A Mumbai sessions court has rejected the discharge pleas of six employees from PAPAA Shipping Pvt Ltd and AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd in connection with the 2021 sinking of barge P-305 during Cyclone Tauktae, which resulted in 71 deaths. The court found prima facie evidence of negligence, noting that the barge was not moved to safety despite cyclone warnings, and that malfunctioning life rafts contributed to the high casualties. The accused—three from each company—face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The barge, used in an ONGC offshore project, was not instructed to evacuate unlike other vessels. Additionally, inadequate maintenance of life-saving equipment on P-305 was cited, with survivors noting failure of life rafts during the emergency. Special public prosecutor Ajay Misar argued that delays in evacuation were motivated by financial considerations due to pending work. The court maintained that overall project safety protocols were neglected, and evidence, including email communications, supported the need to proceed to trial.

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