Ottawa police have ended their water search for missing 67-year-old Jehangir Balsara, whose vehicle was found late Thursday on Bate Island, halfway between Ottawa and Gatineau.

Jehangir Balsara, 67, told his wife he would return home shortly on Monday, but never did. (Photo courtesy of the Ottawa Police Service)

Balsara disappeared on Monday afternoon. His vehicle was found on Bate Island — halfway across the Champlain Bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau — after police received information about it at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

Officers searched the area for a short time Thursday night but halted the work until daybreak Friday.

Police search crews arrived just before 8:30 a.m. Friday to perform a ground and shoreline search. Eventually, crews entered the chilly waters of the Ottawa River.

The water search ended Friday afternoon.

Man said he'd be home in 10 minutes

Balsara left his Kanata home on Monday, according to a family member, and he was reached on the phone while out. He had said he was going to return home within 10 minutes, but never made it.

Balsara, a self-employed accountant, is described as an East Indian man, standing about six feet one inch tall with a heavier build. He has balding hair with a salt-and-pepper colour.

Police said he was last seen wearing a blue dress shirt, dark coloured pants and a blue windbreaker with a sailboat logo on the left breast of the jacket.

Balsara's family said this is out of character and that he does not suffer from health problems. They also said there has been no activity on his bank card and that his cellphone goes straight to voicemail.

Balsara's daughter-in-law, Andrea Simms-Karp, said Friday the family had not been contacted about the vehicle. They only learned of it through the news.

Body found in Ottawa River by Gatineau police

At about 3:30 p.m. Friday, Gatineau police discovered a body in the Ottawa River near Jacques Cartier Park.

Ottawa police said they're aware of the discovery, and that the missing persons unit is looking into whether it's connected to Balsara's disappearance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa police missing persons unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 2355, or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477.