Gill village youth drowns off New South Wales coast

Jaswant Shetra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 27

A pal of gloom descended on Gill village as the news of death of a youth in Australia, who belonged to the village, arrived. Ravneet Singh died after drowning in sea waters of New South Wales in Australia yesterday. Ravneet is survived by his parents and a younger brother.

As per information, Ravneet along with some of his friends had gone to Tweed Head beach for having bath during his Christmas holidays. He was swept away by a strong wave while bathing in sea waters. The rescue team recovered his body after some time.

A large number of people gathered at the house of the deceased in Gill village to console grief-stricken family members. According to villagers Ravneet had gone to Australia for higher education after completing his X+II two years ago. Ravneet was pursuing BBA degree from a university based at Queensland in Australia. He was in final year of graduation.

Ravneet’s father Harpal Singh, mother Baljinder Kaur and grandparents were inconsolable after the news of his tragic death reached them.

Relatives of Ravneet and villagers have appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate the process to bring back his body to Punjab as soon as possible.

“Due to Christmas holidays in Australia, the process of bringing back Ravneet’s body is slow. The Indian government should help us in bringing his body back in such a difficult time,” said Jaspal Singh, uncle of the deceased youth, while speaking to The Tribune over phone.