The hydraulic steering of the Navy's speedboat – involved in the recent ferry crash – had malfunctioned, owing to which the vessel crashed with a passenger ferry, said sources citing the Navy's preliminary findings. The death toll in the December 18 tragedy stands at 15.
According to sources, the Navy's investigation found that the speedboat's hydraulic steering got suddenly locked during the engine trial. They said that Marcos commando Karamveer Yadav, who was operating the speedboat, tried to steer it in another direction, but in vain.
He is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU at INS Asvini Hospital. A police team, which visited the hospital on Monday, said that Yadav sustained severe injuries to his hands, legs and head. He remains unconscious, with minimal physical movement.
Yadav, a native of Haryana, recently completed his CD-3 (clearance diver) training in Goa before being posted to Mumbai. The CD-3 training certifies a diver to operate at depths of 35-100 metres in the sea. Based on this qualification, Yadav was entrusted with the responsibility of operating the speedboat.
In his statement, Deep Kishor Nikoshe, the assistant engineer who was onboard the speedboat and got injured, said Yadav managed to divert the speedboat from hitting the ferry's midsection where the diesel tank was located.
The collision occurred at the rear of the ferry instead. Had it struck the diesel tank, the ferry could have caught fire instantly. Nikoshe said that MARCOS commando Mahendra Singh Shekhawat, who was also onboard the speedboat, sacrificed his life to save the passengers.