May 06, 2007
ONE had known him for barely a day.
Another had known him for 15 years.
Both rushed down when they heard news that their friend, Indian
national Kasi Raman, had fallen at work.
The 37-year-old was tree- pruning along Pasir Ris Drive 3 when he
fell from the bucket of the crane he was working in (above).
He was pronounced dead on the scene at 11.40 am yesterday.
Mr Kasi was working from a height of about 8m.
His death came as a big shock to Mr V Sivakumar, 25, who had just
met him on Thursday for the first time.
It turned out to be the last time Mr Sivakumar, a grasscutter, met
MrKasi.
The two live in the same workers' hostel in Tampines.
'I had just seen him yesterday and today he's dead,' said
MrSivakumar, obviously shaken by the news.
Mr Kasi's close friend, Mr Ari G, 36, managing director of his own
company dealing with electrical equipment, has known Mr Kasi for 15
years.
They had lived in neighbouring villages in India before Mr Kasi
came to Singapore to work about six years ago.
'He was a very good man - he didn't smoke, gamble or drink. He was
always calm and a very hard worker,' said MrAri.
'He worked for various companies in his time here, switching to
jobs which offered higher pay so that he could send more money back
home to his family,' he added.
Mr Kasi's ex-boss would contact him if he had any jobs for Mr
Kasi.
Mr Kasi leaves behind his wife, who is in her late 20s, three
children aged 1, 3 and 5, and well his father, 72, and mother, 68,
back in India.
He was the sole breadwinner of the family, sending back about $800
out of his $1000 salary each month.
After each of his contracts ended, he usually spent a month back in
India with his family, according to Mr Ari.
He had planned to leave for India again just next month.
His family was devastated and wept when Mr Ari called with the
grave news, Mr Ari said.
Mr Ari intends to send Mr Kasi's body to India to his family.