Queency Jain
Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against the Captain and some others of Barge P-305 after the vessel sank in the Arabian Sea during cyclone Tauktae.
According to the officials, at least 48 personnel were killed, 51 bodies were recovered and 24 people are still missing with no hope to be found now.
The FIR is a result of complaint made by Chief Engineer of Barge, Rahman Hussain Shaikh, alleging the Captain, Rakesh Ballav for ignoring weather warnings and not moving the vessel away from the path of the storm.
According to Afcons Infrastructure, the master of P305 chose to stay in the sea despite instructions for returning to Mumbai harbour in the wake of warnings for Cyclone Tauktae.
Alam Sheikh, another chief engineer, has alleged the caption, the owner and various others for not bringing the vessel back even when there was a hole in the barge.
The case is registered under Section 304(2), culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Section 338, Causing grievous hurt to any person through rash or negligent act and Section 34, common intention at Yellow Gate Police station in Mumbai.
Also, the Directorate General of Shipping has ordered an investigation into the deaths.