Husband Plants More Than 400 Trees After Wife Dies Gasping For Oxygen

A husband who lost his wife due to the oxygen shortage during the second wave of Covid-19 in India is now setting an example to the world by planting hundreds of trees.

Dhruval Patel, a resident of Anand, in Ahmedabad, along with his 15-year-old son Purva, has planted more than 450 trees to diminish the oxygen crisis in the country by replenishing oxygen in nature.

Patel, a paint contractor by profession, lost his wife, Neha to Covid-19 last month.

"It’s been one month – she left us on May 12 at 9.35 am, gasping for breath. We tried everything, but could not revive her. We had a married life of 17 years – and we hardly stayed away from each other. Thus, these 30 days have not been enough to prepare for the rest of my life," The Times of India quoted Patel as saying.

He told the news outlet that a Hindu priest, who helped him perform the last rites of his wife, inspired him to embrace the initiative essential for life to flourish

"The pledge had started at Siddhpur where I had been to perform Neha’s post-death rites. The Brahmin there asked us to take a pledge to plant and sustain at least three trees. Giving reason for the pledge, he told us that the wood used to cremate our bodies is not planted by us – it’s a gift from someone else. Thus, we must pay it forward," says Patel. "His words touched me, and I decided not to stop at three."

Patel said four of the five members in his family had tested positive for Covid-19 when the second wave of the deadly virus shook the country.

"Along with Neha, my son, my father, and myself were also down with infection. Only my mother tested negative. Neha’s condition deteriorated very fast, and she needed critical care on the third day of infection," Patel recalled.

"I have seen her gasping for breath, and I pray to God that nobody should go through such an ordeal."

"We met each other for the first time in 2000 and acquaintance took the shape of friendship and eventually love. As we belong to the same community, we could convince our families for the union. We got married in 2004," says Patel.

He says that his wife’s death has given his life a new meaning and a spiritual bend.

"She loved to reach out to the needy. Thus, I started volunteering with a local temple. I regularly collect ashes from a local crematorium and take it to Haridwar for immersion. This time, Neha’s ashes would also travel with me," added Patel.