Daughter lights father's funeral pyre, police helps after neighbors refuse
A 15-year-old girl lit the funeral pyre of his 52-year-old father, who passed away battling the deadly COVID-19 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, with support from the policemen who made arrangements for the cremation after the locals refused to help the teenager and her mother. The financially weak family hailed from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.
Police arranged an ambulance to ferry the man to hospital
The deceased, along with his wife and daughter, stayed in Noida Sector 19, where he worked as the caretaker of a house. The owners of the house do not live here. The police rushed to the aid of the family on Monday night, helping them arrange an ambulance to ferry the man to the district hospital in Sector 31, according to officials.
The man succumbed at the district hospital
The man succumbed at the district hospital, and then he was ferried to the crematorium in Sector 94 with the help of the police on Tuesday, according to officials.
None of the neighbors helped with hospitalization or cremation
"Since the man was a COVID-19 patient, there was no help for the girl and her mother," local police post-in-charge Hari Singh told PTI. "They were left to fend for themselves as no one from the neighborhood came forward to support them with hospitalization when his condition turned critical or for the cremation," Singh said.
The girl sought help from UP Police's emergency 112 service
When the man's condition deteriorated on Monday, his daughter sought help but none came from the locals, after which she went out of the house frantically searching for some assistance to save her father. Around 9 pm, she came across a vehicle of the Uttar Pradesh Police's emergency 112 service on the road and asked for help.
Following this, the local police reached to help the family
The officials in the vehicle relayed the message and the local police chowki personnel reached the house to help the family. "We also tried finding some help from the locals, but since it is a pandemic situation, no one came forward. Somehow, an ambulance was arranged and the man was rushed to the district hospital, but unfortunately, he could not be saved," Singh said.
Police also made cremation arrangements
The body was then brought back to the Sector 19 house and a memo issued from the hospital, after which the girl and her mother again sought help from the police, who went beyond the call of their duty and made arrangements for the cremation.
Police and ambulance driver arranged havan material and wood
"There were three personnel from the chowki, the ambulance driver, and myself. We arranged the havan material and the wood that was used for the cremation," sub-inspector Singh said. "There was a rush at the crematorium but we requested the local officials and seeing the condition of the family, a priest also agreed to help," he said.
The deceased's daughter performed the last rites
"The funeral took place around 5 pm," he said, adding that since no male member of the family was present, the deceased's daughter performed the last rites. According to Hindu traditions, a male member of the family performs the last rites. Singh said, at the time of "mukhagni," even the priest said: "beti beta sab ek samaan hain (girl or boy, all are equal)."
