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60 hours on, 7-year-old Zohan still missing after ferry capsizes off Mumbai coast: Family clings on to hope, makes duas

Residents of Goa's Mapusa, Ashraf Pathan and five members of his family were on a mini vacation in Mumbai when the Navy’s speedboat collided with the ferry they were in.

People wearing life vests while boating near Gateway of India off the Mumbai coast on Friday. Two days ago, a Navy speedboat crashed into a private ferry, killing at least 14 people in the area. (Express Photo)

Two days after the Neel Kamal ferry capsized off the Mumbai coast after a Navy speedboat collided with it on Wednesday, one passenger Zohan Pathan – all of seven years old – continues to be missing.

Zohan’s family is still awaiting word on him even as they grieve the loss of his mother Sakina Pathan, 34, who was holding the boy in her arms when she drowned.

Residents of Goa’s Mapusa, five members of the Pathan family, including Ashraf Pathan, his wife, Sakina, two sons — Zohan and a 10-month-old — and his sister-in-law Sonali Gaunder, had come to Mumbai for some work which they decided to turn into a mini-vacation.

It was only their second day in the city. After a stroll through Colaba where they bought T-shirts for the toddlers, the family was planning to spend the rest of their evening at Elephanta Caves when tragedy struck. Ashraf, his infant son and sister-in-law survived the crash. A search is still on to locate Zohan, a kindergarten student.

Ashraf, a fish vendor by trade, told The Indian Express: “After shopping at Colaba market, we boarded the boat from Gateway around 2.45 to 3 pm. We could see that the boat was overloaded. The boat had neither life jackets nor tyres on the sides. I was holding our ten-month-old baby and Sakina was holding Zohan. After the accident, we were unable to find life jackets.”

Friends sharing search updates

Sakina’s body was recovered later and taken to INHS Sandhani Hospital in Karanje. Post-mortem conducted later at the Indira Gandhi Rural Hospital in Uran confirmed that she had died of drowning. On Thursday, the family collected her remains from the hospital and departed for Goa where her last rites were performed.

Ashraf’s friends are in Mumbai, keeping him updated on the search for Zohan. However, until Friday afternoon, they received no word from police officials. “There is no news about him yet. Nobody from the government has reached out to us either in these difficult times,” Ashraf said on Friday afternoon.

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Having already lost his wife, Ashraf is clinging on to the hope that his son will be located. “We are praying to God and making duas for his well-being,” he said.

Also lost: Rs 20,000, purse, items bought hours ago at Colaba market

Sonali, who was also on the boat, earlier said that the family was slated to return to Goa in the next two days. “While we survived, the loss of our sister has left us devasted. We have been told that a missing-person case has been filed at Colaba police station. Even though it was the Navy’s boat, the officials have given us no updates,” Sonali told The Indian Express on Thursday.

According to the family, they also lost around Rs 15,000-20,000 cash, Sakina’s purse, other valuables, and bags containing purchases made hours ago at the Colaba market.

The accident claimed 14 lives, including that of one Navy personnel. Thirteen of the bodies were recovered within hours, while the body of Hansaaram Bhati was retrieved on Thursday evening. Nearly 99 others, including passengers and crew members of the ferry, were rescued.

Nayonika Bose

Nayonika Bose is a Trainee Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

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