‘I wasn’t in the mood to take the boat’: Nashik man devastated after losing daughter, son-in-law and grandson in Mumbai ferry accident

In a heartbreaking turn of events on Wednesday evening, 62-year-old Vilas Govind was shocked 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 Neel Kamal ferry, en route from India Gate to Elephanta Caves.

Govind 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 to get on the boat” before they left. He chose to stay on the waterfront, and eagerly awaited their visit to the Elephanta Caves. But unfortunately, they never came back.

Only when he reached the hospital in Uran, he was met with the heartbreaking sight of his daughter, Harshada Ahir (31), her 7-year-old son, and her husband, Rakesh Ahir (34), victims and victims. From the fatal ferry accident.

Rakesh Ahir, a builder, and his wife Harshada, a homemaker, hail from Pimpalgaon village in Nashik district. The family had planned to catch a train to Nashik later that evening after visiting India Gate. According to Ravindra Govind, Vilas’ brother, “It came as a huge shock to all of us. Rakesh Ahir had been visiting Mumbai frequently for medical treatment at Lokhandwala in the suburbs. However, on Wednesday, with some free time before the train returned to Nashik, they decided to visit India gateway for ferry ride.

Amid the tragedy, Nidheesh’s body was initially placed in the “unknown” section of the hospital morgue until his grandfather came forward to identify him.

The death toll in the tragic boat accident rose to 14 on Thursday after rescue teams recovered the body of another missing passenger. The authorities are still searching for a seven-year-old child, whose fate remains unknown. The ongoing search operation includes a naval helicopter and vessels from the Navy and Coast Guard, with eight boats deployed for the search and rescue (SAR) mission, PTI reported.