SHILLONG: The last rites of Meghalaya’s first COVID19 patient were performed at Riatsamthiah Presbyterian Church cemetery at Lawmali in East Khasi Hills on Thursday afternoon.
Dr. John L. Sailo Ryntathiang, a veteran doctor of Bethamy Hospital in Shillong died at 2.45 AM on Wednesday.
“Dr. John L. Sailo Ryntathiang laid to rest at the Riatsamthiah Presbyterian Cemetery today. Kindness is the need of the hour and our gratitude goes to the Riatsamthiah Presbyterian Church for their gesture. May his soul rest in peace,” wrote chief minister Conrad Sangma in his official social media accounts.
Dr. John L. Sailo Ryntathiang laid to rest at the Riatsamthiah Presbyterian Cemetery today.
Kindness is the need of the hour and our gratitude goes to the Riatsamthiah Presbyterian Church for their gesture. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/gFjTTheNMz— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) April 16, 2020
On the other hand, a senior police officer told news agency IANS that after the doctor died of Coronavirus on Wednesday, the residents of Jhalupara, Mawbah and Shillong cantonment area and elsewhere had refused to dispose of the body.
“The original plan was to cremate the body at an electric crematorium at Jhalupara, but it was shelved as the locals objected, fearing it could pose health hazard in the overcrowded localities,” said a police officer.
“The unprecedented situation was resolved late on Wednesday night with the intervention of various authorities, government and elderly people,” the police officer said.
