The man who was killed in a three-car crash near Auckland Airport earlier this week was 45-year-old Arvind Kumar. He was in the vehicle with his wife, Jasoda Goundar when the crash occurred.
“We had a service for Kumar in Auckland on Friday night, and about 600 people came to the service in Fiji on Sunday, so he must have been a nice person,” Sam Achary from Auckland Indian Funeral Home told The Indian Weekender.
Kumar died on George Bolt Memorial Drive, the main road leading to the airport, resulting in a temporary closure.
His wife, Jasoda Goundar remained in a serious condition at Middlemore Hospital.
“The community came together to help with expenses and the repatriation of the body back to Fiji on Sunday,” Achary added.
The Indian Weekender also reached out to the family. Kumar’s brother-in-law confirmed that the funeral is taking place today in Fiji but requested privacy during this difficult time.
Kumar was remembered on Fijian community Facebook pages as a devoted and deeply religious man.
“He was the beloved son of Mr & Mrs Muttu Sami Dadua of Lauwaki Settlement, Lautoka.” Friends described him as “the charming & loving” husband of Jasoda Goundar.
Another tribute read, “Rest in Peace my dear bro ... will be missed by all families and friends.”