Photo put together by Fazal (Baplo) Mohamedali Fazal and noted as:

"June 1970 - All those who died in the boat accident in our family - Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania".

December 2005 - Received more information on missing names and details on the above photo from Mohsin Jessa, brother of Riyaz and Naushad, all of Toronto, Canada (email:mohsin.jessa@sympatico.ca) as follows:

On the left is my mother Zainab Jessa (daughter of  Mohamad Raza Fazel of Mombassa and Aminabai daughter of Mohamed Ladha). Behind my mother is my sister Yasmin bai Jessa. At the front of my mother (with her hand resting on the shoulder) is my sister Anar bai Jessa. And in the lower left corner is my sister Tahera bai Jessa. To the right of my sister Anar bai is my Grand Mother Sakina Jessa (AKA Saku Sukari Mawe) from the (Habib Kassam Manji family of Tanga). Ibrahim Kassam Manji was my Grand Mother's brother so was Habib Kassam Manji. To the right of my Grand Mother is my Aunt Sugra Jessa (wife of my uncle Amir Jessa). To the right of my Aunt is Muzaffar Manji. To the right of Muzaffar are the two children (brother and sister) of Daulat Bai - Abdulhussain M. Bandali and Zainab M. Bandali. To their right is Sukaina Baker Bhalloo (daughter of Baker Bhallo).

May Allah rest their souls in Heaven. Amen!    

December 2005 - Received message from Ashiq Kermalli (email: akermalli@netzero.net ) as follows:
Assalamu alaikum,
You have recalled for me personally a very tragic incident which I still remember. I am personally affected as all the sisters of Mohsin and Sukaina Baker Bhaloo were my students. I was teaching Swahili at coaching class in Daressalaam. I recall this incident as it helps me in dealing with trauma patients in hospitals. Allah (SWT) gives me courage because of this experience which was so tragic that to date many of us cannot let go completely. My brother Yusuf was a witness to this. Him and I were the first ones to go with the search party.

May I request us all to read one Sura-e-fateha and give the thawaab of this recitation to all the departed and beseech Allah(swt) by the intercession of 14 Infallible Ones (a.s.) to continue to give strength and patience to all the family members. Aamin.

Iltemase Dua
Ashiq Kermalli

 

 

I have recently managed to get some details from one of the volunteers that participated in the recovery of bodies from the sea and from one of the survivors Murtaza Pyralli Rustom both of Toronto, Canada. Brief details obtained:

Details of the boat: The boat was a wooden one, which was operated by a motor attached to it. The boat was not recovered and no one appears to know what happened to it. It was understood at that time it could accommodate up to 10 persons. The boat was owned and operated by Amir Jessa.

Details of trip: Group of 20 went to Sinda Island i.e. 4 -5 kms from Dar mainland for picnic outing. On the way back from the resort island, boat capsized due to windy storm resulting in rough seas with huge waves. The route taken on the way back was different from the one used to go to the resort island. It happened on Sunday 31st of May, 1970.

How many died: 14 people died (per photo above). Among names known from above photo are:

1. Ibrahim Kassam Manji

2. His wife - Fatma(Baby) (Mohamedali Fazal) Ibrahim Kassam Manji

3. Their baby Sukaina

4. Ibrahim Kassam Manji's son Muzzafar

5. Fazal(Baplo) Mohamedali Fazal's daughter Zainab (who was just under 5 years old - click here to see 4th birthday photo).

6. Zainab Mohamedhussein Jessa

7. Sukaina Mohamed Baker Bhalloo

8. Sugrabai Jessa (Wife of Amir Jessa. Daughter of Nazarali Nurmohammed of Tabora)

How and when did the accident occur: Accident occurred late evening hours on Sunday and therefore no search could be done until following Monday morning. After Fajr prayers team of volunteers headed for the seafront shore and with help from police steel boats and other private boats - (TIPER (Italian Refinery in Dar) and a government/police helicopter and a small plane, which conducted aerial search that guided these boats.

Bodies recovered and burial: All bodies recovered were buried on Monday June 1st, 1970 in the afternoon/evening hours (except for Muzzafar Ibrahim Kassam Manji - was recovered and buried on Tuesday) at same cemetery at different spots that were available at the time. Both Mefaleh Abbas and the main Dar mosque were used for Ghusal (washing) and prayers. Bodies not recovered were of: Ibrahim Kassam Manji and Zainab Mohamedhussein Jessa.

How many survived: 6 people survived:

1. Sikander Abdulkarim Dewji

2. Makbul Rahim

3. Murtaza Pyralli Rustom

4. Mohamed Jamal

5. Amir Jessa

6. Amir Jessa's African Servant.

 

All swam to another nearby island except for Sikander Abdulkarim Dewji who actually swam back all the way to the Dar's mainland coast.

Local newspapers coverage: Kenya's Daily Nation had coverage and showed a photograph of Amir Jessa's African servant who managed to swim to another nearby island using an empty gas tank as a floating device. There was also an article in our own community's African Samacher. 

Notes:

I have tried to research from various sources on any archive papers going back to 1970 without any success. Therefore, if anyone has any details, records or articles or above photo details of unidentified names - would appreciate if you could please keep in touch with me at:

Mahmood Fazal
1 Lepus Starway
Toronto, Ontario
Canada, M2J 1M9
E-Mail: mfazal@dewani.ca
Phone and Fax #: (416) 496-3995
 

 

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