Gujarat: In mourning, model village ensures social distancing

TNN | Updated: May 4, 2020, 07:54 IST

Cops help carry a woman’s bier to the crematorium in Punsari village of Sabarkantha district

PALANPUR: In normal times, death in the village would have been a mass mourning with all residents joining in. But Punsari, which has won national accolades for being a ‘model tech-savvy village,’ set another example on Sunday by following lockdown rules even in mourning.
A 24-year-old woman Sonal Rawad died after she suffered an heart attack while working in the field. But the young sarpanch Himanshu Patel did not yield to emotions and ensured that only six persons perform her last rites. Two of these people were policemen, who carried the woman’s bier, along with her husband, to the crematorium.
Talking to TOI, Patel said, “Rawad suffered an acute chest pain, but before she could get any medical help, she collapsed from the massive heart attack and died. The doctor who was called at the spot declared her dead.”
However, unlike such situations in normal times when grieving turns into a social gathering, the village head allowed only six people, including her husband Rahul (27) and three others.
“We were in a shock. But we also had to strictly observe lockdown norms. Therefore, we decided not to allow more than six persons to participate in the last rites. Along with the deceased’s husband Rahul Rawad (27), three other relatives and two cops from the village police station joined the procession and performed the last rites, strictly observing social distancing norms,” Patel said.