PAYYANUR: Jainesh left without getting the last kiss from his beloved ones. His intimate ones including his mother and siblings bid him good-bye standing at a distance. Jainesh (36) died while undergoing treatment at Kalamassery Medical College Hospital for symptoms similar to coronavirus. As he was not tested positive for the virus and the reason for his death not clarified, his body was kept for people to pay homage under extreme safety precautions.

The body of Jainesh wrapped in 10 white clothes and three plastic bags, was kept in the house only for 10 minutes. None of his close relatives were permitted to go near the body and touch it. The face was shown after removing the plastic bag. The chairs were placed two metres apart from the table where the body was laid and through that people were allowed to pay homage.

Six of the local residents wearing clothes and accessories ensuring safety led the cremation. He was cremated at the community crematorium near his house. Soon after the cremation, the dresses of those standing there were set on fire in the cemetery itself. The scenes of the burial ground were reminiscent of the days when the Nipah virus was the biggest challenge in Kerala.

Jainesh, who was an employee of a supermarket in Malaysia, reached Kochi Nedumbassery Airport on February 28 with symptoms of coronavirus. He died while undergoing treatment at the isolated ventilator in Ernakulam Govt Hospital.