Lovleen Bains

Doraha, April 29

Moved by reports of bodies of two Covid patients being ferried on a cart and an auto-rickshaw in the city for their last rites, an NGO, ‘We do not accept money or things’, has come forward by arranging an ambulance which will be parked at the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, to ferry bodies of Covid victims to cremation ground or cemetery.

Anmol Kwatra and his team who have taken the initiative said: “We have arranged the vehicle which will be used only for the transportation of bodies from the hospital to the cremation ground. Humanity has been ashamed by the manner in which the bodies of the Covid patients were taken in a cart and an auto-rickshaw. It’s a complete failure of the system due to which such things happened.”

“Now, I feel, we should stand up for this cause. The manner in which the bodies were being ferried, and that too of Covid patients, is really horrifying. Nothing can be more humiliating for a deceased person who fails to get a dignified adieu from his family and relatives,” Anmol said.

“Many people are dying due to the virus every day. Hence, we let the ambulance stand at the Civil Hospital so that kin of Covid vicitms respectably take the bodies to cremation ground or cemetery,” members of the team said.

“Earlier, we were using the ambulance to provide help to pregnant ladies and accident victims and make them reach the hospital as early as possible. We have already transported six bodies since yesterday after the ambulance was parked at the hospital. Ambulance driver Raj Kumar Pappu carries the bodies to the specified spot,” they said.

Member, National Road Safety Council, Kamaljit Soi, said: “Videos depicting how bodies of Covid patients are being handed over to relatives in inhumane conditions are too disturbing. It has been learnt that a panel has been formed to look into the matter so that that hospitals should follow guidelines regarding the handing over of Covid patients’ bodies to their relatives. We hope that the panel keeps a strict vigil on hospitals in the matter.”