A routine offshore survey turned tragic off the coast of Asarsa village in Jambusar taluka, Bharuch, when a boat carrying workers for an ONGC-linked oil survey capsized within seconds amid a rising tide. Thirty workers were rescued, while one man died and another remains missing as search operations continue through the rough waters.
The boat, operated under contract by Asian Energy, overturned almost instantly as it prepared to depart for the survey site, survivors said. &ldquo;The boat suddenly started swaying, as we were lifting the anchor, it capsized in seconds,&rdquo; recalled worker Gopal Das, who managed to swim to safety. The vessel was carrying labourers from Gujarat, Assam and Bengal, many of whom commute daily across the channel between Asarsa and Gandhar-Muler.
The deceased has been identified as Rohit Makwana, while search teams are still looking for missing worker Naresh Rathod. Makwana&rsquo;s son Pratik alleged that overcrowding may have caused the vessel to flip. &ldquo;When the tide came in, 50&ndash;60 people boarded the boat. No one had life jackets. My father died because of this negligence,&rdquo; he said, demanding accountability from contractors and safety officials.
Local MLA D.K. Swami visited the Jambusar Referral Hospital to review the condition of the rescued workers and discuss further action with authorities. Police have launched a detailed probe into safety lapses, alleged overcrowding and whether mandatory marine safety protocols were ignored in the rush to begin survey operations.

Worker Dead as Survey Boat Capsizes in Jambusar

One dead, one missing as rising tide overturns survey boat; 30 workers rescued

Worker Dead as Survey Boat Capsizes in Jambusar

One dead, one missing as rising tide overturns survey boat; 30 workers rescued

December 7, 2025 | 14:34 IST