Indian woman who fell into Singapore straits from cruise ship passes away, confirms son
Singapore, August 2: Tragedy struck on Monday when a 64-year-old Indian woman fell overboard from a cruise ship into the Singapore Strait, and it has now been confirmed that she has passed away. The woman, identified as Reeta Sahani, was aboard the luxury cruise vessel "Spectrum of the Seas" along with her husband, Jakesh Sahani, when the incident occurred.
Vivek Sahani, one of the couple's sons, broke the sad news in a heartfelt social media post, stating, "With the footage, we have unfortunately learnt that my mother has passed away." Vivek had viewed the closed-circuit television footage from the cruise ship, which revealed the tragic accident.
Earlier, on Monday, another son of the couple, Apoorv Sahani, had mentioned that his mother was unable to swim, raising concerns about her safety in the open waters.
1/2 My mother was travelling in Royal Carrribean cruise (spectrum of the seas) from Singapore. She has gone missing from the ship since this morning. Cruise staff are saying she jumped, but they have not shown us any footage and are washing their hands off @DrSJaishankar — Apoorv Sahani (@SahaniApps) July 31, 2023
The High Commission of India in Singapore immediately got in touch with the family after being informed of the incident. In a statement released on Tuesday night, the High Commission said, "We are also in close contact with Singaporean authorities to address related issues and are facilitating legal procedures." Their focus is on providing support and assistance to the grieving family during this difficult time.
Additionally, the High Commission reached out to the India head of the Royal Caribbean cruise company to extend cooperation and coordination in handling the situation.
The High Commission of India is in constant touch with the Sahani family since the news of the unfortunate incident reached us. We are also in close contact with Singaporean authorities to address related issues and are facilitating legal procedures. (1/2) — India in Singapore (@IndiainSingapor) August 1, 2023
The tragic event occurred during a four-day cruise on the "Spectrum of the Seas," which was returning to Singapore from Penang on Monday morning. Jakesh Sahani, who is 70 years old, noticed his wife's absence from their cabin and immediately raised the alarm.
Singaporean authorities, including the Singapore Police Coast Guard and the Republic of Singapore Navy, have joined efforts to search for Reeta Sahani. The search operation encompasses the stretch of Singapore port waters and the Singapore Strait, a busy shipping route spanning 113 kilometers in length and 19 kilometers in width. The Singapore Strait connects the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea, with Singapore positioned to the north of the channel.
As the authorities continue their search and investigation, the family and friends of Reeta Sahani are left mourning her untimely and tragic loss. The incident has cast a pall of sorrow over what was supposed to be a joyous cruise vacation, leaving behind unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding the fall.
In this difficult time, the High Commission of India and relevant authorities in Singapore remain committed to providing all the necessary assistance to the Sahani family and ensuring that the legal procedures are handled appropriately.
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- With inputs from agencies
