NAGPUR — Probably for the first time, the central India city of Nagpur saw Muslim volunteers conducting last rites of two elderly Christian men who died due to COVID-19 on Wednesday and Thursday. One at a private hospital and another at a trust-run one.

The man, who died at private hospital, was living alone in city while his family lived in Mumbai. As they were unable to reach in time, the family permitted Jamiat Ulema Hind (JUH Arshad Madani) volunteers to perform the last rites at Jaripatka Cemetery, the Times of India newspaper said.

The other deceased’s relatives and friends had assembled at the cemetery on Thursday evening. The volunteers alleged they faced stiff opposition from nearby residents who feared spread of infection in the area.

The volunteers not just brought the bodies to the cemetery but also lowered them in the graves as the cemetery staff didn’t come forward. The same day, the volunteers also helped cremate an elderly woman’s body — who had died of COVID-19 — at Manewada.

The volunteers are assisting Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). JUH, Dawaat-e-Islami and JUH (Mehmood Madani) volunteers are now conducting last rites in the city.

Initially, a group of professionals and businessmen was roped in by NMC to perform last rites of Muslims. As COVID deaths surged, NMC was struggling to conduct last rites the same day. The new teams also included experienced members from the first group of volunteers to guide others.

JUH (Arshad Madani) Nagpur secretary Javed Akhtar said so far they had performed last rites of eight Hindus at Gangabai Ghat and Manewada Ghat. “Our main focus is on burial of Muslim bodies. But when NMC hearse vans are busy, we are called to transport other bodies as well. We are doing it as service to society,” he said. — Agencies