It was only due to destiny that I was present to save lives: First responder

SHIP PILOTS ARE CAPTAINS WHO DO THE SPECIALISED JOB OF GUIDING SHIPS THROUGH HAZARDOUS OR CONGESTED WATERWAYS

- Yogesh Naik

MUMBAI: Anmol Srivastava, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) ship pilot, who was a first responder to the passenger ferry accident on Wednesday, feels that it was only due to destiny that he was there to help the victims.

The accident, which occurred when a Navy speedboat collided with the ferry, killed 14 people, including an eight-year-old child. Srivastava's vessel was the first to reach the sunk ferry off Butcher Island and saved 56 people.

Ship pilots are captains who do the specialized job of guiding ships through hazardous or congested waterways. Srivastava, who escorts ships in and out of JNPA, was assigned to escort a vessel called Pusan from the APM Terminals in JNPA. He was supposed to board at 1.45 pm but boarded a little earlier.