{"id":746571,"date":"2026-06-19T11:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T11:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/746571\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T11:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T11:38:14","slug":"father-and-daughter-farewelled-at-joint-funeral-after-parramatta-river-murder-suicide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/746571\/","title":{"rendered":"Father and daughter farewelled at joint funeral after Parramatta River murder-suicide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Family and friends have gathered to farewell a father and daughter who died in a murder-suicide<\/a>, praying for the grieving mother to find the strength to carry on.<\/p>\n

Maulik Dhandhukia, 47, threw his daughter, believed to be aged 6 or 7, from a rented boat into the Parramatta River in Sydney\u2019s<\/a> inner west before entering the water on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Neither could swim.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

His body was found floating in the water by a passing boater shortly before midday, while specialist police spent almost six hours searching for the young girl\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

A joint funeral for the pair<\/a> was held on Friday at Castlebrook Crematorium in Rouse Hill, where loved ones gathered to pay their respects.<\/p>\n

\"FamilyFamily and friends have gathered to farewell Maulik Dhandhukia and his daughter. Credit: Facebook<\/p>\n

During the livestreamed service, the pair\u2019s open caskets were placed side by side at the front of the room.<\/p>\n

Dhandhukia\u2019s wife and the girl\u2019s mother, Pritiben Dhandhukia, became visibly distressed as the coffins arrived.<\/p>\n

She wept beside them during the service and could be heard calling out for her daughter as she leaned over the young girl\u2019s casket.<\/p>\n

One speaker acknowledged the immense grief felt by those gathered, saying family and friends had come together despite the tragic circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a loss for the family \u2014 it\u2019s not a small loss and not something we can all understand,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve come together, so we can join in the ceremony and pray they are in a better place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will be in a better place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MaulikMaulik Dhandhukia and his wife Pritiben Dhandhukia with their daughter. Credit: GoFundMe<\/p>\n

The speaker also urged those attending to keep Pritiben in their thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s pray the Almighty gives Prithi strength to go through this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all pray that she comes out of this maybe even stronger, may not be better, but at least stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

The funeral notice described the deceased as \u201ctwo kind and gentle souls who will forever remain in our hearts\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cMay their souls rest in peace and live on in the loving memories of their loved ones,\u201d\u00a0the notice reads.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe funeral notice described the pair as \u2018two kind and gentle souls who will forever remain in our hearts\u2019. Credit: Facebook<\/p>\n

Police<\/a> previously revealed they found a suicide note on board the vessel and believe the incident was premeditated.<\/p>\n

Investigators also found Dhandhukia had rented a runabout from Cabarita Point Marina several times in the week leading up to the tragedy.<\/p>\n

Dhandhukia and his daughter arrived at the marina in an Uber about 10am on Saturday.<\/p>\n

His body was found near Hen and Chicken Bay at Abbotsford about 11.45am, while his daughter\u2019s body was recovered from the river at Concord about 5.30pm.<\/p>\n

A friend of Dhandhukia\u2019s said he was \u201ccompletely shocked\u201d by the tragedy, describing him as a devoted family man.<\/p>\n

The friend said Dhandhukia and his wife had spent years trying to have a child before welcoming their daughter.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe father and daughter were found dead, after a boat was seen adrift in Concord, Sydney. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

He also recalled how Dhandhukia returned to India during the COVID-19 pandemic to care for his mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still remember him saying with genuine worry, \u2018If I get sick, who will look after my family?\u2019\u201d the friend said.<\/p>\n

Another family friend said the tragedy had left Pritiben \u201cutterly alone\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am writing to ask for your help for a woman who has just lost everything that mattered most to her,\u201d Jignesh Parmar wrote on a GoFundMe page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer beloved husband and her cherished daughter \u2014 her entire family, her whole reason for getting up each morning \u2014 were taken from her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe home that was once full of love and laughter is now silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Pritiben, who gave her heart to her family every single day, has been left utterly alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\" Pritiben Dhandhukia wept beside the coffins. Credit: Facebook<\/p>\n

Parmar said the fundraiser would help cover funeral expenses and provide ongoing financial support.<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of us can bring back what she has lost,\u201d Parmar wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we can make sure she doesn\u2019t have to grieve while also lying awake at night worrying about money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just over a week before the incident, Dhandhukia shared a lengthy Facebook post about chronic neck pain, which he said had caused \u201c70 to 90 per cent\u201d of the problems in his life.<\/p>\n

He wrote that the pain began after he failed to warm up properly before a gym session in Mumbai in 2004 or 2005 and had persisted for more than two decades.<\/p>\n

Dhandhukia claimed the condition had forced him to turn down a US visa and Canadian permanent residency.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, I have turned 47 and so ageing will start showing its effect,\u201d he wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an absolute tragedy for the family and the community on every level,\u201d Burwood Police Area Command Superintendent Christine McDonald said.<\/p>\n

If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.<\/p>\n

For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300 224 636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Young girl to be buried with dad who threw her into river<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Tragedy as missing child\u2019s body located after father found dead, boat adrift<\/p>\n

1 min read<\/p>\n

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