Disaster averted at Dauji as barge steers away from ferry

Panaji: A potentially disastrous collision was narrowly averted on Wednesday when a barge veered dangerously close to a ferryboat in the Cumbarjua canal. The ferry boat, which was en route from Dauji (also known as Old Goa) to Tolto (St Estevam), had broken down mid-route, temporarily halting its operations.The ferry, which had only a few passengers on board at the time, was caught in a moment of vulnerability when a barge, travelling along the same path, came dangerously close to colliding with it. In a split-second decision, the barge’s crew managed to steer their vessel away from the ferry by crashing through nearby foliage, preventing what could have been a catastrophic crash.The sudden manoeuvre left the barge briefly veering off course, but it managed to avoid any serious damage or injuries. The incident which could have been extremely lethal was recorded in a video by the barge’s crew.The ferry’s breakdown was resolved within an hour, and operations were promptly resumed. The ferry was able to return to its scheduled route, and passengers continued their journey.