He Was My Support System, Says Brother of Man Who Died on Road
What was to be a day of celebration turned to sadness after a man, who was travelling with his family to attend a wedding, became the latest victim on our roads.
The late Umeshwar Prakash, 48, from Sawani, Naitasiri, was described by his brother as his main “support system”.
He was travelling to Rakiraki with his wife, daughter and four others when the vehicle veered off the road.
A statement from Police said a 24-year-old woman allegedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and land in a creek.
Mr Prakash’s brother, Arvind Sharma, said he did not think Friday night would be the last day talking to his brother.
“He was not only a brother, he was my support system,” Mr Sharma said.
“We lived together in the same house, all our lives. We are 10 siblings in total, but he and I have always stayed together.”
He said he had called Mr Prakash’s phone on Saturday morning to talk to his niece. But a Police officer answered and informed him of the tragic news.
“My brother was a cheerful person and he talked very loudly so if he is not around, we feel it.
“He would tease everyone at home, my two kids are so attached
to him.”
The post-mortem is expected to be held today, but the family is yet to decide on the funeral as they wait for Mr Prakash’s wife and the daughter to recover.
“My relatives were telling me that both my niece and her mum keep asking for my brother at the hospital. It is heartbreaking,” he said. “I had asked my brother to leave the kids here with me, but my little niece, Shristi, cannot stay away from her father, so they took her with them.
“She was so happy that day, she calls me kaku (uncle), I am just praying for them to recover,” he said. Edited by Ranoba Baoa