Remembering Maduni and Utsukta

One TRU student and one TRU graduate student, remembered by loved ones as kind, hardworking, and full of dreams, were killed in a head-on crash on the Coquihalla Highway earlier in September.

According to Michael McLaughlin, Media Relations Officer with BC Highway Patrol, the Sept. 5 collision involved a Dodge Ram pickup and a Hyundai Kona. The crash, which is still under investigation by the BC Highway Patrol, claimed the lives of Maduni Chathurda and Utsukta Adhikari.

“Every day was unforgettable,” said Jayanga Wijesurayi, Chathurda’s husband.

“Maduni was a friendly person, a caring mother, and a lovely wife. She was also a very talented student who not only focused on her studies, she looked after herself, me, our son, her family, and my family,” Wijesurayi said. “She worked so hard and had just graduated. She had so many plans. She was humble, loving, and full of life.”

Wijesurayi said their marriage was full of milestones, and each day felt like a new chapter.

“My favourite memories include the day we got married, the day our son was born, and when we came here to start a new life. Every day felt unforgettable because we were achieving something new together,” Wijesurayi said.

Wijesurayi added that Chathurda’s smile left a mark on everyone.

“Everybody loved her smile, even people who hadn’t spoken to her. That’s what people remember most,” Wijesuaryi said.

Chathurda had taught economics in Sri Lanka before coming to Canada.

“She loved teaching so much — it was in her blood,” Wijesurayi said. “Her goal was to find a good job, apply for permanent residency, and build a better life for our son.”

Now, Wijesurayi said, their seven-year-old son feels the weight of Chathurda’s absence.

“My son’s whole life was hers. She was very loving and caring. He misses her so much. I try to make him feel like his mother is still here, but as a father, I can’t fill that gap,” he said.

On the night of the accident, Wijesurayi was waiting for Chathurda in Kamloops.

“She called and said, ‘We are 20 kilometres away, can you come pick me up at Popeyes?’ But unfortunately, within [that distance], the accident happened. I waited in the parking lot for two or three hours before calling the non-emergency line. That’s when I was told my wife had passed away.”

Bikash Bhandary, Adhikari’s husband, described his wife as his soulmate of 10 years.

“We just celebrated our 10-year love anniversary,” Bhandary said. “I first saw her, searched her name on Facebook, and sent her a request. She denied it three times before she finally replied [to] my message. That’s how our love journey started.”

The couple married three years ago. 

“Whatever she did, she just wanted to be with me. She was 27, but when she was with me, she was playful. She was so kind, humble, and trustworthy,” Bhandary said.

Bhandary recalled Adhikari’s love of cooking. “She would try dishes at restaurants and then make them at home. She also cooked chikauni, and many Nepali foods. Cooking made her happy.”

Adhikari’s kindness extended to others, too.

 “She loved caring for elderly people and adored cats. She volunteered at a hospice. She dreamed of working at a bank, but she was equally happy serving others,” Bhandary said.

“She made everyone feel welcome,” said Ishu Ghimire, a close friend, adding that Adhikari was the kind of person who lit up a room.

“She was extremely friendly and could make anyone feel comfortable,” Ghimire said. “She created a warm environment and was always ready to help.”

Ghimire described her as hardworking and reliable. “She balanced her studies at TRU with work, and she was very responsible. People could always count on her.”

Food and travel were two of Adhikari’s passions. “She made very good food, especially mula ko achar,” Ghimire said. “She also loved Korean food and dramas. Recently, she travelled to Vancouver Island, Banff, and Calgary. I went to a lake with her, and she was so happy to be outdoors.”

Both husbands say their wives dreamed of stable, meaningful futures in Canada — dreams that remain unfinished.

“She wanted to build a better life for her son,” Wijesurayi said.

“She was so kind and humble,” Bhandary added. “She was my whole world.”

The Shiv Shakti Temple Kamloops and the Nepalese Society of Kamloops organized a campaign on behalf of Bhandary, raising over $42,000 on the GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral costs and the return of Utsukta Adhikari’s body to Nepal. Wijesurayi similarly launched a GoFundMe campaign, raising more than $50,000.