A distraught mother whose husband and son were killed when a train struck Sydney last week has made a heartbreaking decision about her future.
Poonam Runwal and her husband Anand, 40, were exiting the lift at Carlton railway station in the city's south on Sunday when the pram carrying their twin daughters rolled onto the tracks.
Mr Runwal jumped off the platform but was hit by an oncoming train.
Anand and one of the two-year-old girls, Hinal, were killed. The other girl miraculously survived.
Mrs Runwal, who was hospitalised with her second child, is said to be at risk of deportation as her husband was seeking to renew his work visa.
He worked for Infosys IT in North Sydney and was told his visa would expire on April 1.
However, Ms Runwal has now decided to return to India permanently.
He will leave Australia as early as next week.
Friends of the family told the Daily MailMs Runwal will repatriate the bodies to India.
“The family wants to bring Anand and Hinal home as soon as possible,” they said. “They have started working on the formalities – it's chaotic and there's so much to do.
“But they will leave as soon as possible so they can hold the funerals in India.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to say whether Ms Runwal and her daughter will be allowed to remain in Australia.
He said it was a matter for Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, adding that he expected the situation to be treated with “compassion”.
“This mother watched as her husband and
“One of her twin sons tragically lost his life and I would have thought that we are a generous country and that the hearts of Australians would go out to this woman and her baby,” Mr Albanese said.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said his father died in “an extraordinary act of instinctive courage”.
“This will not bring him or his child back to life, but it should not go unnoticed that in the face of a terrible accident he gave his life to try to save his children,” she said.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said his father died in “an extraordinary act of instinctive courage”.
“This will not bring him or his child back to life, but it should not go unnoticed that in the face of a terrible accident he gave his life to try to save his children.”
