Engine Failure Delays Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai Ferry by Over Four Hours

The Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai ferry, which departed Kankesanthurai at 2:30 pm on Friday, experienced engine failure near Kallar, about two nautical miles off the Nagapattinam coast, causing a delay of over four hours. The vessel, carrying 144 passengers, including 45 foreign nationals, finally arrived at Nagapattinam port at 10:45 pm.

According to Sundararaj Ponnusamy, Chairman and Managing Director of Subham Group, which operates the service, the incident was a rare case caused by engine failure, and the company immediately informed relevant authorities and arranged for fishermen to assist in towing the vessel.

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.

Medical assistance was provided to passengers who fell unwell during the journey, and all passengers were safe upon arrival. The incident is under review, and the ferry service is expected to resume normal operations soon. The relevant authorities will conduct an investigation into the cause of the engine failure and take necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.