A major tragedy was averted on Saturday as all 88 passengers on board a boat, which capsized off Mandwa coast near Mumbai after hitting a rough patch in the Arabian sea, were rescued, an official said. The mishap took place around 10.15 am, when the passenger boat- Ajanta- was about to reach the Mandwa jetty in neighbouring Raigad district after leaving the Gateway of India in south Mumbai, he said.

Anil Paraskar, SP Raigad, Maharashtra: All 88 passengers have been rescued from the ferry boat 'Ajanta' which was travelling from Mumbai's Gateway of India to Mandawa. pic.twitter.com/3hl9ju4fqX

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2020

"The boat carrying 88 people, hit a rocky patch around one km from the Mandwa jetty. Due to the impact, water started entering the boat and it began sinking," he said. The passengers, including women and children, started shouting for help. The crew members of the boat called the authorities for rescue, he said.