In the blast, six other adults and two children present in the house escaped unhurt.
ABBOTSFORD – Jasmel Singh, a native of Nabha in Punjab, staying at Abottsford in Canada was killed in a massive blast at his house on Thursday evening.
Singh’s family had settled in Canada for 30 years and was preparing for the wedding of Jasmel’s younger daughter on August 18.
Jasmel was father-in-law of Nabha, Punjab municipal councillor, Bablu Khora.
In the blast, six other adults and two children present in the house escaped unhurt.
“The family had organised a religious ceremony that day and after its completion, my father-in-law had gone to the garage when the blast occurred,” said Khora.
Canadian media reports said that the house was ablaze when rescue teams and police reached the spot. “Reasons behind the blast are under investigation,” the Canadian media reported.
Khora added that the gifts and other goods, including jewellery, to be presented to the girl were also gutted. The family suspects a cylinder blast, as sweets were being prepared.
Jasmel’s elder daughter, Kirandeep Kaur, requested both the Indian and Canadian governments to help in expeditious issue of visas to family members so that they could participate in the last rites of her father in Canada.
The incident happened just after 4:15 p.m. last Thursday on Ponderosa Street in Abbotsford.
Police say six adults and two children were able to escape the house, which Sgt. Judy Bird says was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived on the scene.
Bird says the investigation is in its early stages and the cause of the explosion and fire is not yet known.
