Human smuggling trial reveals Gujarati family, who froze to death while crossing US-Canada border, faced a blizzard
Two men have been accused of smuggling Indian nationals amid deadly conditions
By: Express News Service
Chandigarh | Updated: November 21, 2024 11:22 IST
A border marker between the United States and Canada near Manitoba. (Photo: AP)
The trial of two men accused of smuggling migrants across the US-Canada border between Manitoba and Minnesota heard chilling details on Tuesday about the deadly conditions on January 19, 2022, when a family of four froze to death during their attempted crossing.
Steve Shand and Harshkumar Patel face charges, including conspiracy to transport individuals in a manner that endangered their lives. Prosecutors allege the two were part of a network that flew Indian nationals to Canada and then guided them to walk across the border into the United States. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Freezing conditions described in court
A meteorologist testified that temperatures on the day of the tragedy were below -20°C, with wind chill making it feel even colder. “At those levels, frostbite can set in within minutes,” Daryl Ritchison of the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network told the court.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/human-smuggling-trial-gujarati-family-us-canada-border-blizzard-9680962/
