Canadian authorities have confirmed the identities of an Indian family who were frozen to death in a field at Emerson, Manitoba, near the US-Canada border.

According to Indian Express, the family of four were identified as 39-year-old Jagdishkumar Patel, his wife, 37-year-old Vaishaliben Patel, and their children, Vihangi Patel, 11 and three-year-old Dharmik Patel.

A statement from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), stated that the autopsies of the four were done on January 26 by Manitoba’s chief medical examiner who confirmed that the cause of death was due to exposure to extreme weather conditions.

“We can confirm that on January 12, 2022, the Patel family arrived in Toronto, Canada. From Toronto, the family made their way to Emerson on, or about, January 18, 2022,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said on their website.

Since a vehicle was not recovered, the family is believed to have been dropped off at the border, according to the police, who are trying to determine how the Patel family travelled from Toronto to Emerson.

“With what we know so far of their activities in Canada, along with the arrest that occurred in the United States, we believe this to be a case of human smuggling,” they said.

Meanwhile, India’s High Commission in Ottawa, Canada said in a press release, which also identified the four victims, that the next of kin of the deceased have been informed.

The press release reads; “Further to the report of the tragic death of four people including an infant, whose bodies were recovered near the Canada US border in Manitoba on January 19, 2022, the Canadian authorities have confirmed the identities of the four deceased as Indian nationals. The next of the kin of the deceased have been informed. The Consulate General of India in Toronto is in touch with the family of the deceased and is providing all consular support. The High Commission offers its sincerest to the family and friends of the victims

“Canadian authorities, have also after medical examination, informed that based on the circumstances, the death of all the persons have been determined to be consistent with exposure to outdoor elements. The High Commission of India in Ottawa and our Consulate in Toronto continue to work closely with Canadian authorities on all aspects of investigation into this incident. A special team, led by a senior consular officer, from the Consulate General of India in Toronto, is camping in Manitoba to assist ongoing investigation by Canadian agencies and to render any consular services for the victims

“On longer-term issues that this tragedy has brought into focus the need to ensure that migration and mobility are made safe and legal and that such tragedies don’t recur. A number of ideas remain under discussion by India and Canada. For instance to prevent and suppress irregular migration, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human being and to facilitate sustainable and circular mobility, India has proposed a comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) to Canada which remains under the consideration of the Canadian government (sic),” the statement reads.