The news of the death of an Indian man in a multi-vehicle crash on SH1 in South Waikato on 9 February has left the community in shock and grief.
The crash at Lichfield, south of Putaruru, that involved a car, a campervan, and a milk tanker, was reported to emergency services just after 9.20 pm on Wednesday.
The Indian Weekender has reliably learned from community sources (including several local ethnic publications) that the man involved in this fatal accident was 26-year-old Nirmaljit Singh, an Indian citizen
Nirmaljit Singh came to New Zealand in 2015 on a student visa and was currently holding a work visa. He was employed as a farmworker in Putaruru.
The Uttar Pradesh-based Nirmaljit was the only son of his parents – father Harvinder Singh and mother Davinder Kaur – who live in India.
When contacted by the Indian Weekender, Nirmaljit’s father broke down. Remembering his departed son he said, “Our lives are shattered. He was our everything. I last met him in 2017. He wanted to come India but could not. I request the authorities to send his body back so that we can do his last rites as per our rituals in India [translated from Hindi].”
He also has a younger sister Navneet Kaur, who lives in Brisbane, Australia.
When contacted by the Indian Weekender, an emotional Navneet said amidst tears, “He was so excited to lodge his residency in March. I can’t believe that he is no more there in this world. We are working to repatriate his body to India and are in touch with the Indian authorities.”
Nirmaljit’s Auckland-based friend Taran Cheema remembered him as a humble and loving young man. “It is very shocking news for everyone who knew him. He was [a] very humble and loving person. I have all great memories of him. The family is really devastated by the news. We hope his mortal remains can be sent back to India at the earliest.”
Honorary Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon informed Indian Weekender that he is following up the matter with all concerned people.
“We are with the family in this hour of grief and will make sure to provide all the necessary support to make sure that the wishes of the family are fulfilled,” he said.
