Kangpokpi: Girl in quarantine pays last respect to father in coffin

Our Correspondent
KANGPOKPI, May 31: Donning full Personal Protective Equipment, she stepped down from the ambulance and kneeled down besides the coffin paying last respect to her father.
This was an emotional scene of a 22-year-old girl, Anjali Hmangte paying last tribute to her father at Kangpokpi Ward No 13 today.
Anjali had returned to the State via special train on May 25 and since then she has been staying at the quarantine centre opened at Maria Montessori School, Koirengei.
Unfortunately, her father after a prolonged illness expired yesterday night at their residence. Considering the situation, the Ward Chairman with the permission of Kangpokpi Town Committee had requested the district administration and Chief Medical Officer to arrange for Anjali to meet her father to bid the last farewell before his last rites.
Following strict protocol and with the permission of the district administration and Chief Medical Officer, Imphal East, Anjali was brought this morning from Maria Montessori School, Koirengei by an ambulance with volunteers in separate vehicles.
On reaching her home, the area was cordoned off with the assistance of the local youth and Anjali was guided by the volunteers under the supervision of Medical Superintendent in-charge, District Hospital Kangpokpi, Dr Paotinlal Haokip.
She stood before her father's coffin and kneeled down while minister of the burial ceremony, Pastor J Lunkim prayed.
“Dad I am sorry, please don't be upset that I would not be able to spend more time with you on your last rites. Dad, be happy that you have done everything you could do for me,” said inconsolable Anjali with tears.
She spent merely three minutes with her father and after that she was escorted to the ambulance and back to the quarantine centre.
After, she left, fire service personnel sanitised the whole area under the supervision of Dr Paotinlal Haokip.
The burial ceremony was conducted this afternoon following protocol at Kangpokpi cemetery.
A similar incident had happened earlier at Sagang in Churachandpur district.