BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The grave health crisis being experienced by India – the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic – is worrying the Indian community in this city.
In an exclusive interview with Panay News, Rakesh Kumar, a community member of the Punjabi Khalsa Diwan on Hervias Road, Barangay Villamonte, said members were advising families and relatives in India to limit their movement to acquiring basic needs only.
“Gina hambalan namon sila, isa lang [maguwa] para sa needs sa balay,” Kumar said. “[As much as possible] didto lang gid sila sa balay nila.”
Kumar said they have been sending food and facemasks to families in India through the Khalsa Aid International – a non-profit organization that gathers donations from all over the world.
The organization not only helps COVID-19 victims but also assists victims of natural disasters.
In the Indian-state of Maharashtra and New Delhi, Kumar noted, they have been receiving news of substantial new cases of COVID-19.
Kumar said they also reminded their families and relatives to stay away from gatherings.
So far, he said, their families back home have escaped the crisis, pointing out they were living far from the cities.
Kumar was somewhat relieved that India already started vaccinating people aged 18 and above to contain the spread of COVID-19. But he said some family members and friends were hesitant.
Aid is coming in, Kumar said, such as from Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
“Maybe by next week, we hope na magnubo na man gid ang kaso,” he said.
The Punjabi Khalsa Diwan is also actively helping the city government of Bacolod and Negros Occidental provincial government. It has provided water and facemasks to medical frontliners and financial assistance to local government units.
“Kasi diri na kami [ga-istar]. Ang amon mga kabataan [diri na nagdako]. Mabulig gid ang Punjabi community,” he said.
As of May 1, India recorded 392,488 new COVID-19 cases, with 3,673 deaths recorded in one day alone.
The country reported a total of 19,549,943 COVID-19 cases with 215,454 deaths./PN
