In Surat, this Muslim man performs all Hindu rituals for Covid victims brought for funeral

As undertaker, Abdul Malbari has seen some of the worst disasters — 1998 Gujarat cyclone, 2001 Bhuj earthquake, 2013 Kedarnath floods. And now, he adds 2020 Covid to the list.

Abdul Rehman Malbari gives Gangajal to the deceased in with accordance with Hindu last rites | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Surat: Abdul Rehman Malbari, who has been an undertaker for unclaimed bodies for most of his 62 years, has, during the course of the coronavirus pandemic, stepped up in an even more remarkable fashion.

From the Gujarat cyclone in 1998 to the Surat floods of 2006, the Bhuj earthquake of 2001 and the Mumbai and Kedarnath floods in 2005 and 2013, Abdul has always been on the spot, doing all he can to give the many victims the final send-off they deserve.

Whether it means burying them or cremating according to different religious rituals, or even dispersing their ashes, Abdul has left no stone unturned in performing all of these rites for people whom no one else comes forward for.

More recently, since Covid-19 has hit the country, he has taken on even more responsibilities and has become one of the undertakers helping out the Surat administration with the final rites of those who died due to the virus. The Surat Municipal Corporation has entrusted his organisation, Ekta Trust, with the cremation and burial of the bodies of Covid victims.

Since March, Abdul has disposed of more than 1,200 bodies of Covid patients, of whom around 800 were Hindu. Although he has been taking every precaution possible, he still contracted the virus towards the end of March, but returned to work as soon as he recovered.

ThePrint’s National Photo Editor Praveen Jain brings you his story in pictures.

Abdul Malbari often waits until well beyond midnight before he goes home in case there is someone who needs to be cremated or buried | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Abdul prepares to perform the last rites for a Covid victim | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

When Abdul leaves for the crematorium, he carries PPE kits with him to wear during the final rites | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

At the crematorium in Surat, Abdul dons a PPE suit before performing any funeral rites. He himself tested positive for Covid in March | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Abdul Malbari has around 40 people working with him to ensure unclaimed bodies are disposed of with respect and dignity | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

At the crematorium, Abdul makes sure the body of a Covid victim is covered with a yellow cloth on which Lord Ram is printed | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

All the paraphernalia needed for a Hindu cremation is used, including coconuts and camphor | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Abdul ensures each rite and ritual is performed dutifully and that the deceased are paid every last respect | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

At the moment, Abdul has around 20 pots of ashes to be disposed of | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Since the pandemic struck India, Abdul Malbari has cremated and buried hundreds of victims of the virus. He is known as the ‘laawaaris laashon ka dost’ (friend of unclaimed bodies) in Surat | Praveen Jain | ThePrint