The Gujarati community in Canada has rallied together to raise funds for the repatriation of Jash Jitenkumar Patel, a 23-year-old student who drowned on Canada Day. This compassionate act echoes a similar effort earlier this year when the community came together to bring home the body of Meet Patel, another young Gujarati who lost his life in a road accident in Brampton.
Jash, originally from Makna village near Surat, was studying at Fleming College Campus in Peterborough and working part-time at Walmart. On July 1, while celebrating Canada Day with friends near Otonabee River, he was swept away by strong currents. Despite desperate attempts by his friends to rescue him, Jash could not be saved. His body was recovered the next day with the assistance of divers.
In response to this tragedy, Jash’s friends promptly launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe. The initiative received an overwhelming response from both the Gujarati community and local Canadians. Within days, they raised 48,000 CAD, coming close to their goal of 70,000 CAD to cover repatriation expenses and support Jash’s grieving family.
This heartwarming gesture mirrors the community’s previous efforts. In April, Meet Patel, a 20-year-old Gujarati student, lost his life in a road accident in Brampton. Facing financial challenges, his family struggled to repatriate his body. Once again, the Gujarati community in Canada stepped up, successfully raising funds through crowdfunding.
Peel Regional Police’s Major Collision Bureau is currently investigating Meet Patel’s accident. The driver of the pick-up truck involved has provided dashcam footage to aid in the inquiry. Patel, an only child, had moved to Canada just seven months prior for his graduation.
The Gujarati community in Canada has now announced on social media that they have secured sufficient funds to send Meet Patel’s body back to Gujarat. The organizers have pledged to use any surplus funds for a noble cause, possibly donating them to the hospital where Meet underwent treatment.
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