This illustration was shared on X by Foxford Comics.
New Delhi:
An out-of-control cargo ship has crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, presumably killing six people. While some, including US President Joe Biden, praised the Indian crew on board the ship, “racist” cartoons depicting the incident sparked a firestorm.
On Tuesday, the Singapore-flagged container ship Dali lost power and crashed into a concrete pier supporting the bridge. Within seconds, nearly the entire bridge collapsed and plunged into what officials said was about 50 feet of icy water.
Biden praised the ship’s crew, most of them Indians, for sending a timely distress call that prompted authorities to urgently shut down traffic to the bridge, potentially saving lives.
A day later, an American webcomic shared a cartoon depicting the incident. The animated video shows the unkempt man, wearing only a loincloth, preparing for an impending accident and targeting the ship’s crew.
Sharing the video on , but with a strong Indian accent.
Last known recording inside Dali before impact pic.twitter.com/Z1vkc828TY
— Foxford Comics (@FoxfordComics) March 26, 2024
The image has gone viral, racking up 4.2 million views and 2,000 comments.
The account was criticized not only for its racist depiction of Indians but also for its undermining of the crew.
Sharing the cartoon, Indian economist Sanjeev Sanyal wrote that the ship was likely piloted by a local pilot at the time of the incident.
“When the ship hit the bridge, there should have been a local pilot. In any case, the crew had warned the authorities, which is why there were relatively few casualties (for such a disaster). In fact, the mayor Thanks to the Indian crew who were called ‘heroes’ for raising the alarm and limiting the casualties,” he said.
Pooja Sangwan, another X user, echoed the same sentiments and said: “It’s shameful that people are mocking the Indian crew for this tragic incident. Meanwhile, the governor himself praised the crew.”
It’s shameful that people are mocking the Indian crew for this tragic incident…
Meanwhile, the governor personally praised the crew 👇🏻 https://t.co/bgkdACmwyL
— Pooja Sangwan (Modi Ka Parivar) (@ThePerilousGirl) March 27, 2024
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the bridge collapse is expected to have a significant impact on the U.S. economy because Baltimore is the nation’s largest port for handling vehicles, including cars and heavy farm equipment. Cargo worth approximately $100 to $200 million passes through the port every day.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey plans to receive more cargo off the coast from Baltimore to help mitigate the impact on supply chains, the governors of New York and New Jersey pledged in a joint statement Thursday.
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