As news about Mumbai’s boat tragedy started trickling in, lawyer Rayomand Zaiwala, 45, was reminded of the adage ‘History repeats itself’. “The incident is eerily similar to May 10, 1964. My mother, Meher Talati, was 16. She and my maternal grandmother had gone to Navsari and were watching a movie. While at the cinema, they got word that my grandfather, Minoo Talati, had been hurt and they must return to Bombay,” said Zariwala.

He added, “They took a train and were informed on their arrival at Bombay Central (Mumbai Central) station where they alighted, that my grandfather was no more. He had perished in a boat accident.” According to Zaiwala, his grandfather Minoo Talati, along with others including neighbours and their children, perished in a boat accident. “My grandfather was 48 years old at the time. It was naturally a tremendous shock for the family. Not only the passing away, but the way in which he and others had perished,” he said.