
Indian couple survive boat tragedy, 2 kids go missing while entering US illegally
Two children from an Indian family trying to enter the US illegally have gone missing as the boat they were travelling in capsized off the coast of San Diego, California on Monday morning. Three people have drowned in the boat tragedy, while the parents of the children had a lucky escape and are receiving treatment in hospital.The Consulate General of India in San Francisco confirmed the incident through a post on X, saying that two Indian children were missing while their parents were being treated at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.advertisementAccording to the US Coast Guard, four people were rescued while seven people are still missing.
The two taken into custody were suspected to be smugglers, Coast Guard spokesperson Hunter Schnabel told Reuters.So far, four people have been rescued, of which two are being treated for their injuries while the other two were taken into custody.MASSIVE SEARCH OPERATION UNDERWAYA Coast Guard cutter, an emergency response boat and a helicopter were part of the ongoing search operation for the missing, among whom are two children, another Coast Guard spokesperson, Chief Petty Officer Levi Read, said.US Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris Sappey told news agency AP that it was unclear where the boat was coming from before it flipped shortly after sunrise about 35 miles (56-kilometers) north of the Mexican border.advertisementHe described the vessel as a panga—an open fishing boat with one or two engines, often used by smugglers.According to the Coast Guard spokesperson, a number of Indian passports were found on the beach near where the panga washed up.Shawn Gibson, a top official with the US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agency, emphasised that this incident highlights the perils of maritime smuggling, underscoring the risks faced by those involved.Personnel from HSI, the US Border Patrol, the local fire department and law enforcement also responded to the accident, according to the officials.
Belongings of those onboard, such as shoes, life preservers, and passports were recovered from the Panga boat that capsized off the California coast on Monday. (Image: Reuters)
ILLEGAL MIGRANTS TURNING TO RISKY ALTERNATIVE ROUTESSince October 2024, the Coast Guard has tracked 277 vessels clandestinely entering US waters from Mexico in the San Diego area, some of the boats being interdicted and others getting away, according to Coast Guard spokesperson Read.Those incidents resulted in 983 people being apprehended.Must Watch

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