Wolverhampton man died on trip to India for funeral
A man from Wolverhampton died following a motorcycle crash in India, where he had made a trip to attend a family funeral, an inquest heard.
Kishor Kumar Dhir was a passenger on the motorcycle which was being ridden by his nephew when it lost control and careered down an embankment in the Punjab district.
Mr Dhir, a meter fitter, of Fir Tree Road, Finchfield, had flown out to India to assist his father with preparations for his aunt's funeral.
An inquest into his death at Smethwick Coroner's Court heard Mr Dhir suffered multiple injuries in the crash on March 4. He was taken to a nearby hospital but died the next day.
Mr Dhir, who was 42, was planning to spend just over a week in India before returning home to Wolverhampton.
Mr Dhir's sister Balbinder told the hearing: "My father lost his sister. My brother Kishor offered to go along to support him. He was going to be out there for eight days to do what they needed to do with the funeral arrangements.
"He was the passenger on a motorbike, the motorbike just came off the road, down an embankment and into a ditch. The rider was injured as well – he broke his arm and leg. From what I can gather, it looks as if it just came off the road, the driver unfortunately came off the road."
She told Senior Black Country Coroner Zafar Siddique that the family had spoken to the nephew who was riding the bike and that he could only recall losing control, before 'it was just a blackout'."
Mr Siddique admitted the details surrounding the crash were scant but said he believed he had enough evidence to record a verdict of death by road traffic collision.
He said it was a 'double tragedy' for the family, as they had also lost the aunt whose funeral Mr Dhir was due to attend. He said: "The family tell me he had been riding as the passenger on a motorcycle, the rider was his nephew.
"For some reason he lost control of the motorbike and came off the motorbike. Both received injuries, Kishor received multiple injuries to his chest and face.
"I don't know the full circumstances of how he lost control of the motorcycle but my conclusion is he died as a result of the injuries he received.
"This is a double tragedy for the family and my heart goes out to you."
