One Indian Crew ‘Slightly Injured’, Embassies In Close Touch: MEA On Baltimore Bridge Collapse

20 out of 21 crew members on the cargo ship which collided against a bridge in Baltimore are Indians and one of them is slightly injured, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

The MEA said that the remaining crew members are in good health and the embassy is in touch with the Indians on board and the local authorities.

“Out of the 21 crew members, 20 are Indians. All of them are in good health. One of them is slightly injured. The stitches have been done. Our Embassies are in close touch with the Indians on board and also the local authorities in this matter,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly press briefing on Thursday.

Randhir Jaiswal said said that the injured person needed to have some stitches and stitches have been given; and he has gone back to the ship.

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The 2.6 km-long, four-lane Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore in US collapsed after Dali, a 984-foot cargo ship, collided against it in the early hours of Tuesday. 

Minutes before impact, there was a “total blackout” of the engine and electrical power on the ship, as per the authorities. 

Earlier, the Indian Embassy in the US condoled the “unfortunate accident” in Baltimore and said the Singapore-flagged ship ‘Dali’ suffered a power issue and issued a distress call moments before the crash.

“Our heartfelt condolences to all affected by the unfortunate accident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore,” the Indian Embassy in the US said in a post on X.

It said that the Embassy has created a dedicated hotline for any Indian citizens who may be affected or require assistance due to the tragedy. The Embassy is ascertaining details regarding the vessel’s crew.Ship management company Synergy Marine Group said in a statement that the crew on Dali is “All Indian, 22 in total.”