Latest news with #Betim
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
After month-long repairs, ferry back on Chorao-Ribandar route
Panaji: The ferry boat called Betim, which was submerged for 10 days following an incident on June 23, finally resumed operations on the Chorao-Ribandar route after a month of undergoing repairs. The vessel was salvaged after nine days. Vikram Raje Bhosale, director of the river navigation department (RND), said that the salvage operation caused damage to the canopy. 'Both the engines and gearboxes were overhauled due to water immersion. The winch hydraulic system also required an overhaul,' he said. Additionally, life-saving apparatus, electrical systems, batteries, beds, and firefighting equipment were replaced, and the ferry received a complete repainting. The ferry boat was salvaged through a combined effort by departmental staff and two private agencies—Vinaydeep Enterprises and Kanishka Salvage and Underwater Services. The total cost of the salvage and repair operation of the vessel was approximately Rs 30.2 lakh. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
04-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Ferry capsized at Chorao finally pulled out of water after 11 days
Panaji: The ferry boat called Betim, docked at Chorao island ramp, which was submerged since June 23, was safely pulled out of the water after 11 days. A preliminary inspection by the river navigation department (RND) showed that there was no puncture to the hull. The vessel was taken to the RND marine workshop for further inspection and repairs. 'Primary observations reveal that there is no major damage to the vessel,' RND director Vikram Rajebhosale told TOI . After several failed efforts to salvage the vessel using pontoons and even pumping out the water from its other rooms, the RND on Friday pressed a 50-tonne crane into service to salvage the partially submerged vessel. However, persistently high-water levels caused by heavy rainfall kept flooding the vessel's engine room. 'We managed to drain the water out of the engine room with the help of salvagers and a crane, following which the vessel was refloated,' Rajebhosale said. 'After repairs at the marine workshop, we will repaint the vessel, resurvey it, and put it back on the Chorao route within a month.' Preliminary investigations on the day it capsized suggested that the vessel sank due to rainwater accumulating in the tanks, which were not drained. The sudden flooding caused the ferry to lose stability and submerge near the Chorao jetty. On Wednesday, the RND crew succeeded in lifting the vessel by 5m and managed to drain water from most of the compartments. However, water trapped inside the engine room was a challenge as it required the ferry to be lifted further to allow proper pumping.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Week-long struggle to salvage capsized ferry continues
Panaji: The river navigation department (RND) is still grappling with rescuing the ferryboat, Betim, that has remained submerged for an entire week near Chorao island despite relentless salvage efforts by the RND. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to RND officials, poor visibility beneath the water has hampered divers' attempts to secure the vessel to a pontoon on Sunday. 'The ferryboat has to be tied to the pontoon underwater, which only divers can do. But due to poor visibility, the two divers were not able to fix the pontoon's chain properly. The chain slipped off during multiple attempts, making it impossible to complete the task on Sunday,' RND director Vikram Rajebhosale said. He further said that the operation could not be rushed, as it risked further damage to the vessel. 'We may require some more chains on the pontoon to secure the vessel properly,' he added. Earlier during the week, pontoons were hired to aid the salvage, but shallow waters along the riverbank made it impossible to position them. This forced the department to alter its strategy. A team of 15 RND staff, supported by a diver and a special salvager crane, worked through Friday to refloat the Betim but were thwarted by high tide and technical setbacks. Over the weekend, the team added another diver and circled back to using the pontoon method, but the operation has yet to succeed. In the meantime, to ensure that daily commuters are not stranded, two additional ferries have been deployed on the Chorao route to maintain connectivity for the islanders.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
High tide stymies salvage of ferry, fresh attempt today
Panaji: The ferryboat called Betim, which capsized near Chorao on June 23, continued to remain under water on Friday despite day-long salvage efforts by the river navigation department (RND). A team of 15 RND staff, assisted by a professional diver and a special salvager crane, worked through the day but were unable to lift the vessel. The high tide was cited as the primary hurdle. 'We have reached the final stages of the salvage operation. There is a high tide which is hindering us,' RND director Vikram Raje Bhosale told TOI . 'Once we are able to pull out even half of the ferryboat, we will be able to salvage it completely.' Preliminary investigations suggest the vessel sank due to rainwater accumulating in the tanks, which were not drained. Bhosale said the responsibility for this lapse lies with the coxswain, who failed to conduct the required checks and drain the tanks in time. On Thursday, pontoons were hired to aid the salvage, but shallow waters along the riverbank made it impossible to accommodate them, forcing the department to switch strategies. 'This is a learning experience for us as well. We are sure about extricating the vessel on Saturday morning,' Bhosale said. The accident has raised concerns over routine safety checks and operational accountability within the department, with calls from RND minister Subhash Phal Dessai for stricter protocols to avoid similar occurrences in future. He visited the site on the day the ferryboat sank. 'Such accidents should not lead to a calamity in future. A safety and structural audit of all ferries will be done,' Phal Dessai said.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Two days on, ferry remains under water
Panaji: Ferry boat 'Betim' remains submerged at its dock at Chorao for the second consecutive day after sinking on Monday. Authorities have initiated salvage operations, but the retrieval process is delayed due to technical and logistical challenges. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Machinery is being mobilised. A pontoon crane with pumps has already arrived at the site. Two additional pontoons are expected to reach by 11pm on Wednesday. We will begin salvage operations from tomorrow,' said Vikram Rajebhosale, director of the river navigation department (RND). The ferry, serving the Chorao route, sank after one of its tanks got flooded. Preliminary investigations by the RND suggest that the incident could be caused by inadequate drainage from the tanks, particularly the air tanks positioned at the bottom of the vessel. These air tanks are critical for maintaining the buoyancy of the ferry. On Monday, the fire brigade was called in to assist in the operation, deploying large water pumps to try and drain the water from the vessel. However, despite their efforts, the vessel could not be raised. RND minister Subhash Phal Dessai also visited the site on Monday and said, 'Such incidents should not lead to a calamity in future. A safety and structural audit of all ferries will be done.'
