Sunday, July 5, 2020

Peshawar :Day later of Big Tragedy, Tiny Sikh community in Pakistan Mourns a Sea of Loss


People of Sikh community mourn around the caskets of their family members, who were killed in the Friday’s accident, in Peshawar 

At least 22 people, including 20 Sikhs were killed when the driver of a coaster bus they were travelling in reportedly tried to take a shortcut to avoid a railway crossing and rammed the vehicle into a passenger train near Farooqabad in Sheikhupura of Punjab province.

A group of 25 members of Sikh community had started from Nankana Sahib on Friday for Peshawar after attending the antim ardas (prayer meet) of a person from the community who had died of Coronavirus a month ago.Only five of them reached back home.

At least 22 people, including 20 Sikhs – nine men, 10 women and a child – were killed when the driver of a coaster bus they were travelling in reportedly tried to take a shortcut to avoid a railway crossing and rammed the vehicle into a passenger train near Farooqabad in Sheikhupura of Punjab province. The bus had 27 people on board.

A day later, the tiny Sikh community in Pakistan is yet to come to terms with the loss. Most families affected by the accident lost more than one member.

The bodies reached Preshawar early on Saturday. Amidst recital of prayers, the last rites were performed at a cremation center in Attock.

Speaking to The Sunday Express over phone from Peshawar, Gurmeet Singh, who lost six members of his family, said they were yet to come to terms with tragedy. “My parents are gone. My uncles are gone. He was shattered

Imran Gondal, deputy secretary (shrines), Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETBP), said that a “compensation of Rs 1 lakh for each deceased’s family has been announced”.

The Sikh organisations working worldwide need to step up to help these families.”



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