A wave of grief has swept through the small village of Maseetan in the Sultanpur Lodhi subdivision of Kapurthala district, following the tragic death of a young local man in the United States. Sahilpreet Singh, 21, drowned in a swimming pool in Florida while attempting to save a friend, who also perished in the incident.
Sahilpreet, affectionately known as Sahil, had emigrated to the United States a few years ago in search of a better life. The eldest of three siblings, he quickly became the primary breadwinner for his family after the death of their father in 2017. His untimely demise has left his family devastated and the entire village mourning the loss of a promising young man.
According to family members, Sahil and a fellow Punjabi friend had gone to a swimming pool in Florida to celebrate the friend’s recent achievement of permanent U.S. citizenship. The celebration took a tragic turn when Sahil’s friend slipped into the deeper part of the pool. In a heroic attempt to save him, Sahil also got into difficulty, and tragically, both young men drowned.
Sahil had been working at a store in Florida and was described by his younger brother, Manjodh Singh, as the pillar of the family. “Our entire family depended on him,” Manjodh said, his voice heavy with grief. “He was doing well in his job and was our hope for a better future. We have appealed to the government for help in bringing his body back home.”
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the family has sought assistance from environmentalist and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Balbir Singh Seechewal, to expedite the process of repatriating Sahil’s body to India.
As the village of Maseetan grapples with the shock of this sudden loss, the community stands in solidarity with Sahil’s family, offering prayers and support during this difficult time. The loss of such a young life, especially one who was so central to his family’s well-being, has cast a long shadow over the village, a reminder of the unpredictability of life and the depths of human courage.
