(Blurb) Barnala youth was trying to save Amritsar man who fell into Montreal’s Lachine canal, say kin
Two youths from Punjab drowned in the Lachine canal in Montreal, Canada, last week. They have been identified as Lovepreet Singh, 26, a resident of Tapa Mandi town in Barnala district, and Jugraj Singh, 23, hailing from Naurangpur Patti of Butala village in Baba Bakala Sahib subdivision of Amritsar.
Jugraj’s family said he went to a lakeside with his friends in Montreal. While taking a selfie, he slipped and fell into the canal. According to Lovepreet Singh’s family, he tried to save him but couldn’t, and both drowned eventually.
A graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, Jugraj moved to Canada in August 2023. He initially worked for a company in Brampton before moving to Montreal. His parents Sukhraj Singh and Jaswant Kaur were inconsolable. His younger brother Jashanpreet Singh (20) lives in Dubai.
Jugraj’s uncle Mandeep Singh, grandmother Manjit Kaur and aunt Sukhwinder Kaur said the family had sent him to Canada with hopes of a bright future, never imagining that this would be his fate. The death has plunged Butala village into mourning.
In Barnala, the family of Lovepreet Singh said he went abroad on a work permit around 2.5 years ago. He was working there as a truck driver. His father Balveer Singh said the family received information about his drowning on Saturday. “He was trying to pull his friend out of the canal when both drowned,” he said. The family had even sold its land to arrange ₹29 lakh to send Lovepreet abroad, Balveer Singh added.
{{/usCountry}}In Barnala, the family of Lovepreet Singh said he went abroad on a work permit around 2.5 years ago. He was working there as a truck driver. His father Balveer Singh said the family received information about his drowning on Saturday. “He was trying to pull his friend out of the canal when both drowned,” he said. The family had even sold its land to arrange ₹29 lakh to send Lovepreet abroad, Balveer Singh added.
{{/usCountry}}Both families appealed to the central government and the Punjab government, along with the Indian diaspora and social organisations abroad, for assistance in bringing the mortal remains to India.
According to Canadian media reports, emergency services personnel recovered the bodies after several hours. The bodies were taken to a nearby hospital, where the victims were declared dead.