Bhopal: In Madhya Pradesh, the coronavirus has caused such fear among the people that even close relatives have distanced themselves from attending the last rites. A similar case has been seen in Jahangirabad, Bhopal.
Jahangirabad area of Bhopal is considered as a red zone for coronavirus. The number of coronavirus patients here has reached two hundred. When Ashabai Chorasia passed away in such conditions, her relatives could not attend the funeral due to lockdown restrictions.
Seeing the difficulties in arranging 85-year-old Asha Bai's last rites, social worker Rehan and his Muslim friends went to Ashabai Chorasia's house wearing masks and carried her on their shoulders to Subhash Nagar crematorium to perform Asha Bai's last rites.
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Asha Bai's family member Manoj says that the fear of coronavirus is so ingrained in the hearts of the people that even their blood relatives are afraid of coming to the last rites.
He said, "I am fortunate to have been such neighbours who put aside the ties of caste and religion and took part in Asha Bai's last rites."
Rehan, the social worker, says that "in Bhopal, a city of shared civilization, we have been taught to help people in there time of need. The month of Ramadan is a month of piety and righteousness. That is why our shoulder came in handy for Asha Bai's last rites".
