Virus claims lives of many Keralites in NY-NJ

New York: Several Indian Americans, most of them originally from the state of Kerala, have died in the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging in New York-New Jersey area.

Many Keralites work in healthcare and have been at the frontline of the epidemic, and a sizable number work in the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which runs New York’s subway system. Both groups continually come in contact with at-risk people.

The administration has been criticized for the fact that subway trains are still running, though services have been reduced.

Thomas David, 47, and Thankachen Mathew, 51, both MTA employees died last week.
Kunjamma Samuel, 85, in New Jersey, Eliyamma John, 65, a nurse at Queens Hospital were among those who died on the following days. The death of Shawn Abraham, 21, son of community leader Saji Abraham, shocked the community since many people still assume that young people are safe from the coronavirus. While about 12 Keralites have died, according to Malayalam news portals, many more are in hospital, several of them in critical condition.

Veteran journalist dies of the coronavirus

Indian-American journalist Brahm Kanchibotla died of COVID-19 on the morning of April 6 after spending nine days in a hospital, his son Sudama Kanchibotla said.

Kanchibotla, 66, was a correspondent for United News of India. During his 28-year career in the US, he worked for 11 years as a content editor for Merger Markets, a financial publication, and at News India-Times, a community newspaper. He emigrated to the US in 1992 after working for several publications in India.

Sudama Kanchibotla said that the family was not sure how his last rites could be organized, given the restrictions in New York.

"We have not set a date. It will have to be a very small gathering because only 10 people are allowed at funerals," he said.

Brahm Kanchibotla exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 on March 23. When his conditions worsened, he was admitted to a hospital on Long Island on March 28 and given oxygen, Sudama Kanchibotla said.

On March 31, Brahm Kanchibotla was put on ventilator; on April 6 he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Besides Sudama, Brahm Kanchibotla is survived by his wife Anjana and daughter Siujana.