The total death toll in India due to COVID-19 has already exceeded 200,000, amid the intensifying crisis in that country due to the spread of the virus.
At the same time, India also recorded a new record high in daily cases after 360,960 people there tested positive for the disease on Wednesday.
Since the pandemic began, nearly 18 million people have tested positive for the virus in India.
It would be terrible for a Filipino in India to describe the situation there.
Victoria Singh from New Delhi said that the beds and oxygen tanks in hospitals are gone.
With the number of deaths per day, the remains lined up in crematoriums are piled up.
“Sometimes people when they die, they don’t have place to cremate, so they just put on the road and they just threw their tradition and they pray, they cut the trees, they just put that one and [set them on fire]. You know it’s very worst,” she said.
Filipino describes tragic situation in India due to COVID-19
Singh was a close friend of one of the 2 Filipinos who died in COVID there.
She even spoke to her when she tested positive on April 23, but just three days later, she died.
“Tumawag sya sa akin, ang sabi nya 2 to 3 days may lagnat siya… Because may issue din po siya ng high blood kaya di ko rin po alam anong nangyari last moment kasi lockdown din po sa amin, wala po kaming magawa,” said Singh.
According to Philippine Ambassador to India Ramon Bagatsing, Jr., the remains of the 2 Filipinos have yet to be repatriated to the Philippines. India is locked down due to the surge and the ashes will remain in the funeral home while the relatives or employers have not yet picked them up.
The embassy is in contact with the relatives of the victims.
Other Filipinos who tested positive for the disease were isolated.
“Malaking bagay ang Filipino community dito. Sila ang nagaasikaso and we are in communication also with the relatives. Ang primary na nag-aasikaso d’yan ay ang employer at ang mga kasama natin ditong Filipino community,” said Bagatsing.
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