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Witness History: The sinking of the SS Tilawa: the ‘Indian Titanic’

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The sinking of the SS Tilawa: the ‘Indian Titanic’

09/05/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The sinking of the SS Tilawa: the ‘Indian Titanic’

Hundreds died when an passenger ship was hit by Japanese torpedoes in 1942

In 1942, a ship carrying more than 950 passengers from India to East Africa was sunk by Japanese torpedoes. Ben Henderson speaks to the last two known survivors.

On 23 November 1942, in the middle of the Second World War, a ship called the SS Tilawa was carrying more than 950 passengers and crew from India to East Africa when it was sunk by Japanese torpedoes. 

Two hundred and eighty people died. The ship became known as the 'Indian Titanic'. 

Ben Henderson speaks to the last two known survivors, Arvind Jani and Tej Prakash Mangat.

(Photo: Arvind Jhani and Tej Prakash Mangat. Credit: their families)

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