Funeral held for Indian migrants who drowned in St. Lawrence River
Posted April 10, 2023 6:00 pm.
Last Updated April 10, 2023 7:00 pm.
On Monday, a funeral was held for an Indian family of four, who were among eight people who died while trying to allegedly enter the United States illegally.
The family included Pravin Chaudhari, his wife, Diksha, their son Meet, and their daughter Vidhi. Their bodies were pulled from the St. Lawrence River last month, along with another family of four, of Romanian descent.
“This was a family that was for each other, always. Now it’s from life to death, they’re still with each other, even during this transition,” Monali Chaudhari said, cousin of Meet and Vidhi and niece to Pravin.
Authorities are still looking for a man named Casey Oakes, who was last seen on the night of March 29, operating a boat that was found next to the bodies of the two migrant families.
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The area’s geography makes it a popular spot for human smugglers, with police completing 48 separate interceptions involving 80 people trying to enter the United States illegally since January.
“It’s especially hard because they had such a life to still live,” Chaudhari said.
Family members say the Chaudhari family did not have family here in Canada, but did have relatives in the U.S.
The funeral arrangements were made by the Indian Consulate.
On Tuesday, the final rites will be performed and their ashes are to be scattered near Mississauga’s Dixie Gurdwara.
