Ludhiana man can’t join brother’s funeral in England

Shariq Majeed | TNN | May 4, 2020, 07:34 IST

Ludhiana: An elderly NRI of Sujapur village near Jagraon cannot attend the last rites of his younger brother, head of baggage department with an airline at Heathrow Airport, who died of Covid-19 recently.
Mahinder Singh Hans, 66, who had migrated to England 44 years back, lived with his family — wife Satpinder Kaur, two married sons Karamjit Singh and Amarjit Singh, four grandchildren and daughters-in-law — in Heston of England.
Talking to TOI, Paramjit Singh Haans said he and his wife are permanent residents of Canada. Forty-four years ago, his younger brother had gone to England where in November 1975 he got married. His brother worked as a supervisor in a food factory for eight years and later in September 1985, he joined British Airways and started working in their baggage department at the Heathrow Airport.
“My brother had come to India for two weeks as he had heard about I had suffered a heart attack and also attended a marriage. On March 9, he left for England. On March 18, he had fever and cough and was taken to hospital, but there was no space, so he was advised to remain at home. After two weeks, he was taken again to the hospital where the authorities after checking his blood pressure and sugar levels told him to go back to his place and come if there is more problem,” said elder brother of deceased, who is retired political science lecturer.
“After his condition deteriorated, he was taken to Hospital where he underwent treatment for a month before breathing his last on Friday morning,” he added.
In a state of shock, the elder sibling of the deceased, who is a heart patient, said he wants to go for the last rites of his brother, but there are no flights. He said owing to the rush for cremation, his brother would be cremated on May 13 and only seven persons including the family and relatives would be present.
“My brother was a Kabaddi player and was into weight lifting when he was here. He went to England after completing his BA. It is a great loss for our family. I can’t believe that my brother is no more,” said Paramjit Singh Hans. He has one more brother Jagjit Singh Hans.