JALANDHAR/PATIALA/BATHINDA: The tragic deaths of 11 Indians due to carbon monoxide poisoning at a restaurant in Gudauri in Georgia have shattered several families across Punjab. As they grapple with the loss, their biggest plea now is to bring back the mortal remains to perform the last rites. For them, closure remains a distant hope until their loved ones return home one final time.
For Gurmukh Singh of Ghall Kalan village in Moga district, the death of his 24-year-old son Gagandeep Singh has brought irreparable loss. Gagandeep had moved to Georgia just four months ago after working in Dubai for over a year.
“On Monday, we were informed that many workers were sleeping in a room with a generator running due to a power outage, which caused the poisoning,” Gurmukh said on Tuesday.
Gurmukh, who has lost two of his three sons and his wife in recent years, is now left alone. “I last spoke to Gagandeep on Dec 12 and he told me he was happy,” he said. The father had taken loans amounting to Rs 5 lakh to send his son abroad, only to now face the crushing grief of losing him.
Ravinder Kala, a resident of Kot Ramdas in Jalandhar, had been away from his family for over seven years, working in Dubai and later Georgia to secure a better life. He was among the deceased.
“He called home around 8.30 the previous night and spoke to our daughters,” said his wife Kanchan.
“He told them about a storm that had knocked out the power and promised to call the next day. That call never came” she said. “Around 8pm Sunday, we learned he had never woken up, and 12 people had died.”
Kanchan, who lives with her mother-in-law and brothers-in-law, now faces an uncertain future. “My son, who is seven, was born after Ravinder left for Dubai. He never got to meet his father. We have no means of livelihood now,” she said urging govt to help bring home her husband’s body.
Ravinder Singh, 34, and Gurvinder Kaur, 29, from Sangrur district had relocated to Georgia in March 2023. Ravinder, a carpenter, and Gurvinder, a former banker, had pinned their hopes on Georgia for a better life.
On what would have been their wedding anniversary on Dec 17, their families were instead mourning their loss. Ravinder’s father Amrik Singh, is a bedridden farmer, while his mother passed away five years ago. Gurvinder’s family, too, is devastated by the tragedy.
“They had secured jobs at the restaurant,” said Ravinder’s uncle Kuldeep Singh Bawa. “Just a week ago, Ravinder spoke to me about family matters. Their untimely and tragic passing has left us shattered.”