Kaybie Chongloi
Donning a full PPE and maintaining strict protocols, a Chennai returnee, Anjali Hmangte (22) who has been quarantined, bid farewell to her father who expired yesterday due to prolonged illness.
Anjali, a resident of Kangpokpi Ward No.13 returned back home on May 25 in a special train. However, she along with many other in the same compartment had to be quarantined at Marie Montessori in Koirengei, as one suspected person was detected COVID positive on the way and was immediately evacuated before reaching Jiribam on that particular day.
Unfortunately, her father after a prolonged illness expired yesterday night at their residence at Kangpokpi Ward No.13. Considering the situation the Ward Chairman with the permission of Kangpokpi Town Committee requested the District Administration and Chief Medical Officer to allow Anjali attend the last rites of her father
Accordingly, following strict protocols and with the permission of the District Administration and Chief Medical Officer, Imphal East, Anjali was ferried this morning from Maria Montessori, Koirengei by an ambulance with volunteers in a separate vehicle fully donned with PPEs.
On reaching Kangpokpi, the area of her residence was cordoned off with the assistance of the local youth and Anjali was guided by the volunteers under the supervision of Medical Superintendent in-charge, District Hospital Kangpokpi, Dr. Paotinlal Haokip.
As she stepped down from the ambulance, the doctor standing few steps away started the countdown of the stipulated 3 minutes. Within this few minutes Anjali approached the coffin of her father laid at the porch of her residence, wept mournfully with no one beside her, not even her mother to console her. As the Pastor prayed she bowed down for a while and like a brave warrior she bade good bye to her father and other family members standing beyond her residence and returned back to her quarantine centre at Maria Montessori in Koirengei.
This tear-jerking incident happened at Kangpokpi DHQs in Manipur after few week of similar incident at Sagang in Churachandpur district.
“Dad I am sorry, please do not upset as I would not be able to spend more time with you on your last rites rather be happy that you have done everything you could do for me” was the farewell words of Anjali to her demised father before she went back to her quarantine centre.
After, the brave Anjali was escorted back to her quarantine centre following along with one volunteer, under the supervision of Dr. Haokip, the two local volunteers and the Minister of the burial ceremony Pastor J. Lunkim took off their PPEs and were also sanitized apart from sanitizing the whole area including the residence porch and its surrounding areas by the fire personnel.
The burial ceremony of Anjali’s father was conducted yesterday afternoon as per protocols at the Kangpokpi cemetery.
