Team Herald
PANJIM: At least 30 passengers on board a ferry boat along the Panjim-Betim route were stranded after the vessel hit sand dunes during the peak hours on Thursday. At least 25 passengers were rescued by the local marine police and the fire safety personnel, while a dozen of them refused to come on shore leaving their two-wheelers in the ferry. The Panjim fire services reportedly received a call at around 4.55 pm informing about the incident after which one vehicle was rushed to the spot.
Simultaneously, the coastal police boat was also pressed into service, on which the passengers were safely brought to the shore. “However, some refused to heed to our request claiming their vehicles were stuck on the boat,” said the coastal police inspector Paresh Naik claiming their boat continued to remain at the spot until all were rescued following an emergency discussion with the authorities concerned.
The ferry service was stalled for the rest of the day as the second ferry boat was also pressed into the rescue operation.
