‘Now who will bear the cost of my children’s education? How can I give them a bright future?” These were the only questions on the lips of Kanchan Kumari, the wife of 45-year-old Ravindra Kumar, who lost his life in the disaster. An Indian restaurant had a gas leak last Friday night in the Gudauri region of Georgia.
The loss is especially heartbreaking for his wife and their three children, who have not seen Kumar for over eight years. His youngest son, born after Kumar moved to Dubai in 2017, had never met him. During this long period of isolation, Kumar worked tirelessly abroad, driven by the dream of returning to India and securing a better future for his family.
Originally from Abadi Kot Ram Das in Jalandhar, Punjab, Kumar left India eight years ago in search of a brighter future. At first, he moved to Dubai, spending five years there, but after falling victim to a fraudulent travel agent, he was burdened with huge debts, which prevented him from returning home. Determined to provide for his family, he later moved to Georgia, where he worked as a chef. Despite the physical distance, Kumar remained steadfast in supporting his family financially and emotionally.
Tragically, he died hours after a phone call with his family. During a video call with Kanchan and their children, Kumar talked about the powerful snow storm and power cuts in his area. He promised to call again the next morning—a call that never came. His sudden demise has left his wife and children devastated, struggling to cope with the loss of a man who worked tirelessly to ensure their well-being even from thousands of miles away.
“My dad had two phones, and he was sitting on the couch talking to us on Friday night. In another call, he told someone that a very strong snowstorm had uprooted all the poles and caused a blackout,” said Ravindra Kumar’s elder daughter Harshita Pal (11).
“My father always came to take us together, and my mother was trying to get our passports,” added Harshita, who was just three years old when her father left.
Kanchan also narrated her last conversation with her husband. “When we spoke on Friday, he was scared. His area was completely blocked by the storm. He said he would call me the next morning, but I never heard from him,” she said.
“He wanted to meet us but could not provide a better future for our children. And now I face an uncertain future. Our three children, including a seven-year-old son whom Kumar never got a chance to meet in person, are left without any primary source of income. Currently, children enrolled in central schools face the possibility of losing their education due to lack of financial support. I am alone now, struggling to take care of my children,” Kanchan said, seeking help from the government to continue her children’s education.
“It seems that my husband died immediately after calling us on Friday because he was found sitting in the same position the next morning. Eyewitnesses told me that he was found dead with the phone upright in his hand,” said Kanchan, adding that the son could see his father physically for the last time. I want to be brought home.
Kanchan’s sister Neelam Kumari spoke with deep emotion about the hardships the family had to endure. “I have seen my sister struggle all her life. When Ravindra was in India, he ran a kirana (grocery) shop and supported his entire joint family. But burdened with debt, he had no choice but to go to Dubai and later to Georgia. She worked hard, but it was never easy,” she shared. Neelam also recalled how the family used to sleep hungry, a memory that still lingers in her mind.
Neelam said, ‘We request not only to return his body but also to take care of the family. “Kanchan should be given a job to support her children, take care of their education. This is the least the government can do after all the sacrifices Ravindra made for his family. “
Ravindra Kumar’s mother Surjeet Kaur was inconsolable.
The people of the area have reached their homes to mourn a person who lost his life for his family. Now, they rally to support those left behind.
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