Three Punjabi family members killed in Takanini Diwali night crash identified; fundraiser launched
A newlywed Punjabi couple and the woman's brother-in-law have been identified by community leader Daljit Singh as the three people killed when their car crashed into a BurgerFuel restaurant in Takanini on Diwali night, leaving their families in Punjab and the wider New Zealand Indian community devastated.
The victims have been identified as Sukhdeep Singh, 33, his wife Sukhvir Kaur, 29, and their brother-in-law, Gurpreet Singh, 38.
Their bodies are expected to be repatriated to India, with the community organising a fundraiser to support the families.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Daljit Singh confirmed that the three were originally from Punjab, India.
The fatal crash occurred at around 10.15pm on Sunday, November 8, on Great South Road in Takanini, when the vehicle left the road and crashed into the BurgerFuel restaurant.
According to Singh, the trio had been returning from a Sikh temple
New Zealand Police confirmed that all three occupants of the vehicle died at the scene. No one inside the building was injured.
The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing. Police had earlier said formal identification processes were underway.
Who were the three victims?
Sharing details of the deceased with The Indian Weekender, Singh said the three victims belonged to families from different parts of Punjab.
Sukhdeep Singh, 33, was originally from Goniana Khurd in Bathinda district, Punjab. He had been living in New Zealand for more than seven years and was running an NZ Post courier business.
His wife, Sukhvir Kaur, 29, was from Rauke Kalan in Moga district, Punjab.
The third victim, Gurpreet Singh, 38, was their brother-in-law and a relative of the couple. He was originally from Har Rai Pur in Bathinda district, Punjab, and had been living in New Zealand for around three years. He was also working as an NZ Post courier van driver.
The sudden loss of the three family members has left their relatives, friends and the wider Punjabi community devastated.
Bodies to be repatriated to India
Singh said the families had expressed their wish to have all three bodies returned to India for their final rites.
Community representatives are in contact with the families and are assisting with the necessary arrangements.
Providing an update on the arrangements, Singh told The Indian Weekender that the bodies were expected to be released following the completion of the required processes.
He said the release of the bodies was most likely to take place on Friday, November 13, subject to the completion of formalities.
According to the tentative arrangements shared by Singh, Monday, is expected to involve washing and prayers, followed by an Ardas (Sikh prayer) at South Auckland Funeral Services.
Arrangements for their return to India are tentatively planned for Tuesday, November 17.
Singh stressed that these arrangements were provisional and could change depending on the completion of the necessary processes.
Community comes together to support grieving families
Meanwhile, a group of friends and members of the wider community have come together to organise a fundraiser to help the families bring their loved ones home.
The fundraising appeal says the money raised will go towards the costs of repatriating the three bodies to India, along with providing some financial assistance to their grieving families.
"We are a group of friends coming together during a heartbreaking time to support the families of three beautiful souls who tragically lost their lives in New Zealand in car crash at takanini during diwali festival after visiting sikh temple," the Givealittle page mentioned.
The community is hoping for support from people across New Zealand and beyond to help ease the financial burden on the families as they deal with the loss.
Sikh community extends condolences
In an earlier statement following the tragedy, the Supreme Sikh Society and Central Sikh Association had expressed their condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.
"We are sharing deeply heartbreaking news for the community," the statement said.
"On behalf of the community, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this time of grief. Once the police investigation is complete, the community will be asked for assistance," the statement said.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Auckland's Punjabi community, with friends and community members rallying around those affected and helping coordinate the arrangements.
A newlywed Punjabi couple and the woman's brother-in-law have been identified by community leader Daljit Singh as the three people killed when their car crashed into a BurgerFuel restaurant in Takanini on Diwali night, leaving their families in Punjab and the wider New Zealand Indian community...
A newlywed Punjabi couple and the woman's brother-in-law have been identified by community leader Daljit Singh as the three people killed when their car crashed into a BurgerFuel restaurant in Takanini on Diwali night, leaving their families in Punjab and the wider New Zealand Indian community devastated.
The victims have been identified as Sukhdeep Singh, 33, his wife Sukhvir Kaur, 29, and their brother-in-law, Gurpreet Singh, 38.
Their bodies are expected to be repatriated to India, with the community organising a fundraiser to support the families.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Daljit Singh confirmed that the three were originally from Punjab, India.
The fatal crash occurred at around 10.15pm on Sunday, November 8, on Great South Road in Takanini, when the vehicle left the road and crashed into the BurgerFuel restaurant.
According to Singh, the trio had been returning from a Sikh temple
New Zealand Police confirmed that all three occupants of the vehicle died at the scene. No one inside the building was injured.
The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing. Police had earlier said formal identification processes were underway.
Who were the three victims?
Sharing details of the deceased with The Indian Weekender, Singh said the three victims belonged to families from different parts of Punjab.
Sukhdeep Singh, 33, was originally from Goniana Khurd in Bathinda district, Punjab. He had been living in New Zealand for more than seven years and was running an NZ Post courier business.
His wife, Sukhvir Kaur, 29, was from Rauke Kalan in Moga district, Punjab.
The third victim, Gurpreet Singh, 38, was their brother-in-law and a relative of the couple. He was originally from Har Rai Pur in Bathinda district, Punjab, and had been living in New Zealand for around three years. He was also working as an NZ Post courier van driver.
The sudden loss of the three family members has left their relatives, friends and the wider Punjabi community devastated.
Bodies to be repatriated to India
Singh said the families had expressed their wish to have all three bodies returned to India for their final rites.
Community representatives are in contact with the families and are assisting with the necessary arrangements.
Providing an update on the arrangements, Singh told The Indian Weekender that the bodies were expected to be released following the completion of the required processes.
He said the release of the bodies was most likely to take place on Friday, November 13, subject to the completion of formalities.
According to the tentative arrangements shared by Singh, Monday, is expected to involve washing and prayers, followed by an Ardas (Sikh prayer) at South Auckland Funeral Services.
Arrangements for their return to India are tentatively planned for Tuesday, November 17.
Singh stressed that these arrangements were provisional and could change depending on the completion of the necessary processes.
Community comes together to support grieving families
Meanwhile, a group of friends and members of the wider community have come together to organise a fundraiser to help the families bring their loved ones home.
The fundraising appeal says the money raised will go towards the costs of repatriating the three bodies to India, along with providing some financial assistance to their grieving families.
"We are a group of friends coming together during a heartbreaking time to support the families of three beautiful souls who tragically lost their lives in New Zealand in car crash at takanini during diwali festival after visiting sikh temple," the Givealittle page mentioned.
The community is hoping for support from people across New Zealand and beyond to help ease the financial burden on the families as they deal with the loss.
Sikh community extends condolences
In an earlier statement following the tragedy, the Supreme Sikh Society and Central Sikh Association had expressed their condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.
"We are sharing deeply heartbreaking news for the community," the statement said.
"On behalf of the community, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this time of grief. Once the police investigation is complete, the community will be asked for assistance," the statement said.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Auckland's Punjabi community, with friends and community members rallying around those affected and helping coordinate the arrangements.
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