Engine failure delays Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai ferry by over four hours

Engine nonaccomplishment and unsmooth oversea conditions delayed the accomplishment of the rider ferry work from Kankesanthurai to Nagapattinam by much than 4 hours connected Friday (May8, 2026) night, triggering anxious moments for relatives waiting astatine the Nagapattinam port.

The ferry, which departed Kankesanthurai astatine 2.30 p.m., yet reached Nagapattinam larboard astir 10.45 p.m., taking much than 8 hours to implicit a travel that usually lasts astir 4 hours.

The vas was carrying 144 passengers, including astir 45 overseas nationals. According to sources, the ferry developed motor nonaccomplishment adjacent Kallar, astir 2 nautical miles disconnected the Nagapattinam coast, and remained stranded astatine oversea for immoderate clip amid unsmooth upwind conditions.

Fishermen from the seashore were pressed into work to assistance the vas aft authorities were alerted. The ferry was aboriginal towed dilatory towards the larboard and reached safely precocious successful the night.

Sundararaj Ponnusamy, Chairman and Managing Director of Subham Group, which operates the service, told The Hindu that the incidental was a “rare case” caused by an motor failure. “The upwind is unsmooth and this was a uncommon case. We instantly informed each the applicable authorities and arranged fishermen to assistance successful towing the vessel. The ferry was brought safely to the Nagapattinam larboard and each passengers wrong were safe,” helium said.

The ferry work betwixt Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai, relaunched to fortify rider connectivity betwixt Tamil Nadu and bluish Sri Lanka, has emerged arsenic a cardinal transport nexus for tourists, pilgrims and families travelling betwixt the 2 regions.