‘There is a power cut in the area… I will call you next morning’: Death of chef-cum-cashier in Georgia leaves family grieving

During a video call with Kanchan and their children, Kumar Ravinder spoke about a powerful snowstorm and a power outage in his area. (Express photo by Anju Agnihotri Chaba)

Ravinder, originally from Abadi Kot Ram Das in Jalandhar, left India eight years ago in search of a brighter future. Initially, he moved to Dubai and spent five years there, but after falling victim to a fraudulent travel agent, he was burdened with significant debt, which prevented him from returning home.

Determined to provide for his family, he moved to Georgia, and started working as a chef. Despite the physical distance, Kumar remained steadfast in supporting his family both financially and emotionally.

Tragically, his death came just hours after a phone call with his family. During a video call with Kanchan and their children, Kumar Ravinder spoke about a powerful snowstorm and a power outage in his area. He promised to call again the next morning—a call that would never come. His sudden passing has left his wife and children devastated, struggling to cope with the loss of a man who worked tirelessly to ensure their well-being, even from thousands of miles away.

“My Papa had two phones, and he was sitting on a sofa while talking to us on Friday night. On the other phone, he was telling someone that a very strong snowstorm had hit the area, uprooting all the poles and causing a blackout,” said Harshita Pal (11), the couple’s eldest daughter.

“He always said that he would come to take us along, and my mummy was trying to get our passports made,” added Harshita, who was just three when her father left.

Recounting her final conversation with Ravinder, Kanchan said, “When we spoke on Friday, he sounded scared. The storm had caused a complete blackout in his area. He kept saying he would call me the next morning, but I never heard from him again. He wanted to visit us but he could not because he was saving for our future. I now face an uncertain future. Our three children, including a seven-year-old son whom Kumar never had the chance to meet in person, are left without any primary source of income. The children, who are currently enrolled in Kendriya Vidyalaya, face the prospect of losing their education without financial support. I am now alone, struggling to care for my children,” pleaded Kanchan, as she sought government assistance to ensure her children’s education continues.

“It seems my husband died soon after his call to us on Friday because he was found sitting in the same position the next morning. Eyewitnesses told me he was found dead with the phone still in his hand, sitting upright,” said Kanchan, adding that she wants his body to be brought back home so that his son can see his father physically at least once.

Neelam Kumari, Kanchan’s sister, spoke with deep emotion about the hardships the family has endured. “I have seen my sister struggle her entire life. When Ravinder was in India, he ran a grocery shop and supported his entire joint family. But with the weight of his debts, he had no choice but to leave for Dubai, and later Georgia. He worked hard, but it was never easy,” she shared. Neelam also recalled how the family often went to bed hungry, a memory that still lingers on her mind.

“Not only should his body be brought back, but we also request that his family be looked after,” Neelam said. “Kanchan should be given a job to support her children, and their education should be taken care of. It’s the least the government can do after all the sacrifices Ravinder made for his family.”