SILCHAR: Three Muslim volunteers of an NGO performed the last rites of an 85-year-old Hindu woman of Narsingpur Part II village in Assam‘s Cachar district as her relatives and neighbours didn’t turn up suspecting that she was Covid-positive.
Though the woman died last Friday, her Covid test report confiming that she was positive came from Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) only on Sunday. Her swab samples were collected after her death.
Sources said three members of the woman’s family had tested positive a day before she died and were admitted to the isolation ward of SMCH for treatment. “With the area being declared a containment zone and with three of her family members being found coronavirus
positive, locals were hesitant in volunteering for her final rites,” said a local of Narsingpur Part II village, located 18 km from here.
Later, on being contacted, three Muslim volunteers from ‘Aapda Mitra’ – an NGO under the Sonai revenue circle – came forward to perform the final burying rituals of the victim, who belonged to the ‘Yogi’ community, on Saturday evening. People of this community usually bury their dead.
The volunteers – Nazom Uddin Choudhury, Sohid Ahmed Choudhury and Rosid Ahmed Choudhury – were provided PPE kits for the burial process.
Field officer of district health department Biprajit Paul Choudhury expressed his gratitude towards the NGO for its prompt service and kind gesture.