Service above Self-Unsung Heroes | All About Belgaum

By Pramod Sulikeri

Cremation of covid infected deceased has become a big burden & difficult task to family members. In the present pandemic when kith of kin of the deceased are hesitant to take body for cremation in fear of likely cross infection. The group of dedicated youth from the Shri Ram Sena have come forward to cremate bodies. What a noble cause. The final rites are performed by these young real heroes irrespective of caste, creed & religion of the dead.

Just a telephone call to them either from deceased relatives or hospital they swing into action extend helping hand to the needy family. When family members are hesitant to see the face of the deceased or touch the body these youth have emerged as god sent in this hour of crisis.

They rush with their own ambulance take the body and perform final rites. When relatives are afraid to go to cremation ground, touch the body these dedicated youths put the body with all the respect on funeral pyre. They serve even in late night.

Few of the hospitals and governmental agencies demand hefty money for cremation. But these noble souls without expecting anything they conclude the final journey of the deceased. Shankar Patil, leader of the volunteer team, said owing to a huge spike in number of infections and deaths due to the virus, people had become panicky and the family members who had lost their lives to Covid were found hesitating to perform their last rites. On one hand paying the hefty final bill of the hospital has become big burden on the other hand cremation of near & dear ones has become extremely cumbersome says senior member Shankar Patil.

The team members feel there is no better service than serving the humanity in distress. Shankar says, his dedicated team has 8 members and are divided in two teams of 4 each. They extend service 24X7. We are relentlessly working since one & half year ever since covid-19 made its presence in April 2020.

These dedicated youth do not expect anything from the deceased family to shift a dead body from the place of death to cremation ground. With no signs of exhaustion on their face the team says we have cremated over 123 covid positive deadbodies in last one month. It is extremely painful as near & dear ones of the deceased cry for help. We extend helping hand to those who have died from nearby places shifting their bodies safely in PPE kits. 

The young & selfless team consists of Sachin Patil, Sudesh Late, Papu Shinde, Preetesh Malkache, Prajwal Kittwadkar, Vittal Kokitkar, Nagesh Redkar, Daulat Kanbarkar. They are always ready draped with PPE kit, face masks, gloves and face shield.

TEAM NEEDS A PLACE TO STAY & CONTINUE THEIR SERVICES: 

As the team is working 24X7 members they do not go back to their home with a fear of infecting family members. They are staying in temporary room for which locals have objection & forcing to desert their activities. The team is looking for alternate place to rest and hope good hearted generous people or government will provide them to stay & freshen up to continue their work. 

It may be recalled that in the covid 1st wave the team has helped in fogging, distribution of mask and sanitizers to the needy people. 

None of the  deceased family members could identify them in their PPE kits. But surely god in the heaven definitelyrecognise their selfless service. They’re true corona warriors & unsung Heroes. 

For their service call: – Shankar Patil: – 9620829888 SudeshLate: – 8951264628