An Indian worker who moved to New Zealand only around six months ago has died in a serious road crash near Queenstown, leaving his family in Jammu facing the difficult task of bringing his remains home for his final rites.
Sandesh Singh died in a single-vehicle crash at Kawarau Falls in New Zealand’s South Island during the early hours of Sunday, October 4. Emergency services were called to State Highway 6, also known as Kingston Road, between Peninsula Road and Boyd Road at approximately 3.54am.
Four people were travelling in the vehicle when the crash occurred. Police confirmed that Singh died at the scene, while the three other occupants were injured. Two of those injured were reported to have suffered serious injuries, with one person in a critical condition.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews from Frankton and Queenstown attended the incident, with several people requiring assistance to be removed from the damaged vehicle. A second Queenstown crew brought cutting equipment to assist emergency responders at the scene.
The circumstances that led to the crash have not yet been established publicly. Police’s Serious Crash Unit is investigating the incident, and the exact cause remains unconfirmed. Temporary road restrictions were expected while investigators examined the scene and gathered information about the collision.
Singh had arrived in New Zealand on a work visa approximately six months earlier. He was living in Queenstown and working for a commercial cleaning company, having travelled from Jammu with the hope of building a better future and supporting his family back in India.
His sudden death has left relatives and friends thousands of kilometres away from where the tragedy occurred. His family in Jammu is now seeking to bring his body back to India so they can conduct his final rites surrounded by loved ones.
A Givealittle fundraising appeal has been established by Singh’s close friend Surinder Singh to help meet the costs associated with bringing his remains home. Surinder said the two men had studied together in India and had known each other for around a decade before both eventually lived in Queenstown.
According to the fundraising appeal, the money raised will help cover repatriation expenses, documentation, funeral arrangements and other costs connected with returning Singh to Jammu. Any funds remaining after those expenses are expected to be provided to his mother to support her following the loss.
The appeal describes Singh as a young man who travelled to New Zealand with the intention of working hard, improving his circumstances and helping his family. His death, only months after his arrival, has left those close to him arranging his final journey home while dealing with the shock of his sudden passing.
The tragedy has also drawn attention to the challenges families can face when a loved one dies overseas. In Singh’s case, his relatives in India must navigate the practical and financial arrangements involved in international repatriation while mourning their loss from afar.
As the investigation continues, authorities are yet to publicly determine what caused the vehicle to crash. For Singh’s family and friends, the immediate priority remains bringing him back to Jammu and ensuring he can receive his final rites surrounded by his loved ones.
