Aapda Mitra volunteers Nazom, Sohid, Roshid completes last rites of Sonai's Shantibala Nath

Last evening at around 6:30 PM 85-year-old, Santibala Nath breathed her last at her residence in Narshingpur Part II, Sonai. On July 9, three members of her family tested COVID positive and that is why the locals decided to abandon her dead body.

Wife of late Suromohan Nath, Shantibala’s body remained abandoned till today morning when Aapda Mitra volunteers got into action. Biprajit Paul Choudhury, field officer, Sonai Revenue Circle informed that they got to know about the abandoned dead body in the morning and that is when he consulted the Aapda Mitra Volunteers.

National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) Aapda Mitra is a project under which community volunteers are trained to deal with rescue and rehabilitation of people during disaster.

“They are all trained individuals and know how to handle the burial as per the standard operating procedure,” said Choudhury. Adding, “They immediately agreed to conduct the last rites of Shantibala Nath.”

After three members of Shantibala Nath’s family tested positive, the administration declared her house as a containment zone. Nazom Uddin Choudhury, Sohid Ahmed Choudhury and Rosid Ahmed Choudhury volunteered to enter the containment zone and then conduct the last rites.

“They were all provided with PPE kits to ensure they remain safe,” informed Choudhury. The volunteers were joined by a family member who was there in the house with Shantibala Nath.

Biprajit Paul Choudhury informed that the burrial has concluded and it was done following government SOP and rituals. “May her soul rest in peace,” he said.