Kochi Water Metro mishap sparks fresh safety audit demands
Although no passengers were injured, the collision has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of water transport operations in the area.
According to Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML), the boat had been operating on its regular route from the High Court terminal to Vypeen. As it approached the jetty, a strong undercurrent caused the vessel to drift backward and lightly hit the anchored Ro-Ro boat. "Neither vessel suffered major damage, and there was no inconvenience to passengers.
With the help of another boat, the passengers disembarked at the jetty.
Service was temporarily suspended until the current's strength decreased, after which the operations resumed," stated a press note issued by KWML regarding the incident.
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), which oversees KWML, has initiated a detailed investigation into the incident. KWML CEO Sajan P John said the preliminary probe points to an unusually strong undercurrent during low tide as the reason for the mishap.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik
IC Markets
Mendaftar
Undo
"Boat operators rely on visible signs on the water surface and scientific tidal data from our control centres to assess such risks. The driver involved was a trained and experienced operator," he said.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the area. In Nov 2023, two Water Metro boats slightly grazed each other while slowing down near the same location, causing the emergency exit on one of the boats to open automatically and triggering alarms that led to panic among commuters.
Though no injuries were reported, the incident raised similar safety concerns.
The area has a history of maritime accidents. In 2015, a major collision between a fishing boat and a passenger ferry claimed 11 lives near Vypeen.
Several civic groups, including the Kochi Metro Passengers Association, have demanded a safety audit. "Three different jetties—SWTD, Water Metro, and Ro-Ro—operate adjacent to each other at Vypeen, increasing the risk of accidents during berthing," said association member Ebencer Chullikkadu.
Launched in April 2023, the Kochi Water Metro is India's first integrated water transport project and recently won a national award for the 'Best Green Transport Initiative'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
UP: Water security can be attained only through community participation, says Irrigation Secretary
Water security and sustainability in Uttar Pradesh can be attained only through a combination of government and private initiatives and cooperation from the local communities. This was the biggest takeaway from the TOI Dialogues panel discussion on 'Green & Blue Future: UP's Holistic Approach to Sustainability & Water Security' on Thursday, August 7. 'Unless we conserve water, scarcity will follow' Water conservation is one of the most important issues globally in today's day and age. And, it was the centre of attention at TOI Dialogues. Speaking at the event, GS Naveen Kumar— Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources— highlighted that even though Uttar Pradesh is lucky to have many rivers, preserving them would be possible only through a collective effort. To illustrate his point, he highlighted that Prayagraj faces water scarcity despite being surrounded by two major rivers– the Ganga and the Yamuna. 'Our state may seem abundant in water, but the reality is different—unless we actively conserve it, scarcity will follow,' he said. Kumar then pointed out how Azamgarh and Varanasi set a benchmark in this regard when several dying rivers were given a new lease of life to benefit farmers. Community involvement is a must, says Kumar Kumar then highlighted the role of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, which includes both 'green' (vegetation conservation) and 'blue' (water) initiatives, in ensuring sustainability. He, however, emphasised that the government's initiatives for ensuring infrastructural support alone aren't enough as the key lies in encouraging local communities to protect these resources. This, he added, can happen only if they receive proper training and education. Echoing similar sentiments, Ganesh— the CEO of Naam Foundation— highlighted how the community once funded the cleaning of a 25-acre pond in Jalalpur, Derapur (Kanpur district) with his organisation providing the machinery. Naam Foundation also plays a crucial role in helping farmers adapt to less water-intensive crops. Highlighting this, he pointed out that some farmers already have an idea of the subject but need guidance on the practical front. His comments come at a time when the siltation of farm ponds in Jhansi and Banda has had an adverse impact on ground level recharge. Naam Foundation plans to improve the situation by rejuvenating 5,000-6,000 such ponds while sharing costs with farmers and requesting CSR funding. Additionally, once the spotlight shifted back to Kumar, he highlighted a plan to modernise the canal network. The process involves metering and a water accounting system. These steps will ensure that farmers get access to the exact amount of water they need and eliminate wastage or scarcity. On a related note, crop diversification projects in Banda and Bundelkhan are already underway. They include the use of solar power to lift and distribute water. This is set to add a new dimension to the conversation surrounding sustainability.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Metro to add ops, extend hours for Green & Purple Lines from Monday
Kolkata: From Monday, metro will increase services on both sections of the East-West Metro (Green Line I and II) and the Purple (Joka-Majerhat) corridor. Operation hours will also be extended. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now East-West Metro's Sector V-Sealdah section will add two services to the existing 106 from Monday to Saturday. The first train will depart at 6.35 am instead of 6.55 am while the last trains will continue to depart at 10 pm. The Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section will get four additional services to take the total count to 134. The first trains will leave at 6.30 am instead of 7 am, and the last trains will depart at 9.53 pm as usual. The Purple Line will have eight more services to take the total number to 80 from 72 at present. The first and last trains will depart at 6.50 am and 9.14 pm respectively, compared to the current 7.57 am and 8.32 pm. On Sundays, services on the Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section will start at 2 pm as usual.
Hindustan Times
21-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
What pilot told terrified passengers after narrowly avoiding mid-air collision with another plane
A pilot was forced to make an 'aggressive maneuver" to avoid a mid-air collision with another plane over the United States, following which he made an in-flight announcement to reassure his terrified passengers. In a viral TikTok video uploaded on Saturday, July 19, the pilot told passengers that he was forced to make the sudden detour due to a military plane that was flying nearby. A pilot made a hard turn to avoid colliding with another plane (Representational image) The SkyWest Airlines pilot said that unclear air traffic control instructions led to the close call. The incident occurred during a flight from Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Minot International Airport in North Dakota. Pilot's in-flight announcement to passengers According to a report in People magazine, based on the viral TikTok, the military jet flew so close to the passenger plane that passengers on one side of the plane saw it coming. "For those of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane kind of coming at us,' the pilot explained in the video. 'Nobody told us about it, and so we continued. There's no radar here, so the tower does everything visually.' The pilot explained the sequence of events to the passengers, saying he was instructed to "report about six miles from the airport" and make a specific turn. However, when he saw the approaching military jet, he told air traffic control, "There's an airplane over there'. The pilot was then told to turn in the opposite direction. "By the time we went back to clearance with nowhere, I saw the airplane that was kind of coming on a converging course with us," he said. "It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all," he continued. "I don't know why they didn't give us a heads-up, because the airport base does have radar. And nobody said, 'Hey, there's also a B52 in the pattern.' He then apologized for the sudden lurch as he performed an 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid a mid-air collision. "Long story short, it was not fun," said the pilot. 'I apologize for it.' What passengers said The mood inside the cabin was eerily calm as passengers saw the military bomber jet approaching. 'I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy, because no one else was reacting,' passenger Monica Green told KFYR TV. 'We took a really hard turn, and that's when the pilot got on the intercom and said, 'sorry everybody, I'll explain everything when we land safely,'' she said. 'The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was insinuating that landing safely might not be an option for a moment. We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet.' Green praised the pilot for keeping calm. 'He was very casual, if you can be casual about something like that, but you could tell he was stressed. He was almost shaking, trying to find the right words, but he was nice and detailed. It felt good that they weren't just going to brush it off,' she said. SkyWest Airlines' statement Skywest Airlines confirmed the incident. 'SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path,' a spokesperson for the airline told People magazine.
