• Source:JND
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Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Days after a cargo ship Dali smashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge led to a catastrophic collapse and loss of lives of six construction workers, the 20 Indian crew members are still on the vessel, overseeing the ship’s operations and working with the authorities to ensure that the ship's daily routine work is done. 

According to a report by the New York Times, the crew members will not leave the merchant ship anytime soon. They will remain on the ship until the debris from the damaged bridge is cleared. The cargo ship was en route to Sri Lanka with 4,700 containers when it lost power and collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

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Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the ministry is in close contact with the Indians onboard the ship and local authorities. The MEA also emphasised that all Indian crew members were safe. The spokesperson also said that one of the crew members was taken to hospital where he received stitches and then returned to the ship. 

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“Out of the 21 crew members, 20 are Indians. All of them are in good shape, and in good health. One of them was slightly injured, and needed to have some stitches. The stitches have been given, then gone back to the ship. Our Embassies are in close touch with the Indians on board and also local authorities in this matter,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a media briefing. 

Chris James, a consultant for the ship's management company, Synergy Marine, told the New York Times that the crew has enough food and water supplies, as well as enough fuel to keep the generators running. However, James said that there is no exact time when the ship might be extracted from the wreckage.

The crew has been praised for sending SOS messages to local authorities, which enabled them to halt much of the traffic before the catastrophe. As many as six workers of the construction crew lost their lives when the bridge collapsed as they were repairing potholes.