Boat capsizes in sea off Nariman Point, Coast Guard launches rescue operations. (ANI Photo)
A passenger boat capsized near Shivaji Smarak, some 2.6 km west of Mumbai's Nariman Point on Wednesday evening killing a person. The boat which belonged to Maharashtra government was carrying senior officials including the state Chief Secretary. It capsized near the location of the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial off Mumbai coast:
The Coast Guard immediately swung into action and launched rescue operations to pull out people to safety. However, it could not locate Siddhesh Pawar, 20, an activist of Vinayak Mete-led Shiv Sangram party. Pawar's body was later found by the divers.
The officials were on way to the site of the proposed memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, where work was to begin Wednesday, when their boat hit a rocky patch. The commencement event had to be cancelled after the incident.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the media that he will order a detailed investigation into the incident.
"The boat accident was unfortunate. Due to the timely help and assistance provided by the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard, a major accident was averted. The state government will conduct an inquiry into the incident," Fadnavis told reporters.
Located around 3.5 km in the Arabian Sea off Marine Drive, the site envisages a grand 212-metre tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji on a 84-metre high pedestal, along with a huge memorial complex after reclaiming around four acres of land from the sea.
WATCH: Man drowns as boat capsizes off Mumbai coast
