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Journey Time Comparison
Comparison between the expected duration and actual travel time of the ferry.
Primary Sources
Sri Lanka-India passenger ferry rescued after engine failure
A passenger ferry operating between Kankesanthurai in northern Sri Lanka and Nagapattinam in India was stranded at sea for several hours on Friday night after suffering an engine failure, according to Indian media reports. The ferry had departed Kankesanthurai at around 2.30 p.m. and was expected to reach Nagapattinam within about four hours. However, the vessel arrived only around 10.45 p.m. after encountering rough sea conditions and a mechanical failure. According to the Hindu, the ferry, carrying 144 passengers, developed engine trouble near Kallar, about two nautical miles off the Nagapattinam coast. Indian authorities and local fishermen were deployed to assist the stranded vessel before it was slowly towed back to port. All passengers were reported safe. The ferry service linking Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka’s northern Jaffna peninsula with Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu was relaunched to strengthen passenger connectivity between the two regions. (Newswire) 2026-05-09
Engine failure delays Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai ferry by over four hours - The Hindu
The Nagapattinam–Kankesanthurai passenger ferry arrives at the Nagapattinam port after a delay caused by an engine failure on Friday (May 8, 2026). Passengers were assisted by medical teams during disembarkation. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Engine failure and rough sea conditions delayed the arrival of the passenger ferry service from Kankesanthurai to Nagapattinam by more than four hours on Friday (May8, 2026) night, triggering anxious moments for relatives waiting at the Nagapattinam port.The ferry, which departed Kankesanthurai at 2.30 p.m., finally reached Nagapattinam port around 10.45 p.m., taking more than eight hours to complete a journey that usually lasts about four hours.The vessel was carrying 144 passengers, including around 45 foreign nationals. According to sources, the ferry developed engine failure near Kallar, about two nautical miles off the Nagapattinam coast, and remained stranded at sea for some time amid rough weather conditions.Fishermen from the coast were pressed into service to assist the vessel after authorities were alerted. The ferry was later towed slowly towards the port and reached safely late in the night.Passengers slowly disembarked from the ferry after it reached the Nagapattinam port with a delay of around 4.30 hours on Friday night. Medical assistance was provided to those who fell unwell.The Nagapattinam–Kankesanthurai passenger ferry arrives at the Nagapattinam port after… pic.twitter.com/x72lvXyBON— The Hindu (@the_hindu) May 8, 2026Sundararaj Ponnusamy, Chairman and Managing Director of Subham Group, which operates the service, told The Hindu that the incident was a “rare case” caused by an engine failure. “The weather is rough and this was a rare case. We immediately informed all the relevant authorities and arranged fishermen to assist in towing the vessel. The ferry was brought safely to the Nagapattinam port and all passengers inside were safe,” he said.The ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai, relaunched to strengthen passenger connectivity between Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka, has emerged as a key transport link for tourists, pilgrims and families travelling between the two regions. Published - May 08, 2026 11:08 pm IST
Bargi Dam boat tragedy: Closure for families as all missing travellers now accounted for; bodies of uncle and niece recovered- The Week
Of the 41 identified passengers on board the vessel, 28 were rescued after the incident, according to the police.
Panic, dead bodies floating, negligence: Survivors recount Jabalpur boat tragedy horror | India News
Bodies of the dead were recovered and sent for postmortem examination. Search and rescue operations continued on Friday as officials struggled to trace remaining passengers.
