Amrinder Kaur moved from her household residence in a distant village close to Patiala to a land of unknowns 9 years in the past. She made the three,000km journey to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, in 2015, and toiled at a restaurant within the Gudauri ski resort, chipping away on the obstacles that stood in the way in which of hopes for a greater future.
Sunam couple Ravinder Singh and Gurwinder Kaur died just four days before their marriage anniversary. “They had moved to Georgia in March this year in search of a better future. (Sourced)
Those dreams were snuffed on a bitterly cold Saturday morning. Kaur (32) was among 11 Indian nationals, all from Punjab, who died of carbon monoxide poisoning at the Haveli restaurant in Gudauri. The deaths stunned the state and foregrounded the struggles of people from India who to abroad to secure stability.
“She was planning her first visit since she moved to Georgia in 2015. She was very happy and was buying gifts from everyone,” mentioned Sukhwinder Singh, her 42-year-old cousin.
The opposite victims had been recognized as Ravinder Kumar (45) from Jalandhar, Sameer Kumar (26) from Khanna, Harwinder Singh (27) from Mansa, Varinder Singh (33) from Patiala, Sandeep Singh (34) from Tarn Taran, Ravinder Singh (34) and Gurwinder Kaur (29), each from Sangrur, Maninder Kaur (32) from Mansa and Gagandeep Singh (24) from Moga. The id of the eleventh sufferer couldn’t be confirmed.
A Georgian nationwide additionally died within the incident. All of them had been staff of the restaurant, inside a ski resort. A preliminary investigation discovered that the carbon monoxide allegedly leaked from an influence supply, probably a generator, positioned in a closed house close to the bedrooms.
“The Indian embassy in Georgia is in touch with the families and is working with local authorities to repatriate the mortal remains at the earliest,” officers within the ministry of exterior affairs mentioned on Tuesday.
Sameer Kumar, of Bilaan Wali Chhappri in Khanna district, was to rejoice his birthday on Saturday. He would have turned 27.
As he did each evening, Sameer known as his mom Santosh Kumari, earlier than going to mattress.
Now, all they need is for his physique to be introduced again in order that they’ll lay him to relaxation.
“We are shattered. We don’t know how to bring my brother’s body back to India. We feel completely abandoned,” mentioned Gurdeep Kumar, his brother.
Ravinder Kumar, from Kot Ramdass in Jalandhar, is survived by his spouse, Kumari Kanchan, two daughters, and a son. Ravinder solely ever noticed his seven-year-old son on video calls.
Kanchan mentioned she was pregnant when he shifted to Georgia after a three-year stint in Dubai.
“He had not visited Punjab even once since then. He worked in the restaurant as a billing accountant. My husband made a video call on Friday (December 13) and said that the electricity in the area had been snapped due to a snow storm,” she added.
Kanchan mentioned her husband known as later to say he had come again to his bed room together with fellow staff.
“He told us that a generator was put in place. We didn’t speak to him after that,” mentioned the 39-year-old.
The household was knowledgeable about his loss of life the subsequent morning.
Gagandeep Singh, of Ghal Kalan Village in Moga district, made a final name to his father, Gurmukh Singh, on Thursday.
“He showed me snow around the area when we last spoke. He used to call me every three or four days. But he did not call after December 12,” mentioned Gurmukh.
“My wife passed away a few years ago and my younger son died last year. Now Gagandeep is gone as well. I have been left alone in this world now,” he mentioned.
His grandfather, Basant Singh, mentioned Gagandeep moved to Georgia 4 months in the past with the hopes of pulling his household out of financial doldrums.
Simarjit Singh, a resident of the village, mentioned, “The family took a loan of ₹4 lakh to send him abroad. They don’t have money to bring back his body.”
Anumeet Kaur (32) wished to maneuver from her residence in Samana city of Patiala district to Georgia. Her husband, Varinder Singh, moved there final yr, she mentioned, and the wheels for the shift had been in movement.
“He did not visit India after he moved. We used to speak every day. We spoke for two hours just before the tragedy took place on Friday. He informed me that there was a rush in the restaurant, and would call back. But he never did,” mentioned Kaur. Varinder is survived by his spouse, a five-year-old daughter, and father.
Sunam couple Ravinder Singh and Gurwinder Kaur died simply 4 days earlier than their marriage anniversary. “They had moved to Georgia in March this year in search of a better future. “It would have been their marriage anniversary today,” mentioned Kuldeep Singh, Ravinder’s maternal uncle. “I spoke to them on December 12, just a day before the tragedy,” he added.
“We have urged the ministry of external affairs to coordinate with the Georgian Embassy for the swift repatriation of the deceased. We hope to receive the bodies soon,” mentioned Sangrur deputy commissioner Sandeep Rishi.
Tarn Taran’s Sandeep Singh, 34, was the only real breadwinner of his household. He’s survived by his spouse and a six-year-old daughter. “My husband took up this job in Georgia as the financial condition of our family was not good. Now, he is no more and we still have a loan to pay. I appeal to CM Bhagwant Mann to help us,” mentioned his spouse.
Gurwinder Singh,26, from Mansa’s Khokhar Khurd village spoke to his mom on Friday. “He used to call every Friday,” mentioned Bhagwan Singh, Gurwinder’s father, who learnt in regards to the tragedy on Monday. “One of his friends from Bhainiwala village in Mansa was working in Georgia and on his advice Gurwinder decided to try his luck theren. With the help of an agent, he went to Georgia in June. We were hopeful of his better future but now our world has come crashing down,” added Bhagwan.
With inputs from Navrajdeep Singh, Karam Parkash, Parteek Singh Mahal, Vishal Joshi, Tarsem Singh Deogan, Surjit Singh & Muskan