Sitting in his one-room house in Ghal Kalan village of Moga, Punjab, 50-year-old Gurmukh Singh mourns the tragic death of his 24-year-old son Gagandeep Singh. 12 people have died from suspected gas At a restaurant in the mountain resort of Gudauri, Georgia.
The Indian mission said on Monday that 11 of the 12 dead were Indian citizens. Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said a preliminary inspection found no signs of injuries or violence. All victims died of carbon monoxide poisoningThe local media quoted the police.
Gurmukh had last spoken to his son on December 12. Gagandeep used to show her the snow-capped Georgian peaks in video calls. “O Bas Kahenda Si, Baba Athe Baraf Hey Baraf Hai (He used to say it is all snow here),” says Gurmukh Singh, who lost his wife and another son a few years ago. “Bas mera eko sahara si eh…bala jak kitta rab ne mere nal (He was my only support. God has really wronged me),” he says.
Grieving villagers at Ghal Kalan village in Moga, Punjab. (Express Photo)
Gagandeep’s mentally unwell brother died about six years ago due to health problems of Gagandeep’s mother. “My elder son lives separately with his wife. I am the only one who mourns the death of my younger son,’ said Gurmukh, who lives in his one-room house with a dilapidated roof.
Gurmukh, a laborer, took a loan of 5 lakhs to send Gagandeep to Georgia. Earlier, Gagandeep also spent two years in Dubai where he worked as a car wash and servicer, his father said. ‘After I said I want to go to Georgia and do this work in a restaurant, I took a loan of Rs 5 lakh from some friends and sent it. I couldn’t say no to him,” says Gurmukh, who owns no land.
On Tuesday, he submitted a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Moga requesting help in bringing his son’s body home for last rites, adding that he did not have enough money to afford logistics etc.
Gagandeep went to Georgia about four months ago. “We spoke every 3-4 days because he knew I was alone. The sky was my only support,” says Gurmukh.
“I tried calling him again after the December 12 conversation but his phone was switched off. I don’t know what happened there. I only found out through the media that my son is gone,’ he added.
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