A couple's 64-year love story remembered after tragic north Edmonton fire

"If there was ever a definition of love, I think you would see my grandparents names and picture underneath that definition"

Surinderjit Kaur Bhandal and Major Singh Bhandal died together in a north Edmonton apartment fire on Monday, bringing an end to a 64-year love story, a romance their family says was worthy of the type you’d find in a Bollywood movie. “You’d never see one without the other. They were best friends.

The love and care they shared between them — it was incredible to see love last that long. It was genuine,” grandson Lali Toor told Postmedia over the phone on Thursday. “If there was ever a definition of love, I think you would see my grandparents’ names and picture underneath that definition.”

The Bhandals lived in the apartment condo building at the corner of 132 Avenue and 82 Street, where a car lost control and crashed into the back of it. A main gas line was struck as a result of the collision, causing a large fire and explosion. ‘Gut feeling’ Toor was driving home from a family dinner on the north side of the city when he received a text from his wife about a fire in the area.

“I had to go see. I had this gut feeling,” recalled Toor. “When I got there, I lost my mind.

I literally just parked my car in the middle of the road and ran as fast I could. I was just panicking. “The flames wouldn’t stop.

I had never seen fire like that ... it destroyed everything.” Toor said he ran back to his vehicle and moved it away from traffic.

When Toor returned to the scene, he saw paramedics administering CPR on an elderly man — not realizing at first that it was his grandfather, because he didn’t have his turban on. “I watched him die right in front of my eyes — it was devastating,” said Toor. Toor said reports of his grandfather jumping from the burning building are false.

He said both of his grandparents were trying to escape together from their apartment window. “My grandfather had taken his turban off, and my grandmother took her head scarf off, and they were trying to make a rope to climb down,” said Toor. “My grandmother knew my grandfather had a hard time walking, so she probably told him to go first and assisted him, and we think his hand slipped or the rope ripped, but they were both working together until the end to get out.

“Our family is devastated, and how they died was tragic, but I want my grandparents to be remembered for the legacy they left behind. I don’t want this tragedy to overshadow the beautiful life they shared.” Toor said his grandparents had a unique love story.

His grandmother was a “city girl” born and raised in Mumbai, India. She went to an English-speaking school and had a love for politics. His grandfather was a “farm boy” and grew up in a small village in India.

‘Intertwined with their lives’ The two may have come from two completely different backgrounds, but when they met, they were inseparable. “You would never see one without the other. Talking with my mom (Thursday), she (said), ‘maybe God wanted them to leave together because they were always intertwined with their lives,'” said Toor.

“Just for them to create an understanding of one another, and to see how long their love grew and lasted. It was magical.” His grandparents moved to Canada to be closer to family over 30 years ago, where they continued to work and be active members of the Sikh community in Edmonton.

They were also involved with the Gurdwara Sikh Society on St. Albert Trail. His grandfather worked as a truck driver in Edmonton, while his grandmother worked on farms during the summers. “They were really well known for building really good relationships with people, and helping anyone in need, and I think a lot became ingrained within our family,” said Toor.

Toor said his grandparents always showed their love, respect and admiration for one another. He said his grandfather was chivalrous in nature, and his grandmother always looked out and took care of him. “My wife and I got married last year, and my grandfather brought the car right to the front of the temple, and he’d got out slowly and walked around to her side and opened the door for her, and they were so happy,” said Toor.

“They loved their independence. It was their pride and joy.” Family was everything to the Bhandals.

They loved spending time with their daughter, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and Toor said it’s heartbreaking to lose them, but his grandparents left a lasting impact. “Losing them is going to be incredibly difficult for our family. It’s going to be hard ...

but we as a family will never forget them.” Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber.

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