Punjab Tragedy: Son fatally assaulted in Canada, mother's heartbreaking demise; joint cremation in home village
Nawanshahr, July 30: A heart-wrenching series of events unfolded in the small village of Aima Chahal, located in Punjab's Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district. On July 27, 2021, Gurvinder Nath, a 24-year-old aspiring student, bid farewell to his family and left for Canada to pursue higher studies at Toronto's Loyalist College. Little did anyone know that this journey would end in unspeakable tragedy.
Gurvinder, a diligent young man, was not only focused on his studies but also supported himself by working part-time as a pizza delivery driver. Unfortunately, on July 9, during a late-night delivery in Mississauga, near Toronto, he fell victim to a heinous crime. He was robbed of his car and subjected to a brutal assault. Despite being rushed to the hospital, his injuries proved fatal, and he succumbed to them on July 14.
Devastated by this terrible news, Gurvinder's brothers, one elder and the other his twin, took it upon themselves to shield their parents from the heart-wrenching truth. They even disabled the internet on their father Krishan Dev Nath's phone to prevent him from inadvertently learning of their brother's tragic fate.
However, fate had more sorrow in store for the family. Narinder Devi, Gurvinder's mother, who had sensed that something was amiss with her beloved son, urged her husband to contact him. When their efforts to make a WhatsApp call failed due to internet issues, Narinder Devi became increasingly anxious. She had confided in other women in the village that she would never let Gurvinder face any adversity alone.
On a fateful Wednesday, Narinder Devi inadvertently overheard some passers-by discussing Gurvinder's body being repatriated to India. This shocking revelation sent her into a state of extreme distress, but she chose to keep her anguish hidden from her family members. Tragically, the emotional burden proved unbearable for her.
Narinder Devi attempted to take her own life by electrocution. However, her grandsons, Kamal and Balwinder, discovered her intentions in time and never left her side. Despite their vigilant efforts, Narinder Devi found another opportunity and consumed pesticide the following morning. Realizing the severity of her condition, the family rushed her to Balachaur's Civil Hospital, where she received initial treatment. Due to her critical condition, the doctors referred her to the PGI (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) hospital in Ludhiana. However, due to the lack of stretchers at the PGI, the family decided to transport her to the DMC (Dayanand Medical College) Hospital in Ludhiana. Tragically, despite their efforts, Narinder Devi passed away around 2:15 am on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.
The news of Gurvinder's and his mother's deaths sent shockwaves through the village. On Friday evening, Gurvinder's body was brought back to Aima Chahal for a joint cremation with his mother, Narinder Devi. The entire community mourned the loss of the young scholar who had left his homeland with dreams of a promising future.
Krishan Dev Nath, the grieving father and a farmer running a small dairy, was shattered by the double tragedy that befell his family. He remembered Gurvinder as a bright and ambitious student who had always dreamt of studying abroad. Gurvinder's family revealed that he had faced a similar attack before, which he had reported to the police. However, authorities had merely advised him to be cautious without taking substantial action.
As the grieving community of Aima Chahal tries to come to terms with the loss of two precious lives, this tragedy serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of mental health awareness and support for those facing emotional turmoil. The devastating consequences of violence and the weight of emotional distress cannot be underestimated, and communities worldwide must strive to create an environment where individuals feel safe to share their struggles and seek help.
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- With inputs from agencies
