Body of Missing Child Recovered After Ferry Capsize Off Mumbai Coast
Mumbai, 21st December 2024: The body of seven-year-old Zohan Pathan, who went missing after a ferry capsized off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday, was recovered on Saturday, according to officials. The Navy and Coast Guard had been searching for Zohan’s body since the accident, which occurred when a Navy speedboat collided with the ferry.
Zohan was the last missing passenger to be located, following the tragedy that claimed the lives of 15 people, including Navy personnel.
The search operation proved difficult due to strong sea currents caused by the full moon at the time of the incident. Initially, helicopters were deployed for the search, but the Navy and Coast Guard continued efforts with nine vessels working around the clock. Police also enlisted the help of fishermen and other agencies like the Mumbai Port Trust to locate the missing boy.
Zohan was last seen with his mother Sakina Pathan’s arms, who tragically drowned in the accident. The Pathan family, from Mapusa in Goa, had travelled to Mumbai for work, which turned into a short vacation. They boarded the ferry at the Gateway of India on Wednesday, headed towards Elephanta Caves when the accident took place.
Reports suggest the ferry was overloaded, and Zohan’s father, Ashraf Pathan, mentioned the lack of safety measures. “We could see that the boat was overloaded. I was holding our ten-month-old baby, and my wife Sakina was holding Zohan. After the accident, neither my wife, nor I, nor others could find any life jackets,” Ashraf had previously said.
