Trapped grandparents die in north Edmonton apartment fire: ‘They were best friends’
An elderly couple, Major and Surinderjit Bhandal, died after a car crashed into their Edmonton apartment building, causing a gas explosion and fire. Their grandson witnessed the tragedy while attempting to reach the scene.
Why it matters
This is a tragic local news event highlighting the dangers of infrastructure accidents and the impact on families.
More than 60 years ago, Major Singh Bhandal and Surinderjit Kaur Bhandal exchanged vows to spend their life together — a promise they kept, to their very devastating end.
“What happened Monday night was a complete tragedy,” said their grandson Lali Toor on Wednesday, outside the fire-ravaged north Edmonton apartment building where the Bhandals lived and also died.
“How they went out is not what they deserve.”
The elderly couple were residents of the building at the corner of 132 Avenue and 82 Street in the Killarney neighbourhood, where a car lost control and crashed into the building.
A gas mainline was hit during the collision, causing an explosion and fire that sent thick plumes of smoke into the sky.
Toor was driving on 66 Street when he saw the smoke several blocks away and felt compelled to go towards it.
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