Goan, her 7-yr-old son among Gateway ferry accident dead

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.

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 sells fish in Porvorim market. Shafina was a homemaker.
Gonde told reporters: “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.