Punjabi singer Rajvir dies 11 days after road mishap

Punjabi singer Rajvir Jawanda passed away after a 11-day battle for life at a private hospital in Mohali this morning. He was 35. Jawanda sustained critical head and spinal injuries in a road accident near Baddi on September 27. He was on a biking trip to Shimla with friends.

He is survived by his wife Ashwinder Kaur, son Dilawar Singh, daughter Hemant Kaur and mother Paramjit Kaur.

“Despite extensive medical support and continuous monitoring by the critical care and neurosurgery teams, he succumbed to multiple organ failure this morning,” the hospital said in a statement.

Hailing from Kothey Pona village near Jagraon in Ludhiana, Jawanda was popular for his songs rooted in Punjab’s culture. The cop-turned-singer was best known for hits like “Dheeyan”, “Kali Jawande Di”, “Tu Dis Penda”, “Khush Reha Kar” and “Sardari”. He also acted in three films – “Kaka Ji”, “Subedar Joginder Singh” and “Zind Jaan”.

His mortal remains were taken to his house in Sector 71 here and then to the Mohali Civil Hospital for a post-mortem. His cremation will be held at his native village at 11 am tomorrow.

Hundreds of fans, friends and celebrities from the Punjabi music and film industry gathered outside the hospital to mourn his death. They had been praying for his recovery and had organised an Akhand Path until yesterday.

Singer Kanwar Grewal, Resham Anmol, actor BN Sharma, Malkiat Rouni, Harf Cheema, Karamjit Anmol and singer Rupinder Handa were among those present.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed condolences on X, saying, “The star of the Punjabi music world has vanished forever... May Waheguru grant the departed soul a place at His feet and give strength to his family and fans to bear the grief.”

Punjabi singer Harbhajan Mann and actor Neeru Bajwa also posted condolences online. Other dignitaries, including Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang, Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Punjab AAP in-charge Manish Sisodia and Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Warring, too paid their respects.

Friends at the hospital recalled that Jawanda began performing during his school days at Sanmati Senior Secondary School. He completed his senior secondary education at a convent school in Sidhwan and graduated from Lajpat Rai Memorial College in Jagraon. After serving in the wireless wing of the Punjab Police for some time, he focused entirely on his music career.

The accident took place when stray cattle blocked his path near Baddi as he and his five friends were heading to Shimla on bikes. Despite wearing protective gear, including a helmet, he suffered serious injuries. He was rushed to a hospital in Solan, where he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was then taken to the Mohali hospital.