Ambulances with the bodies of Covid-19 victims are seen parked at a crematorium in New Delhi, on July 8, 2020. (REUTERS / Danish Siddiqui)
Khan, who was sleeping in an ambulance parking lot almost 17 miles from his residence in the Seelampur area of eastern Delhi, kept in touch with his family by phone.
- News18.com
- Last update: October 11, 2020 8:48 am IST
- Edited by: Bharvi dasson
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After leading Covid-19 patients and victims to their last rites for more than six months, Aarif Khan, 48, succumbed to the viral infection on Saturday morning at the Hindu Rao Hospital in the national capital.
Khan, who was sleeping in an ambulance parking lot almost 17 miles from his residence in the Seelampur area of eastern Delhi, kept in touch with his family by phone. Employed with Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal, who provides free emergency ambulance services in Delhi-NCR, Khan was available 24/7 and transporting Covid-19 victims for their last rites. Often he used to contribute money for the last rituals if any family needed or needed help. Indian express reported.
Khan made sure everyone got a goodbye, but his own family couldn’t give him that. They just saw his body from afar, Khan’s colleague Jitender Kumar told reporters. In a span of the last six months, Khan would have transported around 200 Covid-19 victims.
After testing positive for coronavirus on October 3, Khan succumbed to the disease a day after being admitted to the hospital.
“We met when he came to collect essentials, like clothes. I used to go check on him sometimes as we were always worried about him. But he never worried about Covid, he just wanted to do his job well, ”said Aadil, Khan’s 22-year-old son. We have just seen him during short visits home since March 21 and the last time he came home he was already ill, he added.
Khan used to earn Rs 16,000 a month and was the sole breadwinner for the family. “Pariwaar ke liye dukh ka pahaad toot gaya hai (it is a great blow to the family),” Kumar, who was present at Khan’s funeral, told the media.
Jitender Singh Shunty, the founder of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal, said that although Khan was Muslim, he also used to help in cremation rituals for Hindus. He was very dedicated to his work and often worked 2-14 hours a day, answering calls even until 3 am.
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