The Indian community in Queensland is mourning the loss of a young Punjabi farm worker who was killed while at work in the north of the state.
25-year-old Jatinder Singh Sachdeva was working at a banana farm in Innisfail when his tractor rolled over and he was crushed under it on Tuesday afternoon. He died on the spot.
Originally from Faridkot district in Punjab, Mr Sachdeva came to Australia with his wife, Amandeep Kaur nearly three years ago on a student visa. He was working at a farm of an Indian farmer- Onkar Singh, as a tractor operator.
On Thursday, his body was released from the Cairns Base Hospital after a postmortem examination and has been handed over to the funeral director.
The body will be repatriated to India for his last rites in his village in Punjab.
Jatinder Singh Sachdeva Source: Supplied
Manjit Boparai, an Indian migrant in Brisbane is arranging for the transportation of Mr Sachdeva’s dead boy to India.
He said the local Indian community in Innisfail is heartbroken at his death.
“His wife still can’t believe what has happened, and we can’t even imagine what his parents back home would be going through having lost their only son,” he told SBS Punjabi.
Mr Boparai said Mr Sachdeva was trying to negotiate a steep incline when the tractor overturned.
“It breaks my heart to see such a young person leave in this way. I can only request all those working in such jobs to be extremely cautious,” he said.
Work Cover Queensland is investigating the incident in conjunction with the police and will prepare a report for the coroner.
