Aarif Khan, an ambulance driver who drove countless Covid-19 patients to the hospital and ferried over 200 bodies for cremation, succumbed to the virus on Saturday morning at the Hindu Rao Hospital in Delhi. Khan had fallen ill on October 3, following which he had undergone a Covid-19 test and tested positive for the virus.
The 48-year old had been employed with Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal, an organisation providing free emergency services in Delhi-NCR. He had stayed in the ambulance parking lot for the last six months, 28 km away from his house in Seelampur, Delhi.
“We met only when he came over to pick up something, like clothes,” said Aadil, his son, who also said that Aarif had only made brief visits to his house since March. “We were always worried about him, but he never bothered about Covid. He just wanted to do his job well,” said Aadil, adding that Khan had been unwell the last time he came home.
Aarif Khan was the sole earning member of the family, with a monthly income of Rs 16,000, of which Rs 9,000 is paid towards house rent. Aadil said that his brother and he did odd jobs but had been out of work lately.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu took to Twitter on Sunday to convey his condolences to Khan’s family. Lauding his selfless service, he said, “My condolences to the bereaved family members of ambulance driver, Aarif Khan of Delhi. He rendered selfless service by ferrying close to 200 bodies of Covid-19 patients for their last rites. It is saddening to learn that he succumbed to the coronavirus.