MLA of Heirok assembly constituency Th Radheshyam along with volunteers of Heirok Kendra Covid Warriors Committee conducted the funeral of Tonjam Chandramani, an elderly woman from Thokchom village who succumbed to COVID-19 on Thursday.
Due to fear of being infected, there was reportedly no one else to perform the last rites for the deceased. Th Radheshyam said it is unfortunate that an elderly woman from Thokchom village died from a COVID-19 infection at her residence on Tursday, after the spread of the virus in the village which had earlier reached the level of community transmission has been significantly reduced due to the efforts of COVID warriors, volunteers and members of the community.
After testing positive for COVID-19, Tonjam Chandramani was kept at the Heirok Community Home Isolation Centre, he said.
There have been frequent reports of such similar instances in Heirok and in the whole state where there is no one willing to conduct the funeral of people who died from COVID-19 infections, Th Radheshyam continued, adding that there are several families that have been left aggrieved because of the inability to perform the last rites of their near and dear ones.
He further said that for Heirok assembly constituency, there is no need to worry about such incidents as the Covid warriors are always there to perform the last rites of any victim of the virus.
“Funerals are a part of our culture and traditions along with floral offerings over the body of the deceased,” he continued, assuring that no family in Heirok will have to face any kind of difficulty in performing due last rites in case of a member succumbing to the virus. “The funeral will be performed by me and the COVID warriors,” he added.
It may be mentioned here that the late Chandramani tested positive for COVID-19 on May 11, and she stayed at the Community Home Isolation Centre for Heirok assembly constituency from May 12 till her referral on May 17 following which she returned to her residence where she breathed her last on Thursday.
