The Indian family of four who died tragically while trying to cross the Canada-US border in the middle of winter have been identified as the Patel family from India, who were being smuggled into the US days arriving in Canada. Arrests have followed in India and US in regards to the smuggling ring employed by the Patel family to help them reach US while an RCMP investigation continues into the tragedy. According to a release from the High Commission of India, later confirmed by RCMP on Thursday, the four people have been identified as Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, a 39-year-old man, Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, a 37-year-old woman, Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, an 11-year-old girl, and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, a three-year-old boy.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files

TORONTO –The Indian family of four who died tragically while trying to cross the Canada-US border in the middle of winter have been identified as the Patel family from India, who were being smuggled into the US days arriving in Canada.

Arrests have followed in India and US in regards to the smuggling ring employed by the Patel family to help them reach US while an RCMP investigation continues into the tragedy.

According to a release from the High Commission of India, later confirmed by RCMP on Thursday, the four people have been identified as Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, a 39-year-old man, Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, a 37-year-old woman, Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, an 11-year-old girl, and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, a three-year-old boy.

The release said the four people were all Indian nationals, adding their next of kin have been notified.

RCMP Chief Superintendent Rob Hill said the family of four arrived in Toronto on Jan. 12 and travelled to Emerson, Man. on Jan. 18.

“The Consulate General of India in Toronto is in touch with the family of the deceased and is providing all consular support,” the release reads.

The release said, following a medical examination, Canadian authorities have determined all the deaths to be consistent with exposure to outdoor elements.

It said a special team led by a senior consular officer from the Consulate General of India in Toronto is currently in Manitoba helping with the investigation, reported CTV News.

“There was no abandoned vehicle on the Canadian side of the border. This clearly indicates that someone drove the family to the border and then left the scene,” said Hill.

Hill noted this was a long period of time to travel across the country, especially for a family unfamiliar with Canada.

“A part of the investigation is determining whether this travel was facilitated in some way by an individual or individuals,” said Hill, adding RCMP believes people would have had interactions with the Patel family, including hotel, gas station, and restaurant employees.

“We need anyone who had interaction with the Patel family or has information about their journey to the border to think about what they went through, and to step forward.”

According to U.S. officials, it is believed the family ended up separated from a large group of seven Indian migrants who were arrested trying to enter the U.S. from Canada.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection told CTV News the migrants will be deported, saying they were administratively processed for removal or placed into removal proceedings last week.

“All the migrants have been released from Border Patrol’s custody and ordered to report to ICE at a later date,” they said in a statement.

Steve Shand, a man from Florida, has been charged in the U.S. with human smuggling. The charges have not been proven in court. Indian authorities have also arrested six people in India connected to the smuggling ring.

If anyone has information that they can share with the RCMP, they’re encouraged to call 431-489-8551 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.