KATHMANDU: Sonu Sunar, a resident of Kaathebar in Pyuthan Municipality-4, passed away while serving in the Russian army on December 9. He had not informed his family that he was in Russia, let alone that he had joined the Russian army.
“Our son died within two months of joining the Russian army. We learned about the incident a month after his demise,” Sonu’s father, Kal Bahadur, told Himal Press over the phone from Pyuthan. “It felt like a dream. We didn’t even know he was in Russia.”
Kal Bahadur received the news of his son’s death from his neighbor, Khageshwar Thapa. “Khageshwar and my son were together when the incident happened. My son died in the bunker when the opponent bombed it. Khageshwar told me he managed to escape somehow,” Kal Bahadur said.
According to Kal Bahadur, Khageshewar informed him that retrieving Sonu’s body would be difficult. “Khageshwar told me the body can’t be retrieved and asked me to proceed with the last rites,” Kal Bahadur said. “However, we will wait for some days for the body.”
He also mentioned that he received information about three other Nepalis losing their lives in the attack. “Khageshwar told me the barrack and the surrounding areas were burning for two days. It has since been covered by snow,” he added.
Sonu had informed the family that he was going to Europe. He had not been in contact with the family for the past three months. “Sonu had told his wife that he had secured a loan of Rs 900,000 to go to Europe. I found out about the loan only a month ago,” Kal Bahadur said.
The family is in deep shock after learning about Sonu’s death. Sonu is survived by his wife and a five-year-old son as well as his father, mother, two brothers, and a sister.
“Sonu left for Qatar to earn money to support his brother’s education and to marry off his sister. We were planning to get her married this year. We don’t know what to do now,” a grieving Kal Bahadur said. Sonu, who returned home after working in India for five years, had left for Qatar two years ago.
Kal Bahadur, who has been working as a security guard in India for the past two years, recently came to Pyuthan on leave. His other son is also working in India.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that it has received rescue requests from 150 Nepalis in Russia. “We are holding internal discussions to bring them home,” Amrit Bahadur Rait, the foreign ministry spokesperson, said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud is preparing to visit Russia to assess the situation of Nepalis in the country.
