All her colleagues still do not believe that Lini PN is no more. A nurse by profession, Lini got infected by a deadly viral fever Nipah while attending her patients in a hospital and she breathed her last on Monday, May 21.
Recent reports say that fear has gripped the northern part of Kerala as this deadly viral fever has claimed many lives. Lini got infected by the virus while attending two brothers, who later died of the illness. This is the first confirmed case of fatalities in the state.
After falling sick, Lini died in the early hours of Monday in the EMS Cooperative hospital at Perambra. Even though there are no confirmed reports that Lini died of Nipah; her family members including her husband Sajeesh who flew down from Bahrain weren’t even allowed to see her body for one last time, mentioned Indiatimes report.
To prevent the possible spread of the virus, her body was cremated by the hospital staff. After her death, a letter has surfaced in which she had bid goodbye to her family. The letter was addressed to her husband Sajeesh where she apologizes for not being able to meet him for one last time. She also asks her husband to take care of their two children.
“Sajeeshetta, am almost on the way. I don’t think I will be able to see you again. Sorry. Please take care of our children. Poor Kunju (son), please take him to the Gulf with you. Don’t be alone like our father. Please. With lots of love…“
At Perambra Taluk hospital, Lini was a contractual staff and had two children Rithul and Siddharth who are aged two and five. Even though the children are yet to realize that they have lost their mother forever and she won’t be coming back from work again, Lini’s friends have hailed her sacrifice, calling it an act of extreme courage.
In a Facebook post, Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran expressed grief and through a tweet said- “Dear sister, I can’t get this letter off my mind. Kerala will always remember your courage.”
പ്രിയ സഹോദരി, ഈ കുറിപ്പ് മനസ്സിൽ നിന്നു മായില്ല. കേരളമെന്നും ഓർക്കും ഈ ധീരയേ. ആദരാഞ്ജലികൾ.
Posted by Kadakampally Surendran on Monday, May 21, 2018
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a tweet, said that it was an unparalleled sacrifice and the whole state stands with the family in the time of grief.
Further, the pediatrician who was arrested for the death of infants at the Gorakhpur earlier this year- Dr. Kafeel Khan has come forward praising Lini’s act and calls her “an inspiration”.
Now on a bail, he has offered to work at the Calicut Medical College during the time of crisis.
To this, the Kerala CM says, the government will accept help from all medical experts, including him for the welfare of the state.
Dr Kafeel Khan’s request to serve in Nipah virus affected regions has come to the attention of CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Even in the face of danger, many doctors continue to toil for the benefit of society, without being mindful of their own well-being. Dr Khan is one among them.
— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) May 22, 2018