The faces of India's coronavirus pandemic as deaths hit 100,000

The faces of India's coronavirus pandemic as deaths hit 100,000

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Eight months after the novel coronavirus arrived in India, the number of deaths from the disease crossed 100,000 on Saturday. Nearly 6.5 million people have been infected in total, second only to the number in the United States.

Reuters met and interviewed relatives of 30 people who died of the virus in India, from coastal Kerala on the country's southern tip to the Himalayan region of Kashmir in the north.

The 30 victims were ordinary people from all walks of life, and included police officers and doctors on the frontlines of the fight against the virus.

. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
Aliza Ali, 12, shows a picture on her phone of her father Javed Ali, in New Delhi. "He was taking all the precautions while continuously working on the frontline without any breaks until he got symptoms. I am proud of him; my children are proud of him. But we are having an extremely difficult time to cope with the present situation. Not a single day goes by when we don’t remember Javed and cry," said Hena Kausar.

In what is still a conservative and developing country, some of the relatives said they faced ostracism after their loved ones caught the virus. Others said they have suffered from depression and money troubles. All said more could have been done to save the people who died.

LIFE AFTER

Javed Ali, a 42-year-old doctor in India’s capital New Delhi, died in July. His wife, Hena Kausar, also a doctor and now the sole carer for their two children, said she doesn’t know what she will do without him.

“Our whole life has changed,” she said. “I still want to be a doctor (but) I have to choose between my job and kids.”

. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Adnan Abidi
Fardeen Khan shows a picture on his phone of Noor Jahan in New Delhi. "Since my mother died, my life has changed. There is no cure or vaccine for the disease and I wish there was one and my mother would have survived. I miss my mom a lot, as everyday she used to ask me where I was going, when will I be back home, the moment I used to step out of our house. I want people to follow precautions like social distancing etc until there is a cure for the disease."

Nineteen-year-old student Fardeen Khan was orphaned after his mother Noor Jahan died in June. His father had died in 2018.

“I have no financial support now,” he said. “I have no job”

. Mumbai, India. Reuters/Francis Mascarenhas
Sunita Patil, 44, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of Vivek Patil, in Mumbai. "I have two young daughters with almost no income. It will be very hard for us to live without my beloved husband."

Some relatives said they found the reaction from authorities and neighbours after their bereavements difficult to bear.

Sunita Patil’s husband Vivek, a 46-year-old music teacher, died suddenly at home in Mumbai before a bed at a local hospital became available. The next morning, she said, municipal workers came to the house shouting for them to come outside to be taken to a quarantine centre.

“They were not sensitive to the fact that there has been a death in the family just a day back, and we are in mourning,” she said.

. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
Nadeem Akhtar, a social worker, shows a picture on his phone of Shabana Ahmed, in New Delhi.

Nadeem Akhtar’s sister Shabana Ahmed, a 52-year-old architect, died in New Delhi in April.

“What really upsets me more than the healthcare system was the behaviour of society,” he said.

“My sister’s neighbourhood boycotted her family. There was no emotional or moral support even after her death. Society failed us.”

. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Danish Siddiqui
Asim Khan, a businessman, shows a picture on his phone of Jamal Khan, in New Delhi. "My brother-in-law was a farmer. He never got sick and was healthy."

CHANCES MISSED

India’s rudimentary healthcare system has at times struggled to cope with the huge number of coronavirus cases.

Many of the victims' relatives said there were missed opportunities to cure the infected.

Jamal Khan, a 41-year-old farmer, developed a fever in August in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh state, India's most populous.

His brother, Asim, said local doctors failed to realise he was COVID-positive. It was only when he was transferred to Delhi, ten days after he first became ill, that he was diagnosed.

By then, his lungs were badly damaged, and he died soon after, according to Asim.

“If he would have been diagnosed on time in his own native place, he would have surely survived,” Asim said.

. Mumbai, India. Reuters/Francis Mascarenhas
Rekha Khandait, 38, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of Jayant Khandait, in Mumbai. "I know my husband has passed away but I can still feel his presence."

Rekha Khandait’s 58-year-old husband Jayant is one of more than 200 police officers who died from the virus in the western state of Maharashtra alone. She was one of several people who said a lack of oxygen contributed to the death.

“I can’t believe that six months have passed, she said. “I still haven’t told our son yet about his death.”

. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Adnan Abidi
Tilak Raj shows a picture on his phone of Krishna Devi, a housewife, in New Delhi. "My mother died in front of my eyes and I helplessly covered her eyes with a bed-sheet. She died due to a lack of oxygen cylinders in a hospital. "Take care of yourself my son" were the last words from my mother and I will never forget those words."

Tilak Raj, a 38-year-old software engineer, said when his mother Krishna Devi was hospitalized, there was no oxygen in the ambulance. When they arrived at the hospital, the cylinder that was provided was empty in five minutes.

“If we had a better health system, my mother would have survived,” he said.

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Slideshow

Jigeshaben Sanket Surti, 34, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her father Dineshbhai Gangaram Khanvanshi, 64, a retired banker, in Ahmedabad. "I have so many memories of my father, we're sitting together one day and talking for hours. Next day we admitted him in to the hospital."
. Ahmedabad, India. Reuters/Amit Dave

Jigeshaben Sanket Surti, 34, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her father Dineshbhai Gangaram Khanvanshi, 64, a retired banker, in Ahmedabad. "I have so many memories of my father, we're sitting together one day and talking for hours. Next day we admitted him in to the hospital."

Mohd Rehan, a businessman, shows a picture on his phone of his brother Mohd. Mobin, 62, who was also a businessman, in New Delhi. "He had no symptoms and was laughing when the first test result came. He thought there was some mistake. His health suddenly deteriorated the next day and he died a day after. It was unbelievable. He was a very jolly person."
. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Danish Siddiqui

Mohd Rehan, a businessman, shows a picture on his phone of his brother Mohd. Mobin, 62, who was also a businessman, in New Delhi. "He had no symptoms and was laughing when the first test result came. He thought there was some mistake. His health suddenly deteriorated the next day and he died a day after. It was unbelievable. He was a very jolly person."

Mohd Irfan, a businessman, shows a picture on his phone of his father Mohd. Mobin, 59, who was also a businessman, in New Delhi. "My whole world has collapsed. He was everything for us. He was like a roof on me and to my family. He protected us. I Don’t have any words to describe the loss. I lost my mother few years back and now him. This pandemic has hit us hard. Life will not be the same again. I miss his presence," said Irfan.
. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Danish Siddiqui

Mohd Irfan, a businessman, shows a picture on his phone of his father Mohd. Mobin, 59, who was also a businessman, in New Delhi. "My whole world has collapsed. He was everything for us. He was like a roof on me and to my family. He protected us. I Don’t have any words to describe the loss. I lost my mother few years back and now him. This pandemic has hit us hard. Life will not be the same again. I miss his presence," said Irfan.

Mohammad Hayat, 55, a government employee, shows a picture on his phone of his father Haji Ghulam Mohammad Rather, an employee at a Muslim trust board, in Srinagar. "I have had a bitter experience of this ongoing pandemic because the government is not prepared even after months of lockdown. We shifted our father from one hospital to another as there were a shortage of ventilators. Lockdown periods gave authorities enough time to get ready for the pandemic but people, especially clerics of mosques and other religion heads, should come out to spread awareness about the pandemic. My father used to help people regardless of religion, caste. Our family is incomplete with him and all I can do is to pray for his soul."
. Srinagar, India. Reuters/Sanna Irshad Mattoo

Mohammad Hayat, 55, a government employee, shows a picture on his phone of his father Haji Ghulam Mohammad Rather, an employee at a Muslim trust board, in Srinagar. "I have had a bitter experience of this ongoing pandemic because the government is not prepared even after months of lockdown. We shifted our father from one hospital to another as there were a shortage of ventilators. Lockdown periods gave authorities enough time to get ready for the pandemic but people, especially clerics of mosques and other religion heads, should come out to spread awareness about the pandemic. My father used to help people regardless of religion, caste. Our family is incomplete with him and all I can do is to pray for his soul."

Abida Begum, 55, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her son-in-law Luqman Ahmed, a factory worker, in New Delhi, "My son-in law was a good husband, a good father. He is gone too early. A lack of medical facilities killed him. He would have survived had there been proper medical care in hospitals. I appeal the government to ensure that they have good medical facilities in hospitals for the poor like us, so that people survive this pandemic."
. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Adnan Abidi

Abida Begum, 55, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her son-in-law Luqman Ahmed, a factory worker, in New Delhi, "My son-in law was a good husband, a good father. He is gone too early. A lack of medical facilities killed him. He would have survived had there been proper medical care in hospitals. I appeal the government to ensure that they have good medical facilities in hospitals for the poor like us, so that people survive this pandemic."

Humera Ulfat, 42, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her father Mohammad Ashraf Baba, a shopkeeper in Srinagar. "It pains me whenever I recall my dad lying on a hospital bed helplessly. Doctors did not fulfil their duty the way that they’re supposed to. They never came close to my father to examine him. Eventually he died. Authorities should educate not only the public, but healthcare professionals as well. My father would have been alive, as we speak, had he been given proper medical aid in the hospital. His absence is something that nobody can fill. My life won’t be like before, never."
. Srinagar, India. Reuters/Sanna Irshad Mattoo

Humera Ulfat, 42, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her father Mohammad Ashraf Baba, a shopkeeper in Srinagar. "It pains me whenever I recall my dad lying on a hospital bed helplessly. Doctors did not fulfil their duty the way that they’re supposed to. They never came close to my father to examine him. Eventually he died. Authorities should educate not only the public, but healthcare professionals as well. My father would have been alive, as we speak, had he been given proper medical aid in the hospital. His absence is something that nobody can fill. My life won’t be like before, never."

Niranjan Poddar, 50, a businessman, shows a picture on his phone of his mother Kausalya Devi Poddar, in New Delhi. "I feel like I have lost that shade, that shadow that was guarding me and I don't know with whom I will share all my problems. It’s a big change in my life and I have made some resolutions after her death and I hope she blesses me and I am able to keep them."
. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis

Niranjan Poddar, 50, a businessman, shows a picture on his phone of his mother Kausalya Devi Poddar, in New Delhi. "I feel like I have lost that shade, that shadow that was guarding me and I don't know with whom I will share all my problems. It’s a big change in my life and I have made some resolutions after her death and I hope she blesses me and I am able to keep them."

Khushboo, 26, a student, shows a picture on her phone of her father Shakeel Ahmad Baba, a government employee, in Srinagar. "Our lives changed drastically after my father passed away, he was a loving father, a decision maker. He died because of improper healthcare facilities in the hospital. He would have survived had there been a proper oxygen supply in the hospital. A day before his death I spoke to him on the phone and he told me to pray for him and the next day he passed away. His death left a great void in our entire family."
. Srinagar, India. Reuters/Sanna Irshad Mattoo

Khushboo, 26, a student, shows a picture on her phone of her father Shakeel Ahmad Baba, a government employee, in Srinagar. "Our lives changed drastically after my father passed away, he was a loving father, a decision maker. He died because of improper healthcare facilities in the hospital. He would have survived had there been a proper oxygen supply in the hospital. A day before his death I spoke to him on the phone and he told me to pray for him and the next day he passed away. His death left a great void in our entire family."

Dixit Vinodbhai Patel, 19, a student, shows a picture on his phone of his father Vinodbhai Maganbhai Patel, 54, a shopkeeper, in Ahmedabad. "After my father's death, all responsibility is on my head as my father was the only earning member in our family. Presently I try to fulfil all family requirements, I try to be a good son, a loving brother. My college is closed at the movement, but when it starts, I will quit my studies to take care of my family."
. Ahmedabad, India. Reuters/Amit Dave

Dixit Vinodbhai Patel, 19, a student, shows a picture on his phone of his father Vinodbhai Maganbhai Patel, 54, a shopkeeper, in Ahmedabad. "After my father's death, all responsibility is on my head as my father was the only earning member in our family. Presently I try to fulfil all family requirements, I try to be a good son, a loving brother. My college is closed at the movement, but when it starts, I will quit my studies to take care of my family."

Mir Umer Altaf, 31, a sales head in a pharmaceutical company, shows a picture on his phone of his grandmother Syeeda Begum in Srinagar. "My grandmother had attended a wedding ceremony and after a week she started showing symptoms of the disease. As I deal with healthcare, I got her tested and she was positive but asymptomatic. A few days later, she had problems breathing and we managed to put her on oxygen at home, but then her condition worsened and she suddenly passed away. She was a pious and she died a Martyr, as according to our belief, whoever dies due to a virus in a pandemic is a martyr."
. Srinagar, India. Reuters/Sanna Irshad Mattoo

Mir Umer Altaf, 31, a sales head in a pharmaceutical company, shows a picture on his phone of his grandmother Syeeda Begum in Srinagar. "My grandmother had attended a wedding ceremony and after a week she started showing symptoms of the disease. As I deal with healthcare, I got her tested and she was positive but asymptomatic. A few days later, she had problems breathing and we managed to put her on oxygen at home, but then her condition worsened and she suddenly passed away. She was a pious and she died a Martyr, as according to our belief, whoever dies due to a virus in a pandemic is a martyr."

Rahul Adhav, 26, a pharmacist, shows a picture on his phone of his father Bhaginath Jagannath Adhav, a police officer, in Mumbai. "Life has become lonely since my father passed away, no one can take his place in the family. My dad did his best while on duty urging the general public to maintain social distancing etc. I request people to maintain social distancing and co-operate with the police. The police are doing their best to serve you. I also request that the government provide financial support to families of police who died while serving the people in the pandemic."
. Mumbai, India. Reuters/Francis Mascarenhas

Rahul Adhav, 26, a pharmacist, shows a picture on his phone of his father Bhaginath Jagannath Adhav, a police officer, in Mumbai. "Life has become lonely since my father passed away, no one can take his place in the family. My dad did his best while on duty urging the general public to maintain social distancing etc. I request people to maintain social distancing and co-operate with the police. The police are doing their best to serve you. I also request that the government provide financial support to families of police who died while serving the people in the pandemic."

Nimesh Ketananand Indrekar, 36, a teacher, shows a picture on his phone of his father Ketananand Indrekar, 60, in Ahmedabad. "We are 10 years back due to corona and if it is not controlled fast, we'll face lots of problems. We support the government to take more action to tackle the pandemic and they should create more awareness about the virus."
. Ahmedabad, India. Reuters/Amit Dave

Nimesh Ketananand Indrekar, 36, a teacher, shows a picture on his phone of his father Ketananand Indrekar, 60, in Ahmedabad. "We are 10 years back due to corona and if it is not controlled fast, we'll face lots of problems. We support the government to take more action to tackle the pandemic and they should create more awareness about the virus."

Yogender Pal, 39, a paramedic in a government-run hospital, shows a picture on his phone of his father Shri Motiram, 79, a retired railway employee, in New Delhi. "Things change after a family member dies. My father was like the roof that protects all of us and now it’s like the roof has come crashing down," said Pal.
. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis

Yogender Pal, 39, a paramedic in a government-run hospital, shows a picture on his phone of his father Shri Motiram, 79, a retired railway employee, in New Delhi. "Things change after a family member dies. My father was like the roof that protects all of us and now it’s like the roof has come crashing down," said Pal.

Gitaben Bipinbhai Vakil, 39, a scrap trader, shows a picture on her phone of her mother Champaben Bhaijibhai Dantani, 60, also a scrap trader, in Ahmedabad. "People have been careful about the pandemic and try to follow government guidelines, but in our locality, residents do not follow the guidelines and do not wear masks and it is the reason my mother got COVID-19." Vakil said.
. Ahmedabad, India. Reuters/Amit Dave

Gitaben Bipinbhai Vakil, 39, a scrap trader, shows a picture on her phone of her mother Champaben Bhaijibhai Dantani, 60, also a scrap trader, in Ahmedabad. "People have been careful about the pandemic and try to follow government guidelines, but in our locality, residents do not follow the guidelines and do not wear masks and it is the reason my mother got COVID-19." Vakil said.

Mayank Singhi 29, a businessman, shows a picture on his phone of his father Motilal Singhi, 59, also a businessman, in Kolkata. "The life of our family has changed after the death of my father. He was the pillar of the family. Not only my family, he was kind of a pillar to the society we live in. He himself, dedicated 25 years as a Kolkata traffic police warden which was an honorary service."
. Kolkata, India. Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri

Mayank Singhi 29, a businessman, shows a picture on his phone of his father Motilal Singhi, 59, also a businessman, in Kolkata. "The life of our family has changed after the death of my father. He was the pillar of the family. Not only my family, he was kind of a pillar to the society we live in. He himself, dedicated 25 years as a Kolkata traffic police warden which was an honorary service."

Renu Verma, 49, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her husband Rajkumar Verma, 54, a driver, in New Delhi. "In the evening my husband started feeling unwell," said Renu. "I called a neighbour and got an ambulance and took him to a hospital which is right across the road," she added. "He stopped responding in the ambulance as the hospital was not ready to take him inside, saying that there is no bed. He was taken inside the hospital on a stretcher only after I went to a doctor and told the medics that my husband is not responding."
. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis

Renu Verma, 49, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her husband Rajkumar Verma, 54, a driver, in New Delhi. "In the evening my husband started feeling unwell," said Renu. "I called a neighbour and got an ambulance and took him to a hospital which is right across the road," she added. "He stopped responding in the ambulance as the hospital was not ready to take him inside, saying that there is no bed. He was taken inside the hospital on a stretcher only after I went to a doctor and told the medics that my husband is not responding."

Biplab Kumar Chatterjee, 65, a laboratory technician, shows a picture on his phone of his mother-in-law Krishna Ghosh, 85, a housewife, in Kolkata. "My mother-in-law’s loss is painful. I was also a Covid positive. I recovered but my mother-in-law died. She was in a private hospital for three days; we had tried our best but could not save her because of her age and she had many other health problems."
. Kolkata, India. Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri

Biplab Kumar Chatterjee, 65, a laboratory technician, shows a picture on his phone of his mother-in-law Krishna Ghosh, 85, a housewife, in Kolkata. "My mother-in-law’s loss is painful. I was also a Covid positive. I recovered but my mother-in-law died. She was in a private hospital for three days; we had tried our best but could not save her because of her age and she had many other health problems."

Bhagwati Devi, 48, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her husband Mahesh, 49, a ward boy in a government-run hospital, in New Delhi. Mayank, the son of Mahesh said "So many things changed. We were only three of us. Now it feels empty. I don’t get to sleep at night. I keep remembering my father’s face and keep thinking of all the sweet memories. There was a sudden rise in cases. We were scared about infection in our house as our father was working in a hospital. First, we were not that scared as everything was closed and we didn’t realise that the rate of infection would spread so much."
. New Delhi, India. Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis

Bhagwati Devi, 48, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her husband Mahesh, 49, a ward boy in a government-run hospital, in New Delhi. Mayank, the son of Mahesh said "So many things changed. We were only three of us. Now it feels empty. I don’t get to sleep at night. I keep remembering my father’s face and keep thinking of all the sweet memories. There was a sudden rise in cases. We were scared about infection in our house as our father was working in a hospital. First, we were not that scared as everything was closed and we didn’t realise that the rate of infection would spread so much."

Lipika Ghosh Dastidar, 48, who works for an NGO, shows a picture on her phone of her mother-in-law Bela Ghosh Dastidar, 72, a housewife, in Kolkata. "My mother-in-law you can say, was my only support in my in-law’s house for the last 25 years. She was almost my mother. It is heart breaking that we took so much care of her, but she passed away in this pandemic. My brother-in-law and my husband’s younger brother who stay in London, couldn’t come for her last rites. We lost her and we are still in trauma."
. Kolkata, India. Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri

Lipika Ghosh Dastidar, 48, who works for an NGO, shows a picture on her phone of her mother-in-law Bela Ghosh Dastidar, 72, a housewife, in Kolkata. "My mother-in-law you can say, was my only support in my in-law’s house for the last 25 years. She was almost my mother. It is heart breaking that we took so much care of her, but she passed away in this pandemic. My brother-in-law and my husband’s younger brother who stay in London, couldn’t come for her last rites. We lost her and we are still in trauma."

Sanjib Chatterjee, 34, who works in a call centre, shows a picture on his phone of his mother Chitra Chatterjee, 62, a housewife, in Kolkata. "The last memory was when she was diagnosed with COVID-19," said Chatterjee. "We came to know about it after we received a call from the health department saying that she needed to visit the hospital," she added. "I hugged her and told her don’t worry and we will be back soon."
. Kolkata, India. Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri

Sanjib Chatterjee, 34, who works in a call centre, shows a picture on his phone of his mother Chitra Chatterjee, 62, a housewife, in Kolkata. "The last memory was when she was diagnosed with COVID-19," said Chatterjee. "We came to know about it after we received a call from the health department saying that she needed to visit the hospital," she added. "I hugged her and told her don’t worry and we will be back soon."

Amrutha Sangeeth, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her mother Sathy Vasudevan, 64, also a housewife, on the outskirts of Kochi. "My mother was suffering from a liver disease and was bed ridden," said Sangeeth. "A delay in the test result was one of the reasons she died. We could not move easily as six other family members got infected and were later hospitalised. It was really tough for my younger sister to arrange for last rites etc. as neighbours stayed away and were afraid of contracting the virus."
. Kochi, India. Reuters/Sivaram V.

Amrutha Sangeeth, a housewife, shows a picture on her phone of her mother Sathy Vasudevan, 64, also a housewife, on the outskirts of Kochi. "My mother was suffering from a liver disease and was bed ridden," said Sangeeth. "A delay in the test result was one of the reasons she died. We could not move easily as six other family members got infected and were later hospitalised. It was really tough for my younger sister to arrange for last rites etc. as neighbours stayed away and were afraid of contracting the virus."

Sana Shaikh, 18, a student, shows a picture on her phone of her father Shaikh Ansar Ahmed, a retired government employee, in Mumbai. "Everything has changed. We have lost a big support, we have lost the only male member of the family. After my dad's demise I don’t enjoy things that I used to enjoy doing when he was around. My mother has obviously faced a bigger change in her life. Our life will be stable in the future but it will be extremely difficult for my mother to carry on without her husband. Public healthcare must be of high quality and free of cost for poor and middle class people in the pandemic."
. Mumbai, India. Reuters/Francis Mascarenhas

Sana Shaikh, 18, a student, shows a picture on her phone of her father Shaikh Ansar Ahmed, a retired government employee, in Mumbai. "Everything has changed. We have lost a big support, we have lost the only male member of the family. After my dad's demise I don’t enjoy things that I used to enjoy doing when he was around. My mother has obviously faced a bigger change in her life. Our life will be stable in the future but it will be extremely difficult for my mother to carry on without her husband. Public healthcare must be of high quality and free of cost for poor and middle class people in the pandemic."