Uttarakhand tragedy: Residents pray for well-being of kin

Lovleen Bains

Doraha, February 9

Four persons, three of them married, of Purba village in Samrala, working at the NTPC’s under-construction project on Dhauli Ganga river near Tapovan are missing ever since the portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Sunday.

While two out of the total six have been traced, four are still reported to be missing. They have been identified as Sukhwinder Singh, son of Ram Asra, Sukhwinder Singh, son of Jawala Singh, Kewal Singh and Kulvir Singh.

Kewal Singh (42) is the only breadwinner for his family. His two daughters and a son are all too small to manage on their own. Similarly, Sukhwinder Singh, son of Ram Asra (42), whose parents are no more, has only his wife and three children left behind. Another Sukwinder Singh’s (30) only son became bed-ridden as he fell from the terrace six months ago. The fourth one Kulvir Singh (26) is unmarried.

Kulwinder Kaur, wife of the missing Sukhwinder Singh, uttered in a feeble voice, “Our only son fell from terrace six months ago and is on the bed ever since. My husband is the only one to fetch for us. All our savings have been exhausted on the treatment of our son. Now, we are left with simply nothing. The tragedy that occurred on Sunday has shattered us completely. My husband is still untraced. I and my son are praying day in and day out for his safe return.”

Kewal, who has his wife and three children left behind, too is shattered. “My father was the only one who earned for us. Our father has still not been traced. We are spending sleepless nights. We earnestly urge upon the administration to trace them at the earliest,” uttered the wailing daughter of Kewal.

With a marriageable son and daughters at home, Sukhwinder’s wife too is completely heartbroken. “We are glued to TV screens. The almighty cannot be so cruel to us. He will sure bring my father home, safe and sound,” said the hopeful son of Sukhwinder.

Chairman, Block Samiti, Samrala, Ajmer Singh, who is a resident of Purba village, said most of the villagers of Purba were hired by contractors for the construction of dams in Rajasthan, Bhutan, Chennai, Uttarakhand, etc. “A total of 6 residents of village Purba had gone to work at NTPC’s under-construction project out of which four are still missing. All the four are the only bread winners in their families. We have asked the government to act fast on this issue.”

MLA Samrala Amrik Singh Dhillon assured every possible support from the government.

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