Four Die in Ship Explosion After Copper Theft Gone Wrong Off Mumbai
Four men died in a tragic attempt to steal copper pipes from an abandoned tanker off the coast of Mumbai, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred on the MT Al Jafzia, a Nicaragua-flagged chemical and oil products tanker that had been stranded near Manori for four months due to harsh weather conditions.
The victims, all under 30 years old, were part of a seven-member gang that boarded the unmanned vessel using a speedboat two days before the explosion. Unfamiliar with the ship’s machinery, the thieves began cutting a pipeline near the engine room. Police later determined they had severed a line connected to the air conditioning system, releasing toxic gas that caused the fatal blast. Four men succumbed to the fumes almost immediately, while a fifth, Vijaya Premnath Sanjiva (40), suffered facial injuries before escaping with two others.
The gang, consisting of men from Colaba and Vasai, had been monitoring the vessel for over a month, according to police. Their lack of maritime knowledge turned their theft attempt into a disaster. Authorities revealed the group had tried to raid the tanker at least twice before this fatal incident.
Rescue Operation and Legal Fallout: Four
The tragedy came to light on Monday when Sanjiva reported to police that four of his associates had not returned home. He admitted their plan to steal copper pipes from the grounded ship. A joint operation with the navy was launched, and a rescue team accessed the vessel by helicopter, discovering the four bodies. The deceased were transported to a nearby hospital for examination.
Police are now searching for the two remaining thieves who fled the scene. Meanwhile, a case has been filed against the shipowner amid allegations that the MT Al Jafzia was previously involved in unlawful oil transfers. Investigators continue to piece together the details of the incident and the vessel’s history.
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