Kochi, Aug 4 (PTI) Nearly 50 passengers, including young children, were rescued after a Ro-Ro ferry suffered an engine failure and drifted towards the sea through the shipping channel off Kochi on Tuesday evening, officials said.
The incident occurred at around 6 pm when the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC)-owned Ro-Ro ferry was on its regular service from Fort Kochi to Vypin.
According to the Fisheries Department, the ferry developed an engine failure midway, causing it to drift towards the sea through the shipping channel.
A team from the Fisheries Marine Enforcement wing at Vypin rushed to the spot and rescued all the passengers, preventing what officials described as a major mishap.
The Fisheries patrol boat chased the drifting ferry, secured it with ropes and towed it safely towards the shore.
Officials said the ferry was carrying nine cars, one traveller van, around 50 motorcycles and about 50 passengers at the time of the incident.
The rescue operation was carried out by Fisheries Marine Enforcement personnel, including Sub-Inspector Shiju, Civil Police Officer Vishnu C K, Boat Srank Ajayan, Driver Shaji and Sea Rescue Guards Shellen, Udayan, Vinu and Gipson, they said. PTI TGB ROH
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.