*CM Bhagwant Singh Mann speaks to Union Civil Aviation Minister, seeks urgent evacuation of Punjabis stranded in war-hit Arab Countries*

*Punjabis to be reunited with their families as Union Civil Aviation Minister assures arrangements for special flights to evacuate stranded Punjabis: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

*Punjab Govt shares list of stranded persons with Centre, evacuation process underway: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

*Safe return of our Punjabis stuck in Arab countries is highest priority: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

*CM Bhagwant Singh Mann urges Govt of India to Deploy Special Aircraft to Evacuate Punjabis Stranded in War-Hit Middle East*

*Punjab Govt stands firmly with families of youth & students stranded in Gulf countries: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

*Punjab sets up 24x7 NRI Control Room to assist families of stranded Punjabis: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

CHANDIGARH, 3rd March 2026:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday called up Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and impressed upon him to ensure the safe evacuation of Punjabis stranded in the strife-torn Middle East. During the telephonic conversation, the Chief Minister shared comprehensive data pertaining to Punjabis languishing in Gulf countries due to the sudden outbreak of war and urged that immediate steps be taken to bring them home.

Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “I spoke over the phone with Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu. NRI Affairs Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh had also gone to meet him in person. The Union Minister has assured that necessary arrangements will be made for the safe return of Punjabis from Arab countries, including the operation of special flights. I have shared the list of all concerned persons along with their contact numbers. Soon, these Punjabis will return safely to their families. For any kind of information or assistance, please contact: NRI Wing 24/7 Control Room: *0172-2260042*, *0172-2260043*, WhatsApp: *+91 94787 79112*.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “During my telephonic conversation with Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, I shared all the data related to Punjabis stranded in Gulf countries due to the sudden war. I urged him that these Punjabis must be evacuated at the earliest so that they can reunite with their distressed families back in Punjab. The Union Minister has assured all possible help, and I hope that the Punjabis stuck in the war-torn Gulf region will soon be with their families.”

Reiterating the firm commitment of the Punjab Government to evacuate Punjabis stuck in the strife-torn Middle East, theChief Minister asserted, “Punjabis have played a stellar role in making the country self-reliant in food production and in safeguarding the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. It is unfortunate that a large number of Punjabis are stuck across the Middle East due to the sudden eruption of war. The Union Government must arrange special aircraft carriers to bring the stranded Punjabis back.”

The Chief Minister further stated, “Cabinet Minister of Punjab Dr. Ravjot Singh has been deputed to meet Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu and impress upon the Union Government to leave no stone unturned in bringing Punjabis back to their native land. The Punjab Government is duty bound to bail out Punjabis in this hour of crisis, and concerted efforts are already being made. The safe return of our Punjabis stranded in Arab countries is the Punjab Government’s highest priority.”

Expressing solidarity with the affected families, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Punjab Government is committed to providing all necessary support and assistance to the stranded people as soon as possible. We stand firmly with the aggrieved family members of youth and students stuck in Gulf countries in this hour of crisis. I hope that the Indian Government will take necessary steps to extend a helping hand to all those who have been stuck in the war-hit Gulf region.”

Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: I am sending Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh Ji to Central Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu Ji. We demand that special arrangements be made for a plane for Punjabis. The safe return home of our Punjabis stranded in Arab countries is our government's topmost priority.”

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*Punjab Under AAP Govt Ranks Among Top-3 States in Revenue Growth as Own Tax Collection Jumps to ₹57,919 Crore: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Excise Revenue Surges 86.77% Under AAP Govt, Annual Average Nearly Doubles Compared to Previous Regimes: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Debt-to-GSDP Ratio Reduced to 44.47% Even While Servicing ₹3,00,000 Crore Legacy Debt: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*AAP Govt’s Excise Collection of ₹37,975 Crore in Four Years Surpasses Five-Year Totals of Congress and SAD-BJP: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*Stamp Duty & GST Revenues Under AAP Outpace Congress and SAD-BJP Eras Despite 62% Drop in Central Grants & Compensation: Harpal Singh Cheema*

CHANDIGARH, 3rd March 2026:Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said that under the leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Punjab has emerged among the top three states in the country for remarkable achievements in revenue growth, asserting that the state’s financial performance over the past four years reflects structural reform, fiscal discipline and administrative transparency. Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Harpal Singh Cheema presented detailed data to underline what he described as a decisive turnaround in Punjab’s fiscal health.

Addressing a press conference, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Punjab’s own tax revenue has surged significantly, rising from ₹37,327 crore, which was 6.39% of the Gross State Domestic Product in 2021-22, to an impressive ₹57,919 crore, accounting for 7.15% of the Gross State Domestic Product in 2024-25.”

Presenting figures on excise collections, the Excise and Taxation Minister noted that excise revenue has increased by 86.77% in less than four years. He said, “During the five-year tenure of the SAD-BJP government, total excise collection was ₹20,545 crore with an annual average of ₹4,109 crore. The subsequent Congress government collected ₹27,395 crore over five years, averaging ₹5,479 crore annually. In stark contrast, the AAP government has already amassed ₹37,975 crore up to January 2026, achieving a staggering annual average of ₹9,907 crore. Furthermore, excise revenue in 2021-22 under the Congress regime was ₹6,157 crore, whereas it is expected to reach ₹11,500 crore in the financial year 2025-26. As a percentage of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product, excise revenue has grown from 1.05% in 2021-22 to 1.28% in 2024-25.”

Highlighting performance under the GST (Goods and Services Tax) regime, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said similar success has been recorded in GST collections. He said, “The previous Congress administration relied heavily on GST compensation and failed to take concrete steps to broaden the tax base. Their five-year total stood at ₹61,286 crore, averaging ₹12,257 crore annually.”

He further stated, “The AAP government, however, has collected ₹83,739 crore up to January 2026, pushing the annual average to ₹21,845 crore. State GST revenue, which was ₹15,542 crore in 2021-22, is projected to surpass ₹26,500 crore in 2025-26. Despite the rationalization under GST 2.0, the state recorded a massive 70.50% growth in its GST revenue.”

Turning to land and property registrations, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said revenue from stamp duty has also witnessed a historic rise. He said, “During the Congress tenure 2017-22, stamp duty collections saw an increase of less than 1 percent compared to the preceding Akali Dal government 2012-17. The SAD-BJP government collected a total of ₹12,387 crore averaging ₹2,477 crore annually, while the Congress managed only ₹12,469 crore averaging ₹2,494 crore annually.”

He added, “Conversely, the AAP administration has generated ₹19,515 crore by January 2026, with an annual average of ₹5,091 crore. This indicates that in just four years, the AAP government collected 60 percent more stamp duty than the five-year terms of previous governments. At this accelerated pace, the revenue is expected to double the Congress era’s total by the 2026-27 financial year.”

Emphasizing the government’s commitment to development, Harpal Singh Cheema said Punjab has recorded a historic boost in capital expenditure. He said, “Over five years, the SAD-BJP government spent ₹14,641 crore, and the Congress government spent ₹19,356 crore on capital expenditure. The AAP government is going to spend ₹31,630 crore.”

Addressing the inherited debt burden, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema asserted, “The AAP government received a legacy debt of approximately ₹3,00,000 crore. Because of this massive historical burden, 35 percent of all new loans taken are utilized simply to clear the liabilities left by previous governments. Another 50 percent of the debt goes toward paying interest on older loans. Consequently, less than 15 percent of the borrowed funds are actually available for the AAP government to use for the state.”

Despite these constraints, he said the government has reduced the Debt-to-Gross State Domestic Product ratio from 48.25% to 44.47%. Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The AAP government has allocated ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 crore for implementing the Pay Commission and clearing ₹14,191 crore in Pay Commission arrears pending from 2016 to 2021. Furthermore, ₹2,566 crore was spent to bail out financially distressed state entities like PUNSUP, Land Mortgage Bank, PSIDC, and the Mandi Board.”

He further said that the government has paid ₹1,750 crore to clear arrears of central schemes left unpaid by the Congress administration.

Outlining long-term fiscal safeguards, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The AAP government has made substantial investments in the Consolidated Sinking Fund and Guarantee Redemption Fund maintained with the RBI. As of March 31, 2022, the state had only ₹3,027 crore in the Consolidated Sinking Fund and nothing in the Guarantee Redemption Fund. By December 2025, these reserves have swelled to ₹10,738 crore in the Consolidated Sinking Fund and ₹982 crore in the Guarantee Redemption Fund, bringing the total to ₹11,720 crore.”

He added, “This represents an overall increase of ₹8,693 crore, a staggering 287% growth in less than four years. This proactive investment acts as a buffer against any sudden financial crises and aids in systematically retiring state debt.”

Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated these improvements were achieved despite a sharp decline in central support. He said, “Between 2017 and 2022, the Congress government received ₹17,740 crore in Revenue Deficit grants and ₹54,600 crore in GST compensation, totaling ₹72,340 crore. In contrast, the current government has received only ₹15,887 crore in Revenue Deficit grants and ₹11,945 crore in GST compensation totaling ₹27,832 crore up to January 2026.”

He added that the present government received 62% less in Revenue Deficit grants and GST compensation compared to the previous government, and these grants have now been completely halted.

Concluding the press conference, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema highlighted digital and administrative reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in treasury operations. He said the Finance Department launched the ‘Pension Seva Portal’ to digitize the entire pension distribution system and implemented an ‘e-Deposit Management System’ to tackle banking fraud and enhance transparency. He said, “Additionally, the state achieved a major milestone by receiving over ₹800 crore as an incentive for effectively digitizing schemes through the SNA-SPARSH initiative.”

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*Over 28,000 women register as Bhagwant Mann Govt gears up to honour women entrepreneurs on Women’s Day: Tarunpreet Singh Sond*

*100 top women entrepreneurs to receive ₹25,000 each at March 18 state level function under PSRLM*

CHANDIGARH, 3rd March 2026:with more than 28,000 registrations already pouring in, the Bhagwant Mann Government is set to honour 14,100 women entrepreneurs across the state as part of its Women’s Day outreach, underscoring an aggressive push towards rural women-led growth. Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond announced that 100 top entrepreneurs will receive ₹25,000 each at a state level function on March 18, marking what the government describes as a large-scale recognition of women driven enterprise under the Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission (PSRLM).

Reviewing preparations through video conferencing, Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond stated, “The Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission is receiving an overwhelming response, with over 28,000 women registering for the felicitation events.” He directed officials to widely disseminate information about the series of events to ensure maximum participation and appealed to women entrepreneurs across the state to actively take part in the mega celebrations dedicated to women’s empowerment.

Outlining the state level programme, he continued, “The state level function will be held on March 18, 2026, during which the top 100 selected women entrepreneurs of Punjab will be awarded ₹25,000 each. The event will be live streamed at the district, block and gram panchayat levels to ensure that every village remains connected to the celebrations.”

Detailing the scale of the initiative, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said that felicitation events have already commenced at the block and constituency levels and will progress to the district level from March 12 before culminating in the state level function. He said, “From each constituency, 100 Self Help Group women entrepreneurs will be felicitated, totalling 11,700 women across the state. Similarly, from 23 districts, 2,300 women entrepreneurs will be honoured, with 100 from each district. At the state level, a committee will select the top 100 women entrepreneurs, who will be awarded ₹25,000 each.” In total, 14,100 women entrepreneurs will be honoured across Punjab.

Highlighting the broader impact of the mission, the Punjab Minister added, “PSRLM is working relentlessly to economically empower women from rural poor families by connecting them with Self Help Groups. Around 58,000 Self Help Groups are currently functioning in the state, with nearly six lakh rural women associated with them. The Punjab Government has provided a revolving fund of ₹30,000, a community investment fund of ₹50,000 and loan facilities at an interest rate of 7 percent to these beneficiaries.”

Emphasising the support framework, he further said that through the PSRLM, women are being provided financial assistance along with training, market linkages, banking support and access to social security schemes. These initiatives are enhancing the income of rural families and improving their social status.

Urging wider participation, Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond emphasised, “All stakeholders must help economically empower more women by connecting them with Self Help Groups so that the dream of Sashakt Mahila, Sashakt Punjab can be realised.”

The video conference was attended by Administrative Secretary Ajit Balaji Joshi, Joint Development Commissioner Shena Aggarwal, Director Rural Development and Panchayat Uma Shankar Gupta and Nodal Officer Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission Ramandeep Sharma among others.

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*Welfare with dignity & transparency at core of Bhagwant Mann Govt: Dr Baljit Kaur*

*23.62 lakh senior citizens receiving ₹1500 monthly pension through Direct Benefit Transfer: Dr Baljit Kaur*

*6.48 lakh women empowered through pensions, free bus travel & employment initiatives: Dr Baljit Kaur*

*Child protection strengthened through sponsorship expansion, adoption reforms & Mission Jeevanjyot: Dr Baljit Kaur*

*₹1,943 crore scholarships disbursed & long pending backlogs cleared to secure students’ future: Dr Baljit Kaur*

*Punjab ensuring no eligible beneficiary is left out of welfare net: Dr Baljit Kaur*

CHANDIGARH, March 3:Addressing a press conference held at Punjab Bhawan, Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities of Punjab, Dr Baljit Kaur on Tuesday said the Punjab Government has implemented a sensitive, transparent and people centric welfare model through the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development and the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, ensuring that almost every household in the state benefits from one scheme or another, especially senior citizens, women, children, persons with disabilities, Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and other marginalised communities.

Detailing support for the elderly, Dr Baljit Kaur stated, “At present, 23,62,579 needy senior citizens are receiving a monthly pension of ₹1500 through Direct Benefit Transfer directly into their bank accounts within the first week of every month.”

She added that strict monitoring led to the removal of ineligible and deceased beneficiaries, resulting in recovery of ₹170 crore. Two modern old age homes at Tapa and Mansa have been made operational at a cost of ₹17.33 crore, providing accommodation, food, clothing, healthcare and mental wellbeing support, while NGOs working for senior citizens have received grants worth ₹11.43 crore.

Referring to the “Sada Buzurg Sada Maan” campaign, she added that district level camps launched in 2024 strengthened the physical and mental health of senior citizens, with over 20,000 elderly persons participating in 2024 and again more than 20,000 this year, availing healthcare support, legal aid and assistive devices.

Emphasising women empowerment, the cabinet minister continued, “Under the free bus travel facility for women, an expenditure of ₹2042 crore has been incurred, enabling women to access education, employment and healthcare without financial barriers.” She informed that five Working Women Hostels, three in Mohali and one each in Jalandhar and Amritsar, are under construction at a cost of ₹150 crore and will be completed within the year, with crèche facilities to support working mothers.

Strengthening grassroots delivery, she said 4,377 Anganwadi Workers and Helpers were recruited in 2023 through a transparent process and recruitment of 6,110 more will be completed shortly to enhance nutrition services and early childhood care. She added that menstrual hygiene is being promoted through sanitary pad distribution via over 27,000 Anganwadi Centres and that 6.48 lakh widows, divorced, deserted and low income women are receiving ₹1500 monthly pension without interruption.

On maternity and child welfare, Dr Baljit Kaur shared, “Against a central target of 2,94,288 beneficiaries under Matru Vandana Yojana, Punjab covered 4,22,492 women over four years. Over 1000 new Anganwadi Centres have been constructed, dilapidated buildings repaired and 100 Saksham Anganwadi Centres are being developed in Moga and Ferozepur with modern facilities, while training was imparted to all Anganwadi Workers at a cost of ₹10 crore to promote play based learning.”

Highlighting child protection, she added that under Mission Jeevanjyot, children found begging were rescued and enrolled in schools with continuous monitoring. She informed that 165 child marriage cases were detected over four years, 150 were prevented and FIRs registered in 15 cases, while the sponsorship scheme expanded from around 1,700 beneficiaries earlier to nearly 11,000 children, each receiving ₹4000 per month. “Adoption services were strengthened in 16 districts, resulting in 138 successful adoptions including 26 inter country adoptions,” she added.

On support for vulnerable groups, the Punjab minister shared, “2,94,440 dependent children are receiving ₹1500 monthly pension and a dedicated Disability Cell has been established for single window assistance. The ₹1000 monthly disability assistance was restored, disability employees were exempted from night duties and long distance postings on request, and pension for acid attack victims was enhanced from ₹8000 to ₹10,000 per month and made gender neutral. Free bus travel has been extended to attendants of visually impaired persons and sign language interpretation was introduced for the first time during a Punjab Vidhan Sabha session.”

She added that Post matric scholarships worth ₹1943 crore were disbursed over the past four years. Backlogs from 2017 to 2020 were cleared by releasing ₹366 crore to private colleges and ₹92 crore to government institutions, enabling students to receive pending degrees. The Dr B R Ambedkar Scholarship Portal and Free Ship Card system were launched to ensure transparency and fee free admissions, increasing beneficiaries to nearly 2.7 lakh students annually.

She further said that under the Ashirwad Scheme, ₹51,000 marriage assistance is being provided irrespective of caste, with ₹1023 crore released so far, while ₹100 crore has been released under the Adarsh Gram Yojana for development in Scheduled Caste dominated villages and ₹6 crore long pending dues under the inter caste marriage incentive scheme have been cleared.

Concluding, Dr Baljit Kaur stated, “The Punjab Government remains firmly committed to ensuring that every welfare scheme reaches the rightful beneficiary on time and with complete transparency, enabling every citizen of Punjab to live with dignity, security and equal opportunity.”

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*Joint Venture of SSB Group & Mahindra Group to Invest ₹460 Crore in Punjab; 700 Employment Opportunities to be Created: Sanjeev Arora*

Chandigarh, March 3, 2026:Punjab’s Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power and Local Government, Sanjeev Arora, today announced a landmark investment of ₹460 crore by a joint venture between SSB Group and Mahindra Group in the hospitality sector of Punjab.

The investment will be undertaken under the banner of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, marking the company’s first-ever investment in Punjab.

The Minister informed that the project will generate approximately 700 employment opportunities, significantly strengthening the local economy.

Project Details

The development will comprise three major components:

₹300 crore investment in a premium Resort

₹50 crore investment in the largest convention centre ever in the region, spread over 90,000 sq. ft.

₹110 crore investment in a hotel near the Golden Temple in Amritsar

The Resort and Convention Centre will be developed at Village Khasa on Wagah Road, Amritsar, spanning approximately 15 acres of land.

Existing Presence of SSB Group

Sanjeev Arora stated that SSB Group currently operates three hotel properties in Amritsar with around 120 rooms across its hospitality portfolio:

Hotel Fortune Ranjit Vihar

Regenta Inn

Regenta Central

Boost to Tourism & MICE Sector

The Minister emphasized that the 90,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Convention Centre will significantly boost MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) tourism in Punjab. With Amritsar being one of India’s most prominent spiritual and heritage destinations, the project will position the city as a leading destination for large-scale national and international events, destination weddings, and corporate conventions.

Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment to fostering a pro-investment environment, Sanjeev Arora stated that the entry of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited into Punjab reflects growing investor confidence in the state’s progressive industrial policies and ease of doing business framework.

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*Dr Ravjot Singh meets Union Civil Aviation Minister K R Naidu; Seeks rescue flights for stranded Punjabis*

*Urges operation of special aircraft & regulation of exorbitant airfares amid Middle East conflict*

CHANDIGARH / NEW DELHI, 3rd March, 2026-With a significant number of Punjabis stranded amid the escalating Middle East conflict, NRI Affairs Minister Dr Ravjot Singh on Tuesday met Union Civil Aviation Minister K R Naidu and sought immediate launch of rescue flights, operation of special aircraft and a cap on “exploitative” airfares to ensure their safe and swift return. “There is an urgent need to resume flights and operate special evacuation services. Our people cannot be left stranded in this crisis,” he asserted.

Highlighting the hardships being faced by the Punjabi diaspora due to the ongoing conflict and regional instability in the Middle East, Dr Ravjot Singh stated, “A significant portion of Punjab’s population resides and works in various Middle Eastern countries. The cancellation of numerous scheduled flights has left many of our NRI brothers and sisters stranded, while their families back home are in deep distress.”

He urged the Union Minister to coordinate with airlines to restore operations on all safe corridors and operate special aircraft to clear the backlog of passengers. “Many essential routes have been suspended, creating a massive backlog of travellers. There is an urgent need to resume flights and operate special evacuation or relief flights for those stuck in high tension zones or those needing to return home for emergencies,” he said.

Raising the issue of rising ticket prices, Dr Ravjot Singh added, “It has been observed that due to the reduced frequency of flights, several airlines have increased their fares to exploitative levels. I request you to implement a price cap on these routes to prevent the financial exploitation of citizens during this crisis.”

Speaking to the media after the meeting, the Punjab minister revealed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann also had a telephonic conversation with K R Naidu during the meeting and urged that the state government be allowed to arrange special flights to bring Punjabis back home safely without delay. “The Chief Minister has conveyed deep concern over the situation and requested that Punjab be permitted to arrange special flights, if required, to ensure the safe evacuation of our people,” he said.

Dr Ravjot Singh further stated that the Union Civil Aviation Minister has assured that the concerns raised by the Punjab Government will be considered on priority. “The Union Government is already working on the matter as Indian citizens from several states are stranded in Gulf countries,” he added.

The NRI Affairs Minister also visited the facilitation centre set up by the Punjab Government at IGI Airport to ensure all necessary assistance for Punjabis returning from Gulf countries.

The minister shared, “The Punjab Government has already announced a 24x7 helpline to assist stranded Punjabis. Families can call 0172 2260042, 0172 2260043 or send a WhatsApp message to +91 94787 79112 for immediate support. A high level team headed by ADGP R K Jaiswal has also been constituted to monitor the situation.”

He asserted that the state government is making every possible effort to ensure the safe return of Punjabis. “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, we are fully committed to extending every support to our people in this hour of crisis,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Dr Ravjot Singh convened a video conference with Deputy Commissioners of all districts across Punjab and directed them to prominently display district level helpline numbers to assist Punjabis stranded abroad. “All inquiries received at the district level regarding stranded Punjabis must be handled with utmost responsibility, diligence and sincerity to ensure timely and effective support,” he directed.

Principal Resident Commissioner, Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi, Dr S Karuna Raju was also present during the meeting.

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*Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan condoles demise of former Chief Justice Vijender Jain*

Chandigarh, March 3, 2026:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed grief over the demise of renowned former Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Vijender Jain. His unwavering dedication towards Judiciary will always inspire us and remain in our heart.

Speaker Sandhwan deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing away and he prayed to the God to grant peace to the departed soul. Almighty may give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss in this hour of distress.