Six persons are presumed dead following a tragic incident where an uncontrollable cargo ship collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Amidst commendations, notably from US President Joe Biden, for the swift actions of the predominantly Indian crew in issuing a distress call, there has been uproar over a ‘racist’ cartoon depicting the event.
The Singapore-flagged container vessel, Dali, lost power and collided with a concrete pier supporting the bridge on Tuesday, causing a significant portion of the bridge to collapse into approximately 50 feet of cold water below, according to officials.
Biden lauded the prompt Mayday call made by the ship’s crew, most of whom were Indian, which led authorities to swiftly close traffic on the bridge, potentially preventing further casualties. However, a day later, a webcomic originating in the US shared a cartoon portraying the incident. The animated depiction features disheveled men clad only in loincloths preparing for the impending collision and was directed towards the crew of the ship.
Accompanying the video was the caption, “Last known recording from inside the Dali moments before impact,” as posted by Foxford Comics on X (formerly Twitter). The cartoon also featured dialogue in English with a heavy Indian accent.
The graphic has since gained significant traction, amassing 4.2 million views and 2,000 comments. The account has faced criticism not only for its racially insensitive portrayal of Indians but also for undermining the efforts of the ship’s crew.
In response to the cartoon, Indian economist Sanjeev Sanyal suggested that the ship was likely under the guidance of a local pilot at the time of the incident.
The collapse of the bridge is anticipated to have substantial ramifications on the US economy, given that Baltimore serves as the nation’s primary port for vehicle handling, including automobiles and heavy agricultural machinery, as highlighted by US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The port sees an estimated daily flow of $100 to $200 million in goods.
