Tanzanian Naval Cadet Jumps Off Kochi Bridge, Goes Missing In Strong Currents

A 22 year old naval cadet from Tanzania, undergoing training at the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, went missing on the evening of June 1, after jumping into the Ernakulam shipping channel in Kochi.

The incident took place around 5:30 pm and an extensive search operation was initiated by the Indian Navy. As per official sources, the trainee was on leave and had visited Kochi along with his friends for sightseeing. He was scheduled to return to his home country the next day.

During his time in Kochi, he jumped off the Venduruthy-Vikrant Bridge, also known as Venduruthy Bridge for enjoyment but was caught in strong currents and swept away.

Officials confirmed that the jump was not part of any official naval activity. A senior navy source said the cadet made the jump at his own risk, although he managed to complete two or three jumps successfully, he failed to surface during his final attempt.

The Indian Navy quickly launched a search and rescue operation with its diving teams. Fire and Rescue Services also responded to the emergency.

A firefighter from the Club Road fire station, who was among the first to reach the scene, said they got the alert around 5:30 pm and rushed to the location. However, rescue efforts were extremely difficult due to strong undercurrents in the area.

The firefighter also mentioned that only one scuba diving team was available at the time, and they were already engaged in another emergency operation in the Varapuzha area.

Due to limited resources and the requirement for special clearance to continue searches in adjacent areas, the fire department had to wrap up its operation around 7 pm. Once the Navy fully took over the search, the fire and rescue team withdrew.

A Defence Public Relations Officer confirmed the incident involved the “accidental fall” of an international trainee and that a thorough investigation has begun to understand how it happened.

The identity and nationality of the cadet were not disclosed in the official statement, but sources confirmed that the individual is from Tanzania.

As of now, the cadet remains missing and the Indian Navy continues its search operation in the Kochi backwaters.

References: indianexpress, the hindu

Source: Maritime Shipping News