Lucknow
Imalia village situated on the outskirts of Lucknow is embedded in silent shock and grief. Seven members of a family died within 20 days between April 25 and May 15. The 8th member was unable to bear the shock of successive deaths and died following cardiac arrest.
The deceased include four brothers. According to Omkar Yadav, who is now the surviving head of the family, “My four brothers, two sisters and mother died of Covid within days of each other. My aunt could not bear the shock and she died of heart attack." He said, "I have performed the last rites of my mother in the morning and then cremated 3 brothers, the same afternoon. My younger brother and two sisters died in the following days."
Yadav said the members were taken to a hospital but they were not provided oxygen beds and proper treatment.
On Monday, he performed the 'Tehravi' ritual of five members of the family. Rituals for the remaining three members will be performed later. Mewaram, the head of the village, said that not a single representative from the government had even visited the village. He said despite the spate of deaths, sanitization in the village had not taken place.
"We have been left to fend for ourselves and die without treatment," he added.
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