A young man from Punjab's Barnala district has died unexpectedly in Canada, leaving his family devastated and seeking assistance to bring his body back to India.
Tragedy Strikes a Struggling Family
Baltej Singh, a 24-year-old from Chhiniwal village in Barnala, passed away due to a cardiac arrest in Surrey, Canada. He was the only son of a small-scale farmer family. Baltej had moved to Canada on a study visa two years ago, in December 2023, with dreams of building a better future.
His father, Jagtar Singh, worked as a conductor for a private bus company to supplement the family's income from their modest two-acre landholding, which they had leased out. Former sarpanch of Chhiniwal village, Nirmal Singh, confirmed that the family, being marginal farmers, had taken loans to send their sole son abroad for studies.
The Fateful Day and Plea for Help
The tragic news reached the family on December 27. Baltej's colleagues in Canada informed them that when they tried to wake him up, he did not respond. The young man was pronounced dead, with the cause identified as cardiac arrest.
Now, the grieving family faces another immense challenge. Having invested all their resources and taken debt to send Baltej abroad, they lack the financial means to repatriate his mortal remains. The villagers have collectively urged the Punjab state government to intervene and assist in bringing Baltej's body back to his native village.
A Community in Mourning
This incident has cast a shadow over Chhiniwal village, highlighting the struggles and immense sacrifices made by countless Indian families who send their children overseas for better opportunities. The death of a young life full of promise has raised concerns and left a community in profound sorrow, rallying to support one of their own in a time of dire need.
