Hyderabad: Amidst the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, India reported 3,60,960 fresh Covid cases and 3293 deaths in the last 24 hours. In these difficult times, here are heartwarming stories of people who are setting an example by rising above the constraints and helping those affected by the pandemic.
Corona warrior Praveen Budta
The second wave of the coronavirus in Chhattisgarh is wreaking havoc. The number of new patients and death toll is increasing daily. Chhattisgarh's Durg is among the most affected districts of the country. Amid the second wave of the pandemic, Durg’s Praveen Butda is working day and night to help the patients.
Praveen, who runs a tent company, had bought five oxygen concentrators and used them to help the patients in 2020. In the second wave, he bought 20 new oxygen concentrators and provide them to those who are struggling hard to get one.
In the era of coronavirus, the business of tents might be sloppy, but the spirit with which Praveen is helping others is teaching many others the value of humanity.
Apart from providing oxygen, people are also suffering due to the shortage of ambulance. His three ambulances are engaged round-the-clock to take the patients to the hospital. With the help of his friends, he brought two cars, rented another one and converted all three of them into ambulances.
Praveen started a new business ‘Wedding Corporation’ two years ago, but it came to a halt during the second wave of coronavirus. In the given situation, intending to provide oxygen and ambulance to the needy, he changed the name of his office to ‘Mission Save Durg'. He said that at least 200 to 250 people call him every day for ambulance service or oxygen, but due to lack of resources, he can help only 50 people.
Two friends take Covid patients to hospital in their cars
Working with the same spirit, two friends from Raipur are risking their lives by taking the coronavirus infected people to the hospitals in their cars.
Ravindra Singh Khashatri, the messiah for Covid patients, has been connecting with Covid patients through social media. Earlier, he was running a transport company. After the government announced a lockdown, he converted his car to an ambulance. Ravindra’s friend Pramod Sahu extended a helping hand and also gave his car. A provision for oxygen cylinders has also been arranged in the vehicle for emergency use.
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Another friend Arvind also extended his help after he lost his mother during the lockdown. He told that his mother was not infected with the virus but due to a lack of transportation, he could not take her to the hospital. This guilt of losing his mother changed his mind and he started helping people in need. Ravindra and Arvind are currently transporting people to the hospitals by car, but they are also collecting donations from the people for ambulances. So far they have collected Rs Two lakh.
Bhagat Raghav transported over 100 bodies to crematorium
Bharat Raghav, a 27-year-old MBA student from Andhra Pradesh used to take bodies from hospitals and houses to the crematorium. At a time when the relatives of the patients refuse to touch the bodies, Bharat Raghav is taking the bodies to the crematorium in his van. He has taken more than 100 bodies on his vehicle to the cremation ground for their last rites.
He said his mother is an Anganwadi worker and he lost his father four years ago due to a lack of ambulance.
Surbhi Soni provides free food to 6-8 families
Surbhi Soni of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, prepares food for Covid-19 positive patients. Surbhi delivers food to those who are coronavirus positive and are unable to prepare food due to home isolation.
Realising the problem, Surbhi thought of helping such people and started this noble work with the permission of her family. She started reaching out to the needy with the help of social media and started sending food to their houses. On the first day, she started by delivering food to two people on her own. Now, Surbhi is delivering meals twice daily to 6-8 people.
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