Chennai: The body of Mohammed Shahi, a 33-year-old driver who went missing after his car fell into the sea at Chennai Harbour, has been recovered. He was located approximately 100 meters from where the incident occurred.
Shahi was serving as a temporary chauffeur for a Coast Guard officer at Chennai Port when the accident happened during the night of December 17. While reversing a Tavera vehicle at Jawahar Dock-5, the car lost control and plunged into the water.
The Coast Guard officer, Jagendra Kanda, managed to escape by breaking the windshield and swimming to safety, although he fainted shortly after reaching the shore and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Unfortunately, Shahi was trapped inside the sinking vehicle, which sank to a depth of 85 feet. A rescue operation, involving over 30 Coast Guard personnel, 20 firefighters, scuba divers, and port police, was launched immediately. While the submerged car was located, rescuers struggled to find Shahi due to poor visibility and difficult conditions. The search resumed the next day but only led to the recovery of his body on Thursday morning by Coast Guard and Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue teams. His body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.
On Wednesday, Shahi’s family protested at the harbour, urging authorities to expedite the search for him. Police engaged with the family to calm their concerns as efforts were still underway. After the post-mortem at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Shahi’s body will be returned to his family.
Family members and local advocates are calling on the Chennai Port Trust to compensate Shahi’s family. The Harbour Police have initiated a case and are currently investigating the incident, including whether a tire burst caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Coast Guard officers have also been stationed at the Chennai Port to enhance security measures.