Ramdas Boat : 17 July 1947
Ramdas Boat : 17 July 1947
Introduction
It has been 76 years today since the boat 'Ramdas' which was going to Revas at the suggestion of Bhau sank (Bhau cha Dhakka) in the sea and 700 people died. A detailed account of the incident was published in the August 1947 issue of the magazine 'Darywardi', this edited version. In order to get an idea of the atmosphere of the time, the style and language of the article is retained as 'an account of a recent accident'.
On July 17, the boat 'Ramdas', which was going to Revus from Mumbai, capsized in the sea near the rock of 'Kasha', just nine miles from the port of Mumbai, due to the gusty wind and the impact of two huge waves, and six to seven hundred people who were traveling with it also drowned in the sea. This is what happened after the sinking of two boats, Tukaram and Jayanti, about twenty years ago.What has happened is so terrible that a thorn stands on the body. The mind wanders. All the people have demanded from Chohi that this kind of inquiry should be done. Newspapers have also demanded to know the truth on behalf of the public. Chief Pradhan of Mumbai Balasaheb Kher, Murarji Desai. The investigation has also promised a full investigation. He was present at Uran at the time of the 'Ramdas' boat accident.He has heard the detailed reality of the accident from the mouths of the survivors. The news of the accident echoed in Parliament, expressing sympathy for the drowned Hindi people. Even if all this is true, something and somewhere is wrong.The people have been convinced for a long time that six-seven hundred unfortunate, innocent people had to suffer his atonement at the cost of death. It is the urgent desire of the people that this mistake should be found out. Let us hope that soon the investigation will start and the truth will come out. The weather was stormy that day. The wind was blowing.It is not necessary for a meteorologist to say that it was raining. Thousands of people in local trains coming from Virar had witnessed the stormy weather that day.
Poor Ramdas
Ramdas Boat was built in 1936, it was a 406 ton boat. In the year 1942, it was taken by the government for war work. On the 17th, at eight o'clock in the morning, the Ramdas boat left for Revas at the urging of his brother. The checks were also to go by this boat; But as they got a separate boat to Uran that day, they did not take this ill-fated boat.The boat left the sea, then sank within an hour. According to a surviving sailor, there was a storm on the sea that day. He says, 'Seeing the force of the storm, Captain Sheikh Sulaiman tried to put the boat in the nearby bay for shelter, but the boat was swaying on the waves like a toy and struggling with the force of the sea and the storm. Only once did she eat gutangali and she disappeared within five minutes.
'Kahshache' Khadak
Agbot General Manager C. A. Butch says, 'When the boat left the harbor this morning, the air wasn't quite as crisp as it usually is during the rainy season.' This statement does not match with what the sailors said. Life-saving bags are carried on boats to come in handy in case of an accident. Didn't even get a chance to take it. Help could have been obtained by sending a wireless message; But such a device was not originally on the boat, it is said. If this story is true, it must be said that it is an inexcusable mistake by the boat company. Alone 'Kasha Khadak' watched the scene with a stoic expression.
The News
Mumbai got to know this terrible news around 4 pm. In the evening, Mumbaikars came to know about this terrible situation just nine miles away. Even the boat company at the harbor could not understand him quickly. The Ramdas boat that left in the morning would actually return to Mumbai port at two in the afternoon; But as her address was not found for so long, the company officials started an inquiry and got the exact news that the boat had sunk at four in the evening. The news spread like wildfire in the city of Mumbai in the evening and the public was in a frenzy. His benefactors, who had gone to the village that morning by boat to celebrate the new moon, were driven mad by their worries. Crowds of people started going to the ticket office of the fireboat company everywhere to inquire. Imagine how the relatives spent that night!
Who broke the news first?
At that time, some Koli from Revus had left for Mumbai with the fish they had caught during the night. They saw people floating on the way. They immediately threw away the fish from the boat and took the drowning men to the shore. Revus was the first to hear the news of the sinking of the boat from them. After hearing this news, the boats 'Mira' and 'Ganga' went and started the work of saving lives. One of the rescued sailors said they were rescued by boatmen and brought to Mumbai's Sassoon Docks.125 people were admitted to hospitals in Alibaug and Revus. About 25 people reached Mumbai safely on the first day. From the information he gave, it was understood that the spiders of Revus worked very diligently to save the drowning. The captain of the Ramdas boat, Sheikh Suleman, survived the accident. There were also some Europeans on the boat. The 19 people who were brought to Mumbai have been kept under the supervision of the authorities and are not allowed to talk to anyone.
Ramdas was allowed to carry 1050 boats and 42 sailors while moving along the coast. When this boat went to Goa etc., it was allowed to carry 695 Utaru, 10 hotel servants and 42 sailors. Normally, raves are never visited by so many people. As the 17th was the new moon of Gattari (Gatahaari Amavasya) , there was such a rush of people going home that day. The Ramdas boat was inspected by the marine authorities this year itself and a recommendation letter was also received that the boat is in good condition. This boat was of the ninth class in the government category.
Inexcusable delay of wire account
The news that Ramdas had drowned was sent to Bombay by the company's agent at Revus at 2.15 p.m.; But even though she reached Mumbai at 3 pm, she was received at the company office at 7.15 pm. An inquiry must be made as to the vehicle on which the telegraph soldier went to deliver the telegraph and whether the telegraphmaster who took the telegraph speaks English or not. If he knows English, he should also know the meaning of stars. If the meaning is understood, then the harm must also be understood. If realized, the wire should have been communicated to the boat company by telephone. Had he had a conscience, he would not have committed the truly unforgivable mistake. He must be asked to answer this.
The courage of Urankar
Uran got the news about the sinking of the boat at half past one. The reality was also understood by the people who came swimming in Karanje port. Immediately, people took cars, sticks, etc. and went to the harbor at Karanje, More, Pirwad for help. As soon as they saw some people floating in the sea, the brave men jumped into the sea without caring for their lives. They got twenty people out alive. Of these, 12 people were rescued in Karanje port and eight in Pirwad. Kashinath Balya Kondaji, a man from a family of eighteen from the Janjira kingdom, who had gone to Pandharpur for the Ashadhi Ekadashi pilgrimage, died at Karanje Bandari.
N. Tapse's work
Industry Minister N. Tapse had earlier reached Uran by another boat. He along with his Parliamentary Secretary Vandrekar visited Karanje, Pirwadi Bandar and inquired about the distressed people. With them D. K. Kunte was also there. As soon as they realized that the boat had sunk, the Koli community here rolled their boats into the stormy valley regardless of the stormy wind and stormy waves. Among those rescued by the spiders are 60 Warkaris who had traveled to Pandharpur.
Mhatre's bravery
Colaba District Congress Committee Secretary Mhatre jumped into the turbulent sea and saved seven people. An 18-year-old survivor met Uran while on tour. He said, 'After the boat sank, everyone started trying to go towards the shore. I was in it too. Soon I saw the top of a tree. I swam to the shore with great determination. The Muslim gentlemen helped me in all kinds of ways at that place.'
Some Muslims from Uran had come for a picnic party at Pirwadi. They brought 12 people to shore. Alibaug lost 92 lives. Among the dead were some Europeans. In every place, relatives came in search of their congregations. Cremation and burial were done at various places.
Search of people
The work of searching for the living people and the corpses was carried out by government and non-government agencies. The boat company provided them with all kinds of support. Bunch of relatives were roaming around. People felt strange that most of the working class on the boat survived and even attacked one of the sailors. 'You killed our relatives and how did you survive?' This question of the people was as harsh as it was pathetic.
Search and investigation of the boat
The sunken area was inspected by plane. The launch has since searched for the boat 11 times so far; But she has no address anywhere. Officials of the Merchant Marine Department are currently investigating the accident. 'Was the boat seaworthy?', 'Was it overcrowded?' After a thorough inquiry into the questions etc., the report about it will be sent to the Government of India and if the Government thinks fit, a detailed inquiry will also be conducted. As the accident resulted in loss of life, the Provincial Government has the right to conduct a further Magistrate's inquiry in connection with it. Chief Minister Balasaheb Kher . The public expects that they will conduct all kinds of inquiries based on Balasaheb Kher's statement.
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