New Delhi: Two Indians, famed rally driver Hari Singh and former naval officer and Arjuna awardee for yachting Commander Mahesh Ramachandran, remain missing following a speedboat accident in the Maldives last week involving billionaire and industrialist Gautam Singhania.
Ramachandran was the captain of the yacht TT Ashena, linked to Singhania, the Chairman and Managing Director of Raymond Group.
A total of seven persons, five Indians, one Russian and one British passenger, were on the speedboat that capsized close to Felidhoo island in the Vaavu atoll Thursday.
Singhania returned to India Friday, while another Indian injured in the accident returned the following day.
The Maldives’ National Defence Force (MNDF) has been searching for the two missing Indians after first receiving a call at 00.40 hours Friday. The incident occurred around two nautical miles from Keyodhoo island. Singhania and four others were quickly rescued by the MNDF.
“Immediately upon receiving the distress report, MNDF mobilised assets for a coordinated response. The operation is being carried out by MNDF Malé Area Command, Coast Guard Second Squadron, and Air Corps, involving a multi-dimensional search effort by sea and air, with additional support from MNDF Coast Guard divers,” MNDF said in a statement Saturday.
“To date, search operations have covered a maritime area of approximately 3,450 square nautical miles for surface search efforts. In addition, divers have conducted specialised underwater search operations covering approximately 7,000 square meters.”
The sailing community in India has been in a state of shock ever since it learnt that Cdr Mahesh Ramachandran, one of the stalwarts of the sport, has been missing at sea following a boating accident off Maldives since Thursday night/ Friday early morning. He was the skipper of… pic.twitter.com/OmUdOcrrEW
— Cdr Abhilash Tomy KC, NM (@abhilashtomy) March 22, 2026
The speedboat, reported to be manufactured by Cigarette racing, was said to have reached speeds of up to 72 miles per hour before capsizing. Singhania was operating it when it capsized, Maldivian media outlets including Adhadhu and Atoll Times reported Sunday, indicating that investigations are ongoing in the incident.
The speedboat is currently impounded by the Maldivian authorities. Singhania received injuries, including to his face and hands, and left the island archipelago for treatment in Mumbai. Two individuals are continuing to receive medical care in the Maldives while the rest have been transferred to India. Manik Bhimsen Bharadwaj is reported to be the second Indian national to have been transferred to India for healthcare Saturday due to serious injuries sustained in the accident.
The motorsport community in India has come out with messages of support for Singh and his family on social media. A number of Indian motorsport athletes have also shared condolence messages for Singh, a five-time national rally champion winner. It should be noted that neither of the two missing Indians has been officially declared dead by the Maldivian authorities yet.
“Awful news about Hari Singh’s passing… I took this picture of him when I was 11 years old in Coimbatore and that’s how I will remember him best – the Flying Sikh in his yellow gypsy,” Karun Chandhok, a former Formula 1 racing driver, said in a post on X Sunday.
“Always greeted you with a big warm hug and had a zest for life and adventure like nobody else I know! The world is a poorer place without you Hari…. Big hugs to Simran and your children.”
Commander Ramachandran was awarded the Arjuna Award for yachting in 2001 by then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. In 2002, Ramachandran along with Aashim Mongia won a bronze medal in sailing at the Asian Games. He won a silver medal in the 2006 edition in Doha.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)