Thread by @reuterspictures

Reuters met with families across India who lost a loved one to coronavirus. They were ordinary people from all walks of life, and included police officers and doctors on the frontlines of the fight against the virus reut.rs/34fJpiP

Javed Ali, a 42-year-old doctor in New Delhi, died in July. 'He was taking all the precautions while continuously working on the frontline without any breaks until he got symptoms. I am proud of him; my children are proud of him.' reut.rs/34fJpiP

When Tilak Raj's mother was hospitalized, there was no oxygen in the ambulance. Once they arrived at the hospital, the cylinder provided was empty in five minutes. 'If we had a better health system, my mother would have survived.' reut.rs/34fJpiP

Sunita Patil’s husband Vivek, a 46-year-old music teacher, died at home in Mumbai before a bed at a local hospital became available. 'I have two young daughters with almost no income. It will be very hard for us to live without my beloved husband.' reut.rs/34fJpiP

Shabana Ahmed, a 52-year-old architect, died in New Delhi in April. 'What really upsets me more than the healthcare system was the behavior of society. My sister’s neighborhood boycotted her family. There was no emotional or moral support even after her death. Society failed us.'

Rekha Khandait’s 58-year-old husband Jayant is one of more than 200 police officers who died from the virus in the western state of Maharashtra alone. 'I can’t believe that six months have passed. I still haven’t told our son yet about his death.' reut.rs/34fJpiP

‘Since my mother died, my life has changed… I miss my mom a lot, as everyday she used to ask me where I was going, when will I be back home, the moment I used to step out of our house.’
More stories of lives lost to COVID in hard-hit India: reut.rs/34fJpiP