In the early hours of Tuesday, a cargo ship collided with one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, one of the key bridges located near Washington D.C. Casualties including maintenance staff are found with search operation still underway. A local state of emergency has been declared by the government. Let us read the story to know the details.
Baltimore Accidents Highlights
- On Tuesday morning a cargo ship (Dali) collided with a bridge pier of Francis Scott Key Bridge at Baltimore near Washington D.C.
- Lost Propulsion and Power Failure of the ship are the two major causes of collision.
- A Mayday (Emergency Signal) was given as the ship was at a high speed and collision was not easy to avoid. So the signal ensured restriction of maximum vehicles as it could.
- A state of emergency has been launched in Baltimore. Eight(8) people were found to be lost who were a part of the construction team who were working on the bridge to fill potholes.
- Out of those eight(8), two(2) have been rescued and search operations for the remaining six(6) presumes them dead. Out of those two, one is found to be injured who has been hospitalized while the other one is found safe.
- The number of lost vehicles could not be determined as of now.
- US President Joe Biden has come forward in support of the affected people. And he has assured to provide all help from his side so that rescue operations can be sorted as soon as possible.
- In this world of uncertainty where nothing is certain, only by the refuge of a Tatvdarshi Sant one can expect a life guarantee and work on attaining salvation.
What happened in Baltimore?
- A container ship Dali collided with one of the pillars of Francis Scott Key Bridge at around 1:27AM (5:27 GMT) on Tuesday.
- Soon the bridge collapsed, causing multiple people and vehicles to fall into the Patapsco River.
- The cargo ship left Baltimore at around 1:00 AM (5:00 GMT) and was heading to Colombo, Sri Lanka and was expected to reach there on April 22, 2024.
- Francis Scott Key Bridge (2.57km long, four lane bridge) is one of the key bridges located in Baltimore. It is an industrial city northeast of Washington D.C.
- This collapse will create hurdles in the import and export for the United States.
What caused the collision?
- The evidence of the cargo ship going dark before colliding has been found via CCTV footage but the primary cause of the incident is yet to be discovered.
- “We are closely monitoring the tragic situation unfolding as a result of a containership colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Our thoughts are with the families of the missing and injured,” US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. However, the collision doesn’t seem to be intentional.
- A possible cause of the incident has been identified as ‘lost propulsion’ and power failure as identified by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
- The crew called for a Mayday (an emergency signal), restricting more cars from crossing the bridge but it was not enough to avoid the accident.
What is the latest ground report on the Baltimore Accident?
- Presently, the vessel is in a stable condition at the site and holding on to its position.
- A state of emergency has been declared by the Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
- Baltimore’s Port contains 40 ships comprising small cargo ships, tugboats and pleasure crafts.
- Restriction on flying above the site has been implemented by The Federal Aviation Administration.
- Drivers in the area should follow the local responder guidance on diverted routes and passages.
Are there any casualties?
- Despite efforts to ascertain the precise count of individuals missing in the tragedy, inconsistencies persist in the reported numbers.
- Confirmed reports from interviews with James Wallace, head of the Baltimore fire department, indicate that eight(8) individuals from the Construction Department were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Of these, only two(2) have been located.
- One of them is receiving critical care at The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, according to Michael Schwartzberg, a spokesperson for the University of Maryland Medical Center while the other one is safe. As rescuers aren’t able to get an update on the remaining people and because of the critical temperature conditions there, they are presumed dead.
- None of the crew including two pilots are found injured as per the managers of Dali, Synergy Marine Group.
- While CCTV footage captured multiple vehicles on the bridge prior to the collapse, James Wallace could not provide a definitive count of vehicles detected via sonar beneath the water’s surface.
- As rescue teams tirelessly work to navigate the challenges of the operation, there is a possibility of the total count of missing persons increasing as the rescue operations progress.
Rescue operations underway
- The rescue teams mobilised swiftly, initiating the search operations within approximately 20 minutes of the catastrophic incident.
- A unified effort, led by the U.S. Coast Guard, Baltimore Police, and firefighters, has been underway to address this emergency.
- Utilizing a comprehensive array of technology, including sonar, sophisticated infrared detectors, aircraft, boats, and skilled divers, every resource available has been deployed in the urgent quest for survivors.
- However, the challenges of operating in the pitch-dark environment during the predawn hours have presented formidable obstacles to the rescue efforts.
- As dawn broke, divers courageously took to the frigid waters, confronting temperatures ranging between 7 to 9 degrees Celsius and navigating swift undercurrents.
- Despite the perilous conditions, these dedicated individuals have shouldered the immense responsibility of conducting time-sensitive search and rescue operations.
- James Wallace, Chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department, emphasised the unwavering commitment to the mission, affirming that the search would continue until all members of the dive team confirmed reaching “the non-survivability point.”
Official Responses
- “I’ve directed my administration to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident,” US President Joe Biden said.
- “My heart, thoughts and prayers are with you all.” Lamar Jackson said.
- “In these trials, as we face profound sorrow and uncertainty, our prayers, thoughts, and and hearts are with the victims, their families and the Baltimore community,” Islamic Maryland Action Network (IMAN) said.
Only the Refuge of a Tatvdarshi Sant can get Salvation
In this uncertain world of Satan(Kaal Brahm) anything can happen to anyone anytime. And we find ourselves completely helpless when we find ourselves in any life -threatening situations. But now Supreme God Kabir has facilitated us by giving us the refuge of His Tatvdarshi Sant Who is none other than Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj. Only by His true spiritual knowledge and the method of worship given by Him one can get a life guarantee. And salvation is possible only by following His path of worship. For more information one can visit the website www.jagatgururampalji.org or can visit His youtube channel Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj.
Baltimore Accident FAQs
Question: How many people survived the Baltimore Bridge?
Answer: Two(2) people have been recovered so far.
Question: Which Ship collided with Baltimore Bridge?
Answer: It collided with a container vessel named Dali
Question: How long is the Baltimore bridge that collapsed?
Answer: 1.6 mile or 2.57km
Question: Who owned the ship that hit Baltimore bridge?
Answer: Grace Ocean Private Limited, a Singapore based company providing water based transportation services.
