‘I was not in a mood for a boat ride’: Nashik man devastated after losing daughter, son-in-law and grandson in Mumbai ferry accident

In a heartbreaking turn of events on Wednesday night, 62-year-old Vilas Govind was devastated to learn that his daughter, son-in-law and grandson were among the victims of a fatal boat accident in Mumbai.

The tragedy occurred when the Ahir family was traveling on the Nil Kamal ferry from Gateway of India to the Elephanta Caves.

Govind had decided to stay at the Gate, waiting for his family to return, unaware of the tragedy that was unfolding. He even told his family. “I wasn’t in the mood for a boat ride,” before they left. Choosing to stay by the beach, he waited patiently for their visit to the Elephant Caves, but unfortunately they never came.

It was only when he arrived at Uran Hospital that he was met with the heartbreaking sight of his daughter, Harshada Ahire, 31, her son, 7, and her husband, Rakesh Ahire, 34, victims of the fatal ferry accident.

Construction businessman Rakesh Ahir and his homemaker wife Harshada hail from Pimpalgaon village in Nashik district. The family had planned to go to Nashik by train the same evening after visiting the Gateway of India. According to Ravindra Govind, Vilas’ brother, “It was a big shock for all of us. Rakesh Ahir used to visit Mumbai for his treatment in the suburbs. However, on Wednesday, they decided to visit Nashik before their train.” the gate for the ferry ride.”

Amid the tragedy, Nidesh’s body was initially placed in the hospital’s ‘unidentified’ mortuary section until his grandfather came forward to identify him.

The death toll from Thursday’s tragic shipwreck has risen to 14 after rescuers recovered the body of another missing passenger. Authorities are continuing to search for a seven-year-old boy, who is still unidentified and Navy and Coast Guard vessels, with eight boats deployed for search and rescue (SAR) for the mission, as reported by PTI News Agency.