Imalia village on the outskirts of Lucknow is immersed in silent shock and grief. Seven members of a family died within 20 days between April 25 and May 15.
Lucknow: The village of Imalia, located on the outskirts of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, is immersed in silent shock and grief. Seven members of a family died within 20 days between April 25 and May 15. The eighth member was unable to bear the shock of the continuous deaths and died of heart failure. Four brothers of the family are among the dead.
According to the surviving head of the family, Omkar Yadav, “My four brothers, two sisters and mother died of Covid. My aunt could not bear the shock and died of a heart attack.” He added, “I performed the last rites of my mother in the morning and then the same afternoon for three brothers. My younger brother and two sisters died in the following days.”
Yadav said his family members were taken to the hospital but were not given oxygen beds and proper treatment.
On Monday, he performed the Tehrawi ritual of five family members. The rituals for the remaining three members will be performed later. Village head Mevaram said that not a single representative from the government has come to the village. He said that despite the deaths, sanitization has not happened in the village.
“We have been left to defend ourselves and die without treatment. The children of the family are still unable to bear why so many elders have suddenly disappeared”, he said.
“When the bodies came, we sent them to a neighbour’s house. They still think that the missing members will return soon,” said a family member.
He also expressed concern about the future of these children who had lost their parents. “We are not even sure if there will be any government assistance for us as no one has even contacted us,” the family member said.
