Police boat breaks down near Bandra-Worli sealink

The boat was patrolling near the sealink since yesterday as part of security arrangements for the inauguration function of the bridge, attended by senior leaders including UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, they said.

Four police personnel, one fisherman and four operators were on board the vessel when it got stuck in a fisherman's net and the engine broke down.

The vessel went out of control and began drifting towards nearby rocks in the sea when the police personnel called in for help.

"We received a call from the police control that the boat had got caught in low tide and was stuck since the early hours of this morning," Chief of Staff (Operations) M V Baadkar, Indian Coast Guard, said.

A helicopter was soon deployed and the police personnel along with the fisherman were rescued, he said.

"The four operators on board, however, said they would want to stay on the boat to try and save it. However, we got a call again a few hours later that the boat was being dragged towards rocks," Baadkar said.

A helicopter was again pressed into service and they were brought safely to shore, he said, adding that efforts would be made to retrieve the vessel.

The Bandra-Worli Sealink was thrown open this morning at 0700 hours to motorists, who were treated to the dramatic sight of the rescue.