NEW DELHI: In a tragic incident that has gained global attention, a cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, leading to significant damage and necessitating a large-scale rescue effort.
Authorities have halted the search for six individuals who went missing after the bridge collapse, as confirmed by border officials on Tuesday evening.
Jeffrey Pritzker, the executive vice president of Brawner Builders, expressed that six workers from the company are presumed dead, while one worker has been hospitalised. The crew was carrying out construction work on the bridge when the collision occurred, resulting in its collapse.
Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath stated, “Based on the length of time that we’ve gone in this search… (and) the water temperature… at this point we do not believe that we’re going to find any of these individuals still alive.”

The ship involved in the collision, the “Dali,” flagged from Singapore and operated by Synergy Marine Group under Grace Ocean Private Ltd, struck a pillar of the bridge around 1:30 am local time. This impact led to the partial collapse of the bridge, posing risks to both vehicular and maritime traffic.
The “Dali” had a crew of 22 Indian nationals, including two pilots, all of whom have been safely located with no reported injuries. The vessel, a container ship with a capacity of 10,000 TEU, was carrying 4,679 TEU when the incident occurred. It was en route from Baltimore to Colombo when the collision took place.

The accident has caught the attention of people around the world, showing how closely connected maritime safety, stable infrastructure, and international trade are. Many are watching closely as investigations continue and emergency responses unfold. The outcome will likely influence future rules and practices for keeping maritime and infrastructure safe, both in the US and globally.
(With agency inputs)