Navi Mumbai: Goa’s Sonali Gonde (33), one of the survivors of Wednesday’s ferry capsize tragedy, whose elder sister Shafina Pathan (35) and nephew Zohan Pathan (7) accompanying her died by drowning, has alleged there were insufficient life jackets onboard the vessel. Shafina’s husband Ashraf Pathan (36) and their 10-month-old son were among those rescued from the high seas.
Of the 13 dead in the accident, postmortems of 11 victims were done at Indira Gandhi Rural Hospital in Uran. All 11 bodies have been handed over to their kin for final rites, said Dr B M Kalel, medical superintendent at the hospital.
Dr Kalel said, “The cause of death of the 11 victims brought to the govt hospital for postmortem was asphyxiation due to drowning.”
Mahboob Khan, Shafina’s relative, said, “We are taking Shafina’s body to Goa in an ambulance for cremation while two of our relatives have stayed behind as the search operation for Shafina’s minor son is in progress.”
Ashraf sells fish in Goa’s Porvorim market. Shafina was a hosewife.
Gonde tols mediapersons: “I was on the upper deck of the ferry holding my sister Safina’s baby while her husband and son Zohan were on the lower deck. After the naval speedboat crashed into our ferry, the sea water entered the ferry and it capsized. I saw Zohan drown in the sea while shouting for help, but all panicking passengers were trying to save themselves.”
Gonde said she was visiting Mumbai for personal work and Shafina, her husband and two children had accompanied her for a short trip to Elephanta Caves. “Unfortunately, I lost my sister in the tragic incident,” she said.
Of the 13 dead in the accident, postmortems of 11 victims were done at Indira Gandhi Rural Hospital in Uran. All 11 bodies have been handed over to their kin for final rites, said Dr B M Kalel, medical superintendent at the hospital.
Dr Kalel said, “The cause of death of the 11 victims brought to the govt hospital for postmortem was asphyxiation due to drowning.”
Mahboob Khan, Shafina’s relative, said, “We are taking Shafina’s body to Goa in an ambulance for cremation while two of our relatives have stayed behind as the search operation for Shafina’s minor son is in progress.”
Ashraf sells fish in Goa’s Porvorim market. Shafina was a hosewife.
Gonde tols mediapersons: “I was on the upper deck of the ferry holding my sister Safina’s baby while her husband and son Zohan were on the lower deck. After the naval speedboat crashed into our ferry, the sea water entered the ferry and it capsized. I saw Zohan drown in the sea while shouting for help, but all panicking passengers were trying to save themselves.”
Gonde said she was visiting Mumbai for personal work and Shafina, her husband and two children had accompanied her for a short trip to Elephanta Caves. “Unfortunately, I lost my sister in the tragic incident,” she said.
