Two days after daughter’s death, bereaved mother rejoins Covid-19 duty in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: Ground fell out beneath her feet when Gauri Behera, a home guard at Pipili police station in Puri district, received tragic news of her minor daughter’s death while performing the lockdown duty on April 24. Like any mother, it may take months or even years for Gauri to overcome her life’s biggest shock of losing her child, who was just 13 and had been fighting against liver cancer for last one year. However, setting aside her personal grief, the bereaved mother joined Covid-19 duty only two days after her daughter’s death.
Gauri’s sacrifice and call for duty has made her a lockdown hero before chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who on Saturday praised her and expressed condolence on her daughter’s death. “She is an inspiration for others. Despite in grief over her 13-year-old daughter’s death, she did not discontinue her duty. Her sacrifice is highly praiseworthy,” Naveen tweeted in Odia.
Gauri (43) said her daughter Lopamudra had been suffering from liver cancer for past one year. Gauri was on lockdown duty on street and her child was at home on April 24 when the mother received a phone call about Lopamudra’s worsening health condition around 8 pm. “I rushed home in my bicycle. By the time I reached home from police station, which is around 3 km, my daughter was no more. My world came crashing down,” said Gauri, who joined home guard, an auxiliary force in Odisha police, in 1998.
Gauri said she joined duty on April 26, two days after the tragic incident. “My husband ditched me several years ago. I am staying with my ailing parents and a mentally-retarded younger brother. I have to work to earn our livelihood. I urge the government to provide me financial help,” she said.
Puri SP Umashankar Dash appreciated Gauri’s commitment for work. “We all feel sorry for the tragedy in her life. Still, she showed her resolve and set an example for others,” Dash said.
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