Tag Archives: Arif Bamane

Uddhav Thackeray Felicitates Arif Bamane for Rescuing 35 Mumbai Ferry Passengers 

Amazing Feats, Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024), Community Involvement / Social Issues

Mumbai, MAHARASTHRA :

New Delhi : 

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday felicitated Arif Bamane who rescued around 35 passengers following the collision of a Navy speedboat with a passenger ferry off the Mumbai coast that resulted in the death of 15 people.

In a post on X, the party informed about the felicitations. The post also contains photographs of Thackeray with Arif.  

“Arif Bamane, who showed bravery in saving the lives of 35 passengers in the Nilkamal boat accident, was honoured by party chief Hon. Uddhavsaheb Thackeray. Shiv Sena leader MP Arvind Sawant, Secretary MLA Milind Narvekar and Deputy Leader MLA Manoj Jamsutkar were present on this occasion,” said the party. 

The tragic maritime accident occurred on December 18 near Mumbai when an Indian Navy boat collided with the passenger ferry Neelkamal causing it to capsize. The ferry was headed to the Elephanta Caves from Gateway of India. A total of 101 people were rescued.

According to reports, on receiving a distress call, Arif and his team rushed to the accident site, traversing a distance typically covered in 18–20 minutes in just eight minutes. Describing the horrific scene to reporters, Arif said, “It was devastating. People were crying for help, some floating on the waves, while others struggled to stay afloat without life jackets. I saw a little girl lying motionless, with her lungs filled with water. I also rescued a newborn who wasn’t breathing and revived him by hanging him upside down.”

Arif, aboard his boat Porwa, a pilot vessel used to assist larger ships in anchoring, led his team in pulling people out of the treacherous waves. While many at the Gateway of India stood as helpless spectators, praying for the victims, Arif jumped into action. His priority was the vulnerable — children and women — whom he dragged to safety, calmed with reassuring words, and provided them with life jackets.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editors Pick> India / by Team Clarion / December 24th, 2024

Arif Bamane is hero of Mumbai boat collision rescue mission

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Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Scene of the boat tragedy and Arif Bamane (inset)

Mumbai :

Middle-aged Arif Bamane was among the first responders to arrive at the scene of a freak tragedy caused by a collision between a Navy speedboat and a passenger Ferry close to the gateway of India on December 18. He led his team in rescue and saved at least 30 lives, including a three-year-old and a newly-born child.

Arif is today hailed as a hero whose timely effort saved lives and is being praised by all on social media and offline.

Arif, who works as a Master (leader) of a Commercial MBT boat said on getting the distress signal and call for help, and rushed his boat to the site of collision by covering the distance that usually took him 18-20 minutes in 8 minutes.

Describing the scene, Arif told a media person, that it was a devastating scene as drowning people were crying for help. “I saw a three-year-old girl lying motionless; her lungs were filled with water. I also lifted a newly born child, who was not breathing. I quickly hung him upside down and he started beating.”

“I and my team must have rescued at least 25-30 people,” Arif said.

A total of 13 people lost their lives and 115 were rescued after a Navy craft, undergoing engine trials, lost control and collided with the passenger ferry Neel Kamal near Mumbai’s Karanja at around 4 pm on Wednesday. The ferry was carrying passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination.

Arif Bamane was out in the sea when he saw the collision between a Navy boat and ferry Neel Kamal right in front of the Gateway of India.

He saw floating heads on the waves, some people wore life jackets and they were trying to keep afloat while many were not wearing life jackets.

These people were asking for help by raising both hands on the waves. In this accident, children, old people, women, and youth saw their death up and close.

At the time of the accident, hundreds of people were diving in the water. Arif Bamane was on a boat named Porwa, a pilot boat that helps bigger boats anchor to the shores.

Most of the people at the Gateway were spectators to this devastating scene and only praying.

Arif Bamane started the rescue operation with his boat. He started taking women and children out of the waves, these were the passengers who were struggling for life and death by waving their hands and legs on the waves.

Arif Bamane’s timely help was like divine intervention for them.

According to Arif Bamne, he reached the accident site with his pilot jacket and pulled the women screaming for help into the boat, gave them life jackets, and spoke to them to be courageous.

Arif’s attention went to a three-year-old girl who was being tossed by strong waves around. Arif Bamne jumped into the sea and brought the girl to the boat in his arms.

The child was not breathing due to water filling her lungs. He laid her upside down and pumped her stomach to dewater her lungs and make them functional again. He hugged her close to his chest and resuscitated her.

For the girl’s mother, Arif was like God!

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz The Voice / Home> Story / posted by Aasha Khosa, ATV / December 22nd, 2024