Five Indo-Canadians die in accident, funeral Friday

The funeral of five members of an Indo-Canadian family who were killed in a horrific road accident April 28 in Surrey, British Columbia, will be held Friday.

Indo-Canadian businessman Jolly Sachdeva, hailing from Bathinda in Punjab, lost his wife Reena Arjot, son Aanish, daughter Jessica, mother Vidya Wanti Sachdev and sister Neelam Rani Dhingra when a Dodge Caravan smashed into the Toyota Corolla they were travelling in at an intersection.

The impact of the crash - the result of the Dodge driver running a red light - was such that the Toyota was torn into two halves.

The funeral service, according to a cousin, will be held at Riverside Funeral Home and Crematorium at Delta Friday morning, the Vancouver Desi newspaper reported.

Sachdeva runs a popular lunchtime eatery, Sachdeva Sweets and Restaurant, in Surrey.

The family members were returning home from a religious service when the accident took place.

The 46-year-old driver of the Dodge Caravan is said to be in hospital in a stable condition.

The news of the accident has cast a pall of gloom among the large Indo-Canadian community in Surrey.