Three members of the Ahire family Rakesh Nanaji Ahire (34), his wife Harshada Rakesh Ahire (31) and son Nidish Ahire (5) had come to Mumbai from Nashik three days ago for treatment at the city hospital. . After Rakesh’s treatment, which lasted for an hour, at Nidish’s insistence, the family decided to spend the rest of Wednesday on a trip to Elephanta Cave. However, their joy ride takes a fatal turn and the entire family perishes when their boat runs aground on Elephanta Island. The accident occurred after a collision with an Indian Navy speedboat.
They have left Rakesh’s parents at their home in Nashik.
Rakesh, who is a labor contractor by profession, worked in slab concreting among other jobs, married Harshada in 2016.
“He was the sole bread-winner of the family. The death of Rakesh, his wife and son has come as a shock to his parents,” Rakesh’s uncle Jitendra Ahire said.
According to family sources, Rakesh was suffering from sinus problems and he came to Mumbai after the family came to know about a specialist doctor in the city.
“They came to Mumbai three days ago for Rakesh’s treatment. The treatment lasted for an hour. When the boat accident happened on Wednesday, they decided to go to the Elephanta Cave after their son insisted on going on the boat,’ said Jitendra, who reached Mumbai after learning about the accident.
Rakesh’s family came to know about the incident when a relative called him on Wednesday evening and a police constable responded.
Recalling the incident, Jitendra said, ‘Someone called me in the evening and informed me that Rakesh had gone to Elephanta Cave. When our relative called Rakesh’s phone, he came to know after the police constable answered it. The police told us what had happened but were uncertain. They asked us to come to Mumbai immediately.
Initially, Rakesh’s relatives said he was dead, but his wife and five-year-old son were still missing.
“But by the time we reached from Nashik, we learned that Harshada and Nidish had also died in a tragic incident,” said Jeetendra, who took the body from Indira Gandhi Rural Hospital in Uran on Thursday morning. Relatives have now returned to Nashik, where the deceased will be cremated.
After being rescued, Rakesh and Harshada were taken to INHS Sandhani Hospital in Karanje, while Nidish was taken to JNPT Hospital in Navi Mumbai. They were taken to the government rural hospital in Uran for post-mortem.
Another relative of the family, Nayan Ahire, said, ‘They were staying in the lodge for treatment in the hospital. They were expected to return within a few days.”
Ahire was among the 13 passengers who died when a Navy speedboat collided in the Elephanta Caves.
The speedboat is said to have “lost control” during an “engine test” and crashed into a private yacht.
Others involved in the accident are Mahi Pawra (3), Shafina Pathan (34), Pravin Sharma (34), Mangesh Kelshikar (33), Mohammad Qureshi (35), Ramadevi Gupta (50), Mahendra Singh Shekhawat. (31), Pragya Kamble (39), Deepchand Waghchaure (42) and T Deepak (40 to 45 years).
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