Prime Minister Narendra Modi led political and religious leaders to mourn the death of Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong in a car accident in California. The Salesian arch-bishop “will be remembered for his impeccable service to society and passion towards Meghalaya’s progress. May his soul rest in peace,” tweeted the prime minister on October 12, soon after the news of the Catholic prelate broke.

The Prime minister also said that he was anguished by the passing of the archbishop.

The accident reportedly occurred around 11 pm October 10 (10:30 am on October 11 Indian time) when Archbishop Jala was traveling to Clearlake in California along with Fathers Mathew Vellankal and Joseph Parekkatt, two Indian priests working in the United States.