NEW DELHI Arif Khan, an ambulance driver who transported hundreds of Covid-19 patients and brought their victims for their last rites, succumbed to the disease on Saturday at Delhi’s Hindu Rao Hospital after months of selfless and relentless service during the pandemic.
Khan had been on duty since the COVID-19 outbreak and never returned home during his service. He was the ambulance driver for Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal, an NGO that runs the free ambulance service in the national capital. He was one of the dozen of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal’s ambulance drivers who transported more than 500 COVID-19 victims for their last rites.
While speaking to ANI, Jitender Singh Shunty, Chairman of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal, said that Arif’s disappearance has left a deep void within the organization.
“Arif Bhai did a remarkably good job. He used to live here in the hospital so that he could remain available for work. He worked commendably. On October 1, Aarif developed symptoms of COVID-19. He went to the hospital but came back later. On Friday, we admitted him again to the Hindu Rao hospital where he died on Saturday at 8 am. We cremated his body. He has left a deep void that cannot be filled. He was a true COVID-19 warrior. ” Shunty said.
“He worked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and was a very hard worker. His death has broken the morale of other drivers,” he added.
Shunty said the organization will continue to serve the nations.
“All of our drivers are COVID-19 warriors. We had 12 ambulances during the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. We now have 16 ambulances. The drivers are transporting bodies and patients with COVID-19. Our organization has transported. So far we have transported take out. the bodies of 500 COVID-19 victims for the final rites, “Shunty said.
“We have performed the final rites of 90 COVID-19 victims while their families were in quarantine. We have performed the final rites of 19 patients whose families have abandoned them. We are always at risk, even when we are taking all measures. We will continue our work. at the service of the nation ”, he added.
Jitendra Kumar, Arif’s colleague and driver for Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal said: “I have been working with this NGO for 25 years. I have transported more than 80 COVID-19 victims. I have transported more than 200 patients to hospitals. We have not received no special help from the government. There is no security for us. One of our colleagues died and his family lives in a rented house. There is no one to take care of them now. “
Arif’s family has asked the Delhi government for financial help.
Adil, Khan’s 22-year-old son, said: “My father was working with Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal for over 35 years. He left us on Saturday. We live in a rented house here in Shahdara and we do not receive any help from the government. He was the sole breadwinner for the family. The government should help us. “
“We have just seen him during brief home visits since March 21 and the last time he came home he was already sick. He used to stay in hospitals after the coronavirus outbreak,” he added.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu conveyed his condolences to the relatives of ambulance driver Aarif Khan on Sunday.
The vice president said the service of the deceased symbolizes the core of the Indian philosophy of “sharing and caring” and prayed for eternal peace for the soul of the deceased.
“My condolences to the grieving family members of the ambulance driver, Aarif Khan from Delhi. He rendered a selfless service by transporting nearly 200 bodies of COVID-19 patients for his final rites. Sad to know that he succumbed to the coronavirus “. Naidu’s tweet is read.
“His acts of kindness symbolize the core of the Indian philosophy of ‘sharing and caring’. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he added in a later tweet.
.
