Ajay Koli set off on a desperate 48-hour hunt for oxygen and medical care in New Delhi after his parents fell gravely ill with Covid-19. He shared his story as the pandemic spirals out of control in India. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
April 24
Ajay Koli flies from western India to New Delhi, where his father is at a small hospital and his mother, who tested positive for the virus, is at home. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
Ajay Koli flies from western India to New Delhi, where his father is at a small hospital and his mother, who tested positive for the virus, is at home. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
April 24, 1:37 p.m.
On his way to see his mother, Ajay gets a call: His father has died. He rushes to his sister Anju’s house to tell her the awful news. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
On his way to see his mother, Ajay gets a call: His father has died. He rushes to his sister Anju’s house to tell her the awful news. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
April 24, 4:48 p.m.
Anjay Koli reaches his father’s hospital room and weeps. He touches his father’s hair, which he loved. The family often joked that his hair was like the Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
Anjay Koli reaches his father’s hospital room and weeps. He touches his father’s hair, which he loved. The family often joked that his hair was like the Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
April 24, 6:00 p.m.
Ajay can’t cover his father’s $2,400 hospital bill and pleads with the doctors to keep the body overnight. He doesn’t have the heart to tell his mother that her husband is dead.
Ajay can’t cover his father’s $2,400 hospital bill and pleads with the doctors to keep the body overnight. He doesn’t have the heart to tell his mother that her husband is dead.
April 25, 9 a.m.
An ambulance arrives at the hospital to take his father to the crematorium, but Ajay and his relatives must carry the body. An hour later at the cremation ground, his father is put next to six other bodies being prepared.
An ambulance arrives at the hospital to take his father to the crematorium, but Ajay and his relatives must carry the body. An hour later at the cremation ground, his father is put next to six other bodies being prepared.
April 25, 1:15 p.m.
At home, Ajay measures his mother’s oxygen levels. He starts panicking: “She could be next.”
At home, Ajay measures his mother’s oxygen levels. He starts panicking: “She could be next.”
April 25, 3:05 p.m.
Ajay sends a desperate plea for help. In Delhi, oxygen cylinders are now selling for more than 50,000 rupees, or $675, nearly 10 times the normal price. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
Ajay sends a desperate plea for help. In Delhi, oxygen cylinders are now selling for more than 50,000 rupees, or $675, nearly 10 times the normal price. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
April 25, 8:35 - 9:47 p.m.
His tweet goes viral. He receives a flood of messages with phone numbers. Many of the numbers are switched off. Some people ask for exorbitant rates. A relative warns him not to fall prey to the black market: “The situation is bad.”
His tweet goes viral. He receives a flood of messages with phone numbers. Many of the numbers are switched off. Some people ask for exorbitant rates. A relative warns him not to fall prey to the black market: “The situation is bad.”
April 25, 10 p.m.
Ajay gives up on his search for oxygen and cares for his mother at home. He develops a routine. Steam, three times a day, to clear her airways. Lemon water and coconut water for hydration. Fresh fruits and vegetables every day. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
Ajay gives up on his search for oxygen and cares for his mother at home. He develops a routine. Steam, three times a day, to clear her airways. Lemon water and coconut water for hydration. Fresh fruits and vegetables every day. nyti.ms/33h7p5j
Days later, Ajay still has not told his mother that her husband has died. He is now starting to feel feverish. He looks at a photo of his parents a few years after they got married. “They have had a good life,” he says. “Could I have the same for me?” nyti.ms/33h7p5j
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