Covid-19 claims 5 members of Andhra Pradesh family in a span of 20 days

GUNTUR: Five members of a retired school teacher’s family in Guntur district have succumbed to Covid-19 in a span of 20 days. What was more tragic was all victims died in different hospitals, with the surviving members unaware that their family members were no more in this world.
Shaik Fareed (62), a retired headmaster of a zilla parishad high school in Rajupalem mandal of Guntur district, and four of his family members passed away one after another in different hospitals of the state.
Fareed’s daughter Jani Begum (35) was the first to succumb to the virus on April 5. Over the course of the next few days, the virus claimed Fareed’s 78-year old mother too. When the retired teacher, a popular figure in the area for his helping nature, his wife Karimunnisa and son Subhani developed Covid complications, they initially got treatment from a local registered medical practitioner (RMP), but were rushed to a nearby hospital only after they started facing breathing issues.
Social activist Kamal Saida from Atchampet said Fareed was on oxygen support at the hospital for over 10 days and succumbed to the virus on April 20.
The relatives did not share the information with his wife and 32-year old son, as they too were in a critical condition in the same hospital. Last Friday, 10 days after Fareed’s death, his wife Karimunnisa and son Subhani also breathed their last in different wards of the same private hospital within a span of few hours.
The other members of the family are still in a state of shock over the tragic death of their dear ones. State municipal teachers federation president S Ramakrishna said the entire teaching community still can’t believe that the affable Fareed sir is no more. “He was known to be a good teacher. After his retirement, he used to help anyone who approached him. We are all in a state of shock,” he said.