with death threat), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023.
19 December,2024 02:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerMumbai is set for an exciting evening as Punjabi music sensation Diljit Dosanjh brings his much-awaited Dil-Luminati India Tour to the Mahalaxmi Race Course today, December 19. With the concert expected to draw massive crowds, Mumbai Traffic Police has issued an advisory warning commuters about significant vehicular congestion, particularly on the Bandra-Worli Sealink. The concert, which is scheduled to begin in the evening, has garnered widespread attention, with gates opening at 5 PM. In anticipation of the large number of attendees, traffic disruptions are expected along the Sea Link, especially towards Mahalaxmi Race Course. As the event draws closer, organisers and traffic authorities urge commuters to plan their journeys in advance to avoid delays. In view of the public event at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in the evening, there will be traffic congestion on the sea link towards the Mahalaxmi race course. Commuters are advised to plan their journey well in advance.#MTPTrafficUpdates — Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) December 19, 2024 According to a post by the Mumbai Traffic Police on X (formerly Twitter), the heavy influx of concertgoers is likely to cause traffic bottlenecks, particularly in the vicinity of the racecourse. Authorities have emphasised that commuters should anticipate longer travel times and adjust their schedules accordingly. Given that Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati tour has already seen sold-out performances across various cities, the Mahalaxmi concert is anticipated to be no different, with a significant crowd expected to fill the venue. The large turnout is likely to increase the pressure on the city’s already congested traffic, especially during peak evening hours. With these factors in mind, the Mumbai Traffic Police has urged concertgoers to leave early, be prepared for possible delays, and consider using local transit to minimise inconvenience.
19 December,2024 02:22 PM IST | MumbaiAir India has announced a significant step in strengthening its pilot training capabilities with an order for 34 trainer aircraft. This move aligns with the airline's ongoing efforts to expand its training infrastructure, set to support the upcoming Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra, which is slated to begin operations in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. The order includes 31 single-engine aircraft from Piper Aircraft, based in the United States, and 3 twin-engine aircraft from Austria’s Diamond Aircraft. These aircraft will form the backbone of the FTO, which is poised to become South Asia's largest of its kind. This initiative is part of Air India’s broader Vihaan.AI transformation program, which aims to enhance the airline's self-reliance in pilot training as it expands its fleet. The new training facility at Belora Airport in Amravati is designed to graduate 180 commercial pilots annually, reinforcing Air India’s commitment to developing a robust pipeline of qualified pilots for its future needs. “The new FTO is a strategic move to exponentially expand our training infrastructure and our commitment to building a self-reliant ecosystem of qualified pilots for both Air India and the Indian aviation industry,” said Sunil Bhaskaran, Director of the Aviation Academy at Air India. “With this order of 34 trainer aircraft, we are not only supporting South Asia’s largest FTO but also contributing to India’s rapidly growing aviation sector and the government's vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.” The trainer aircraft, scheduled for delivery starting in 2025, will feature advanced technology, including glass cockpits, G1000 avionics systems, and Jet A1 engines, all designed to ensure the highest standards of training for aspiring pilots. In addition to the FTO in Amravati, Air India has invested in a state-of-the-art Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, covering 600,000 square feet—making it the largest such facility in South Asia. The airline is also the first in India to announce the creation of an FTO that complements its broader vision for India's aviation infrastructure. The Amravati FTO will span 10 acres and include digitally enabled classrooms, hostels, a digitised operations centre, and a maintenance facility, ensuring optimal operational efficiency. The facility is designed to deliver world-class pilot training with a strong emphasis on safety. This investment in aviation training infrastructure underlines Air India’s determination to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s aviation future, preparing the next generation of pilots, and contributing to the growth of the country’s aviation ecosystem.
19 December,2024 02:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted the possibility of light rainfall in North Madhya Maharashtra and nearby areas during the final week of December 2024. "19th Dec, Extended range forecast for 4 weeks from IMD. There is a possibility of light rain in North Madhya Maharashtra and surrounding areas during the last week of December 2024. Please stay tuned for IMD updates," K S Hosalikar, IMD Pune - Head, said in a post on X. 19th Dec, आयएमडीकडून 4 आठवड्यांसाठी विस्तारित रेंज अंदाज. डिसेंबर 2024 च्या शेवटच्या आठवड्यात उत्तर मध्य महाराष्ट्र आणि आसपासच्या भागात हलक्या पावसाची शक्यता आहे. कृपया आयएमडी अपडेट्सवर लक्ष ठेवा. pic.twitter.com/E6o2eiMFGS — K S Hosalikar (@Hosalikar_KS) December 19, 2024 Mumbai's temperature dips to 16 degrees In the past few days, Mumbai has experienced sharp fluctuations in temperature. The city on Thursday saw a significant drop, with the minimum temperature reaching 16.5 degrees Celsius. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is expected to experience a cloudy sky on Thursday, December 19, with temperatures ranging from a cool 18 degrees Celsius in the morning to a warm 33 degrees Celsius during the day. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai's Santacruz observatory in suburban Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 16.5 degrees Celsius. The weather department's data showed that the city observatory in Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 31.8 degrees Celcius and the minimum temperature was recorded at 20.2 degrees Celsius. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates by the IMD, the maximum temperature will likely be around 33 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature will likely be around 18 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity is 90 per cent. The sun rose at 07:06 AM and will set at 06:05 PM. The IMD’s latest Mumbai weather update forecasts a "mainly clear sky" for the city and its suburbs over the next 24 hours.
19 December,2024 02:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA day after a ferry-Navy craft collision claimed 13 lives off the Mumbai coast, authorities on Thursday made life jackets mandatory for all people taking boat rides from the Gateway of India, reported news agency PTI. Some tourists, however, said the life jackets would be of help only if people know how to use them. The authorities should instruct people how to use the life jackets in case of an emergency, they said. Some survivors of the Elephanta boat tragedy on Wednesday claimed the ferry did not have enough life jackets. Thirteen persons, including a Navy personnel and two contractual naval employees, were killed and nearly 100 were rescued after the Navy craft carrying out engine trials dashed against the passenger ferry 'Neel Kamal' on Wednesday afternoon. The ferry was carrying more than 100 passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island. Devidas Jadhav, an assistant boat inspector deputed at the Gateway of India, told PTI that they have made the use of life jackets mandatory for every passenger taking the ferry boat to Mandva near Alibaug (in neighbouring Raigad), Elephanta Island or while going for a short ride of the Mumbai harbour. Sangeeta Dalvi, who was travelling to Mandva with her husband for some work, said passengers must use life jackets as they can save lives in case of an emergency. She also said there was no need for the people to be scared after Wednesday's accident. "Such tragedies do not happen every day. We do not avoid travelling by roads though every day several accidents occur on roads," Dalvi added. Suyesh Sharma, a tourist from Chhattisgarh who came to the Gateway of India to take a boat ride as he had time before his return by an evening flight, said life jackets do not prove much helpful in the high sea unless people know how to use them. "Life jackets could prove helpful only when you know how to use them. Authorities should also tell people how to use them in case of emergency," said Sharma, who often takes up adventure sports like river rafting. Boat owners from Bhaucha Dhakka (a wharf near the Dockyard Road here) said they insist that people wear life jackets, but passengers are reluctant many times though they could prove life-saving in case of an emergency. Ferry boats operate from Bhaucha Dhakka to trans-harbour locations like Uran and Revas in the neighbouring Raigad district. Boat owner Sameer Bamane said some passengers are reluctant to wear life jackets, citing the reason that they feel uncomfortable due to excessive heat and sweat during humid conditions. "Tourists here do not want to wear the life jacket, but the same people use it without any complaint when they go to other countries like Singapore or Malaysia. It is because the authorities there do not allow a boat to move if even one person is without a life jacket," he said. (With inputs from PTI)
19 December,2024 01:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Amol Kirtikar challenging the win of rival Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, reported news agency PTI. Kirtikar in his election petition had sought the Bombay HC to set aside Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar's election as the member of Parliament from Mumbai North-West constituency and to declare the same as "null and void", reported PTI. He also sought to be declared as duly elected from the said constituency. A single bench of Justice Sandeep Marne said the petition is dismissed. Kirtikar, belonging to the Shiv Sena (UBT) headed by Uddhav Thackeray, in his plea claimed that on the counting day itself he filed an application seeking recount of the votes as there was a discrepancy, reported PTI. He had lost to Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar, of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, by a narrow margin of 48 votes in the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year. While Waikar got 452644 votes, Kirtikar got 452596 votes. The Sena (UBT) leader in his plea claimed there were various glaring and serious lapses on the part of elections officials deputed to carry out the counting process, which led to the poll result being materially affected. "The Election Petitioner (Kirtikar) is aggrieved on account of the improper reception of void votes cast by 333 impersonaters in place of genuine voters, along with breach of rules/orders, pertaining to the counting process, by ECI officials, which has materially affected the outcome of the election results," the plea said, reported PTI. It further alleged that the returning officer showed "high-handed hastiness and palpable arbitrariness" at the time of the counting of votes, reported PTI. Kirtikar also sought the court to summon the video recordings of the entire counting process while hearing his plea. (With inputs from PTI)
19 December,2024 01:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA man and a child remain missing more than 24 hours after a tragic collision between a Navy craft undergoing engine trials and a passenger ferry near Mumbai's coastline, police confirmed on Thursday. Of the 113 people aboard the two vessels, 13 lost their lives, while 98, including two injured, were rescued, as per PTI reports. Authorities have identified the missing individuals as 43-year-old Hansraj Bhati and seven-year-old Johan Mohammad Nisar Ahmed Pathan. A joint search operation involving the Navy and the Coast Guard is underway to locate them, officials said. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when the passenger ferry 'Neel Kamal', carrying over 100 passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, was struck by a Navy vessel conducting engine trials. Among the 13 fatalities were a Navy personnel and two contractual naval employees, according to police and PTI updates. The impact of the collision caused chaos aboard the ferry, with passengers thrown into the water. Emergency rescue efforts, involving the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and local agencies, were launched promptly. Divers, helicopters, and specialised rescue boats were deployed to recover victims and bring survivors to safety. The injured passengers were taken to multiple hospitals in Mumbai for treatment, including JJ Hospital, GT Hospital, and private facilities. As of Thursday, several survivors have been discharged after receiving medical care, while a few remain hospitalised. According to eyewitnesses, the collision was sudden and left little time for passengers to react. Survivors recounted moments of panic and desperation as they scrambled to stay afloat or clung to debris in the sea. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident. Preliminary inquiries suggest potential lapses in communication and navigation protocols. Officials have assured that stringent measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future. Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched by the Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police, the PRO said. Four naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, one Coast Guard boat and three Marine Police boats were deployed in the rescue operation. The survivors rescued by the Navy and civil craft in the area have been transferred to jetties and hospitals in the vicinity.
19 December,2024 01:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a rather unconventional solution to the problem, the BMC has covered the stormwater drainage covers with tar. Motorists travelling on Dattaji Salvi Road, from the Andheri RTO signal to the Veera Desai Road signal, are expressing dissatisfaction over the bumpy ride, as the tarred sections over the drainage covers are raised above the level of the road. On Wednesday, mid-day travelled on the road from the RTO junction signal to the Veera Desai signal, and during our visit, we observed that on the eastbound stretch of the cement concrete (CC) road, there are a couple of locations where the BMC is carrying out work related to the stormwater department. Due to this, a 50-metre eastbound stretch has been closed, and traffic has been diverted to the other side of the road. We also observed around 40–45 stormwater drains in the middle of the CC road. Some are covered with proper iron covers, some with iron grills, but 37 stormwater drains have been covered with tar poured in rectangular shapes over them. These tar-covered surfaces are not level with the CC road, causing a bad driving and riding experience for four-wheelers, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers. On a daily basis, thousands of vehicles use this important arterial road stretch to travel from Veera Desai to the New Link Road signal near the RTO and back toward Veera Desai. While riding on this stretch, we also witnessed that these uneven, bumpy humps are not only dangerous for two-wheelers and three-wheelers but also for four-wheelers. MNS leader and local resident Kushal Dhuri said, “In the name of improving road quality, the BMC officials have only caused more harm than good. Initially, they replaced the road with concrete (CC), and now they’ve used a bizarre method of covering stormwater drains by pouring tar over them in a rectangular pattern. This shoddy work only exposes the authorities’ real focus—making money through contracts. Two-wheeler riders travelling from the RTO-Link Road signal toward Veera Desai Road have repeatedly skidded and fallen, all thanks to the BMC’s poorly executed drainage cover.” Motorist Ramesh Shetty said, “The eastbound stretch of Dattaji Salvi Road in Andheri West, from the Andheri RTO signal toward Veera Desai Road, was a good CC road. God knows what happened to the BMC that they’ve poured tar over at least 30 stormwater drains on the road, because of which we now have to endure bumpy rides. The road has become uneven, and bikes are skidding. Is the BMC waiting for someone to die?” What the BMC has to say: A BMC official from the K West ward said, “Residents living along Dattaji Salvi Road and Veera Desai Road had complained to us about the loud noise created whenever heavy vehicles passed over the metal stormwater drainage covers. This was causing noise pollution for the residents, both during the day and night. As a temporary solution, we have covered the drainage covers with tar patches.”
19 December,2024 12:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe Clean Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA) has written to the joint commissioner of police (traffic), highlighting the growing menace of double parking in south Mumbai. The association claimed that law enforcement officials have become mere bystanders, adding that the ‘Colaba quadrangle’, including Boman Kawasji Boman Behram (BKBB) Marg, and the bylanes of Garden Road, Henry Road, J A Allana Road, Walton Road, and P Ramchandani Marg, up to and beyond BEST Marg, is in a state of total disarray. In addition to highlighting the chaos caused by double parking, the association specifically pointed out the reckless high-speed driving of food delivery riders in the Colaba area. It alleged that, under the cover of double parking, the footpaths in the area are plagued with defecation, and discarded garbage is frequently seen on the streets after people consume food, beverages, and alcohol. Double parking in the pay-n-park area at BEST Marg; (right) Behind Taj hotel on Mereweather Road “The problems are perennial and now have gone beyond acceptable limits across the aforementioned roads and need your urgent and immediate intervention and action as they are leading to rampant violations of law and order as well as traffic, noise pollution, air pollution and other unruly elements frequenting the area, abandoning of vehicles, private taxis operating as regular vehicles parked for days and months, more specifically on Garden Road, Walton Road and BKBB Marg. This is congesting the entire area and inconveniencing local residents as well as those frequenting the areas for few hours. Additionally, there are mobile hawkers vending tea and coffee, defecation of the footpaths/sidewalks by drivers, and also throwing of garbage on streets after consuming food and beverages, including alcohol,” reads the complaint letter submitted to Mumbai traffic police. The association lamented that Colaba has become the most affected area because of the double parking menace and illegal hawkers in residential areas. “There is constant double parking on BKBB Marg and it worsens late in the evening. It appears the violators are in cohort with law enforcing authorities,” the president of CHCRA, Subhash Motwani told mid-day. The association has told the traffic police that all ‘no parking’ signage boards have been uprooted from BEST Marg by ‘pay-n-park’ attendants and both sides of roads are illegally occupied by double parked vehicles, removed when a VIP is visiting Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The main culprits are the pay-n-park attendants who keep bunches of keys with them and double park vehicles. This nuisance has now extended to P Ramchandani Marg as well. Motwani further alleged that the pay-n-park attendants use these upscale areas as open valet areas and double park vehicles to collect huge sums of money, especially on BEST Marg, P Ramchandani Marg, BKBB Marg and the bylanes. ”It is a nuisance for local residents, especially senior citizens, as vehicles once removed cannot get parking spaces easily as most spaces are usurped by outside vehicles including app-based cabs and black-and-yellow cabs whose drivers, instead of parking in designated zones, park for weeks or months in the parking spaces of regular vehicles and are rarely penalized. However, residential vehicle owners are penalised even if they stop to pick and drop senior citizens,” Motwani lamented. “Shockingly, if double parked vehicles handled by the pay-n-park attendant are penalised, the charges are reversed immediately whereas law-abiding citizens are fined R1500 for a pick-up or drop in order to meet the target of the traffic department. All this happens less than 100 metres from the Colaba police station and even traffic police constables are often seen having a cup of tea with the regular private taxi drivers,” he added. “There is no accountability and the whole area is a mess. At times this goes on till the wee hours of the night, when valet parking and pay-n-park attendants even drive in the wrong direction to park vehicles which sometimes block corners of bylanes. Shockingly, the attendants know which vehicle belongs to which resident and this is a serious safety and security issue as well,” he added. “The pay-n-park scheme should be discontinued in the area as it is a big racket. It has proven to be more of a nuisance and has made the whole area totally chaotic and unliveable, apart from being a serious security issue. Traffic constables are rarely seen as it is a large expanse of space to cover with a couple of constables and in most cases, they tend to overlook double parking violations for reasons best known to them,” Motwani informed mid-day. He stressed that in case of an emergency in the area, it would be a serious issue due to the chaos. “The situation gets worse during weekends.” Meanwhile, vice president of CHCRA, Pervez Cooper said, “Starting from Cafe Mondegar lane, outside and at the rear side of Taj hotel, and outside Hotel Diplomat along Merewether Road (B K Boman Behram Road) up to Arthur Bunder Road, BEST Marg and Ramchandani Marg (seaside), the area is completely controlled and dominated by the pay-n-park mafia. Because of these attendants, double parking is rampant with the traffic cops behaving like mere spectators.” In their two-page complaint letter to the joint CP (traffic) on Wednesday, the association has further alleged that the other lanes and bylanes have serious issues such as entry violations and there have been instances of senior citizens being knocked off, especially by speeding two-wheelers coming in the wrong direction and entering ‘no entry’ lanes. Electric scooters without number plates are also ridden at high speed. These mostly belong to food delivery apps and local shops. Also, most of these riders park on the footpath, taking over walking space. A senior officer in Colaba traffic division told mid-day that they have been taking action against motorists violating the rules. “We have also written to civic officials to reinstall the boards removed by civic officials during repair work.”
19 December,2024 12:38 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaWe couldn’t understand what happened as it all occurred within seconds. We just saw a speedboat come and collide with the ferry,” a survivor admitted to St. George’s Hospital told mid-day. A total of nine survivors are currently admitted to the hospital, and all are safe. “Some routine tests are being conducted,” the hospital administration confirmed.Natharam Choudhary, 24, a resident of Kurla, was travelling to Elephanta Caves with his brother. “My cousin Sarwana Choudhary came from our village in Rajasthan. My brother Jeetu, Sarwana, and I boarded the ferry around 3.15 pm. An Indian Navy speedboat circled our ferry four or five times before suddenly hitting it. As a result, our ferry broke into two, and all the passengers began falling into the water. I was saved because I was wearing a life jacket,” Natharam shared. He and his brother Jeetu, who are both in stable condition, are being treated at St George’s Hospital. Dr Vinayak Sawardekar, the hospital’s medical superintendent, said, “We will keep the patients under observation for 24 hours.” Jeetu Choudhary said, “I immediately put on the life jacket that was nearby. When I fell into the water, another boat came and rescued me along with other passengers.” Rammilan Singh, originally from Uttar Pradesh, said, “I came to Thane from Bangalore to visit my sister with my friends. We were heading to Elephanta Caves with my sister’s husband. While on the ferry, we noticed a Navy speedboat circling us. Suddenly, it collided with our boat. We were jolted badly, and the ferry spun and broke apart. Everything went dark for me, and I found myself in the water. Although I am a good swimmer, I couldn’t act quickly. Thankfully, I was wearing a life jacket. A private boat rescued me and my friend Kiran, and later, an ambulance took us to the hospital.” Fourteen-year-old Tarun Bhati from Malad was on the ferry with his mother, father, cousin, and cousin’s wife. Initially untraceable after the accident, it was later confirmed by St. George’s Hospital administration that Tarun’s mother, Santoshi Devi Bhatia, along with his cousin and sister-in-law, had been admitted to INS Ashwini Hospital. Cousins Riti Gupta and Gautam Gupta who were on the boat are in stable condition. Riti Gupta came to Mumbai to see the caves. “My mother wanted to visit the Elephanta caves. We caught a ferry from Gateway of India.” Riti has been continuously asking about her mother whose whereabouts, if at all rescued, are yet to be known. Her cousin Gautam who is a resident of Mumbai has been trying to console her. 13No. of people that have been confirmed dead
19 December,2024 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveADVERTISEMENT
