Ferry capsized at Chorao finally pulled out of water after 11 days
The ferry boat called Betim, docked at Chorao island ramp, which was submerged since June 23, was safely pulled out of the water after 11 days. A preliminary inspection by the river navigation department (RND) showed that there was no puncture to the hull.
The vessel was taken to the RND marine workshop for further inspection and repairs.
'Primary observations reveal that there is no major damage to the vessel,' RND director Vikram Rajebhosale told
TOI
. After several failed efforts to salvage the vessel using pontoons and even pumping out the water from its other rooms, the RND on Friday pressed a 50-tonne crane into service to salvage the partially submerged vessel.
However, persistently high-water levels caused by heavy rainfall kept flooding the vessel's engine room.
'We managed to drain the water out of the engine room with the help of salvagers and a crane, following which the vessel was refloated,' Rajebhosale said. 'After repairs at the marine workshop, we will repaint the vessel, resurvey it, and put it back on the Chorao route within a month.'
Preliminary investigations on the day it capsized suggested that the vessel sank due to rainwater accumulating in the tanks, which were not drained.
The sudden flooding caused the ferry to lose stability and submerge near the Chorao jetty.
On Wednesday, the RND crew succeeded in lifting the vessel by 5m and managed to drain water from most of the compartments. However, water trapped inside the engine room was a challenge as it required the ferry to be lifted further to allow proper pumping.
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