New Zealand crash: Newlywed Punjab couple, relative killed on Diwali night

Auckland. Three Punjabis died when their car slammed into a burger restaurant in South Auckland, New Zealand, minutes after they left Diwali prayers at a gurdwara. Two of them had been married only six months.

The victims are Sukhdeep Singh, 33, of Goniana Khurd village in Bathinda, his wife Sukhvir Kaur, 29, of Rauke Kalan village in Moga, and their brother-in-law Gurpreet Singh, 38, also from Bathinda district. The Central Sikh Association and Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand confirmed who they were.

The crash happened around 10.15 pm on Sunday, November 8, on Great South Road in Takanini. The car lost control at a roundabout, left the road, broke through a fence and ploughed into a BurgerFuel outlet. Police said all three were declared dead on the spot. No one inside the restaurant was hurt.

New Zealand broadcaster RNZ reported that the car was believed to be going faster than 150 kmph. The police Serious Crash Unit is looking into the cause. Police said the car had not been reported stolen and officers were not chasing it.

Sukhvir had reached New Zealand only a few months ago to join her husband. Sukhdeep was driving. He had lived there for more than seven years and ran his own courier business. Gurpreet had moved about three years ago and drove an NZ Post courier van. The three shared a home in South Auckland.

They had just left Diwali celebrations at a gurdwara in Manurewa, said Daljit Singh, president of the two Sikh bodies. “They are in great shock,” he said of the families.

One family back home still does not know. Gurpreet’s parents have not been told he has died. “Only his brothers know that he has died,” Daljit Singh said. The brothers want to wait until the return of his body is confirmed.

The three victims’ relatives live in India and Canada. “They don’t have family here in New Zealand, but they have a wider family of friends,” he said.

Friends have started a Givealittle fundraiser called “Help three souls return home” to fly the bodies to Punjab. Community leaders put the cost at NZ$40,000 to NZ$50,000. That covers embalming, paperwork, coffins and transport.

Under a provisional plan, the bodies may be released on Friday, with an ardas at South Auckland Funeral Services on Monday. They are due to leave for India on Tuesday, November 17. Daljit Singh said these dates could change.