64-year-old couple dies together in north Edmonton apartment fire after car crash ruptures gas line
Surinderjit Kaur Bhandal, 64, and Major Singh Bhandal, 64, perished Monday when vehicle collision struck their building at 132 Avenue and 82 Street, igniting explosion.
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An elderly couple married for 64 years died together in a north Edmonton apartment fire Monday when a car lost control, crashed into their building, and ruptured the main gas line.
Surinderjit Kaur Bhandal, 64, and Major Singh Bhandal, 64, lived in the apartment condo building at the corner of 132 Avenue and 82 Street. The collision caused a large fire and explosion that destroyed the structure.
Their grandson, Lali Toor, was driving home from a family dinner when he received a text about a fire in the area. "I had to go see. I had this gut feeling," he recalled. "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."
Toor said he watched paramedics administer CPR on an elderly man—not realizing at first 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."
Toor disputed reports that his grandfather jumped from the burning building. Both grandparents were attempting 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," he said. "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."
The couple had lived in Canada for over 30 years after immigrating to be closer to family. They remained active members of the Sikh community in Edmonton and were involved with the Gurdwara Sikh Society on St. Albert Trail. His grandfather worked as a truck driver; his grandmother worked on farms during summers.
"You'd never see one without the other. They were best friends," Toor said. "If there was ever a definition of love, I think you would see my grandparents' names and picture underneath that definition."
The facts
Who died in the Edmonton apartment fire on Monday, July 21, 2026?
Surinderjit Kaur Bhandal, 64, and Major Singh Bhandal, 64, died in the fire at their apartment building at 132 Avenue and 82 Street in north Edmonton.
What caused the apartment fire?
A car lost control, crashed into the building at 132 Avenue and 82 Street, and ruptured the main gas line, causing a large fire and explosion that destroyed the structure.
How long had the couple been married?
Surinderjit Kaur Bhandal and Major Singh Bhandal had been married for 64 years.
How long had the couple lived in Canada?
Surinderjit Kaur Bhandal and Major Singh Bhandal had lived in Canada for over 30 years after immigrating to be closer to family.
