Villagers devastated, eight of the nine missing in 13-26 age group
Friday, 04/10/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131004/punjab.htm#1
Kabirpur : The boat tragedy in which nine persons from Munda village near here are feared drowned in the Beas has left the residents devastated. The fact that eight of the missing are in the youthful age of 13 to 26 years — some were the only sons in their family — has further left them shattered.
The tragedy dealt a severe blow to Mangal Singh, who lost his third son Kanwaljit Singh. An emotionally Mangal Singh has now been left to relive the horror of losing his other two sons earlier.
Another villager, Ranjit Singh, who had his two nephews in the ill-fated boat, says, “Daljit Singh managed to swim to safety, but Harpreet Singh perhaps was not that lucky. The boys had plans to stay back tonight, take a holy dip at the shrine of Bhai Lalo Ji in Dalla village (Sultanpur Lodhi) tomorrow and return by the evening. But, destiny had something else in store.”
Jasbir Singh and Harpreet Singh, the youngest among the victims, were both Class VII students. The poor family members, all of whom are into cultivation, said they had been hoping for better prospects with their sons taking to higher studies. A disillusioned Gurdayal Singh, father of Jagroop Singh who had just completed his B.Tech, says it’s just not possible for him to face the reality.
Rescue op begins late
Quick response teams (with boats and other paraphernalia) from Tarn Taran and Kapurthala districts (the site is located on the border) were nowhere to be seen till the afternoon even though the mishap occurred around 9 am.
Feared drowned
Jasbir Singh (13)
Happy (15)
Hardev Singh (18)
Kanwaljit Singh (20)
Harpreet Singh (22)
Wassan Singh (23)
Jugraj Singh (23)
Hardev Singh (26)
Bachan Singh (75)
