Captain Anmol Shrivastava’s Heroic Rescue Saves 57 Lives in Tragic Ferry Accident

The quick actions of Captain Anmol Shrivastava helped save many lives after a tragic ferry accident.

On December 20, the ferry Neel Kamal capsized near Elephanta Island after being hit by an out-of-control Indian Navy speedboat. The ferry, carrying over 100 passengers, sank rapidly, leading to the loss of 14 lives.

Captain Shrivastava, who works at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port guiding large cargo ships, was on duty that day. He had just finished escorting a cargo ship when he received an urgent SOS call about the sinking ferry.

When he arrived at the scene, the ferry was almost completely underwater. Passengers, including children, were clinging to the remaining parts of the boat, desperately trying to stay afloat. Parents were seen holding their children above water, struggling to save them.

“We realized we could reach in five minutes and rushed to help. People were panicked, but we focused on getting children out first, then elderly women, and finally the men. As a mariner, I’m trained to follow the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) principles. It felt like destiny that we were so close to the accident,” Captain Shrivastava said.

He described the rescue: “Nearly 50 people were holding onto the sinking boat, and 30 more were floating in the water. My crew lowered iron ladders and threw lifebuoys, life jackets, and ropes into the sea. Some people were pulled up by hand.”

Although his ship was built to carry only 12 people, Captain Shrivastava used his expertise to safely rescue 57 survivors. Among those rescued was a seven-year-old boy, who sadly did not survive despite CPR efforts by Shrivastava and German tourists on board.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has announced that Captain Shrivastava will be honored for his bravery during the upcoming Republic Day celebrations.