Body Of Missing Daughter Found After 16 Days: Mehsana Family’s Attempt To Illegally Enter US Ends In Tragedy

Mehsana: The body of 10-year-old Mahi Patel, who had been missing since a boat carrying her family capsized off the US coast, has been recovered 16 days after the tragic incident. Authorities in California confirmed the discovery through DNA testing after human remains were found on May 21 at Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego.

The Patel family, hailing from Anandpura village in Vijapur taluka of Mehsana district, was attempting to illegally enter the United States by sea from Mexico. The small fishing boat they were on overturned due to strong ocean currents on May 5 near Del Mar Beach. Mahi’s 14-year-old brother, Prince, was found dead shortly after the accident. Her body had remained untraced until now.

The children’s parents survived the incident but remain hospitalized in serious condition, one of them reportedly still in a coma. They are currently under the custody of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Authorities report that the Patel family had paid over ₹2.60 crore to human traffickers as part of the dangerous and illegal migration route often referred to as the “Donkey Route.” Sources suggest the family first flew to London, then traveled to Mexico, from where they attempted the sea crossing into the US.

Local officials and investigative agencies in California confirmed that the boat, a small fishing vessel known as a ‘panga’, capsized in rough waters. Residents of the family’s hometown expressed shock and sorrow. A neighbor, speaking anonymously, said the family had left the village around six months ago, possibly driven by financial struggles following business losses.

The case adds to a growing number of tragic stories involving illegal migration attempts by families from Gujarat. In a similar incident in 2022, four members of a Gandhinagar family froze to death while trying to cross into the US from Canada.

The discovery of Mahi’s body brings painful closure to a devastating chapter for the family and serves as a stark reminder of the risks and human cost of illegal migration.