Members of Calgary’s Indian community are helping support the wife and children of a man who died when his vehicle collided with a snowplow last week.
Ramesh Chauhan moved to Calgary from India a year ago. He moved from Uttarakhand in Northern India, where he grew up surrounded by the Himalayan mountains and developed a passion for cooking.
He came to Calgary with his wife and two children and was just starting a new life in Canada.
The family’s dreams were shattered on the evening of Jan. 12. Ramesh was driving home from work when he lost control of his Jeep on a corner on Westwinds Drive.
The Jeep crashed head-on into a snowplow heading south.
His death has devastated not only his wife and children but the Uttarakhand community in Calgary, which has been supporting the family.
The president of Uttarakhand Association in Calgary describes Chauhan as friendly and helpful.
“He’s a very hard worker and we are so sad,” said Kailash Raturi. “We are supporting his family.”
Ramesh Chauhan, 45, died Jan. 12, 2024, in a fatal crash on Westwinds Drive N.E. Calgary.
Courtesy: Ramesh Chauhan’s family
Raturi was one of dozens of people who attended a service for Chauhan on Thursday, where family and friends came to pray, share memories and offer condolences.
Chauhan’s brother-in-law says he had a warm and welcoming personality.
“He was a very jolly person. He was a very responsible dad, dedicated husband and loving friend,” said Ravi Singh.
Chauhan was a chef at the Mint Leaf restaurant, just a few blocks away from where he died.
Word of his passing has impacted many who would stop by to eat and chat with him.
“Everybody is crying for him; not just our community, but the place he used to work, the whole plaza was crying for him,” Singh said.
The children have lost their father and also the sole provider in the family. A gofundme has been set up to assist them.
“The family is shattered. He was the only breadwinner of the family. His wife is from India. She doesn’t know very good English and there are language barriers,” Singh said.
He said he’s thankful for the generosity from people in the Punjabi community and Uttarakhand community in Calgary.
Ramesh Chauhan, 45, died Jan. 12, 2024, in a fatal crash on Westwinds Drive N.E. Calgary.
Courtesy: Ramesh Chauhan’s family
