Man dubbed ‘Corona Warrior’ for cremating the bodies of 1,300 victims dies of virus – World News
A man dubbed the “Corona Warrior” after cremating the bodies of 1,300 Covid victims has died of the virus.
Chandan Nimje, 67, was unable to get treatment and a bed in hospital despite risking his own life to perform the last rites for pandemic victims.
He was was congratulated by the mayor of Nagpur, India, for his bravery in the past 18 months.
But Chandan, a retired government worker, finally caught the virus himself earlier this year and succumbed to it on May 26.
Arvind Rataudi, who worked closely with Chandan, said: ‘We approached everyone, not only for financial help, but also for a bed and medicines, but none responded.
(Image: times of india)
“We approached Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner, collector and other top officials, but no one helped the person who went out of the way to provide dignity in death to over 1,300 citizens.”
Chandan, whose sons also died of Covid, worked with volunteers at King Cobra Youth Force (KCYF) when family members refused to go near the bodies of their loved ones who had succumbed to the virus.
It is understood Chandan contracted the virus when he went for his first dose of the vaccine and later suffered a mild fever before his sister, two sons and wife all started showing symptoms.
All five tested positive and Chandan’s health started to deteriorate as volunteers started to search for a hospital bed.
(Image: Getty Images)
Arvind added: “I personally called the collector, NMC chief and political leaders to arrange an injection. But no one picked up calls.
“One of our volunteers in Delhi, named Arjun, who knew Dada, then sent four vials of Tocilizumab by Indigo flight, without asking for any money.
“If we, with our thousands of activists, failed to get timely help for the old man, imagine the plight of common citizens due to such attitude of authorities.”
Fellow volunteers and family members performed Chandan’s cremation, The Times of India says.
But crematoriums in New Delhi were last month running out of wood, such was the volume of dead each day.
Ramesh Semwal, the municipality president in Uttarkashi, said he had ordered the local authorities to take care of the bodies in the river.
He said: “During the last few days, the number of deaths has been increased in our area. I also came to know that bodies are not burnt properly so I have directed the administration to arrange at Kedar Ghat for the cremation of half-burnt bodies.”
