Captain of lost Indian barge knew of approaching cyclone
Survivor accounts of the sinking of accommodation barge P305 on 17th May have been published by the Indian media.
Indian media outlets have published first-hand details of the sinking of barge P305 as recounted by survivors of the accident that has so far claimed 49 lives.
Rahman Shaikh, 48, was serving as engineering office on the barge’s final deployment. He told the Indian Express that the barge’s master knew of approaching Cylcone Tauktae, but believed that its strength would be lower than forecast.
“Many other vessels in the vicinity left. I told the captain, Balwinder Singh, that we must also leave for the harbor. But he told me that winds were not expected to be over 40 kmph and the cyclone would cross Mumbai in one or two hours,” Shaikh told the Indian Express.
“There was miscalculation on the captain’s behalf and also the company.”
