Matters India Reporter

Sonada, March 31, 2020 — As the news of the death of first Covid 19 victim from North Bengal spread across the hills, panic struck sleepy Sonada town on NH 55 mid way between Kurseong and Darjeeling.

The first victim is a 44 year old woman (name withheld), who had gone to Chennai for her daughter’s treatment and returned by a SpiceJet flight to Bagdogra on March 19. A resident of 7th Mile Kalimpong, she developed cough and cold, and was admitted to North Bengal Medical College Hospital (NBMCH) on March 26 with acute respiratory problems. She died at 2.00 a.m. on Monday 30 March 2020.

Panic gripped people of Sonada town as they learnt that there were 28 passengers from North Bengal of whom 11 passengers were from Sonada area in the same Chennai-Bagdogra flight in which North Bengal’s first Covid 19 victim travelled.

Sonada’s neighbouring Gorabari village held a meeting of its elders, 30 March, to assess the situation and take urgent measures to monitor and prevent any panic.

Coincidentally, on 26 March, the very day when North Bengal’s first Covid victim was admitted for treatment, one of the oldest higher education institution in the hills, Salesian College Sonada (estd 1933) lit a memorial lamp in the college lobby to remember the victims of Covid 19.

“It is a small gesture, to remind us to pray for the well-being of all students, both present and past, faculty, staff, benefactors, friends and well-wishers, as well as the people of the hills,” says Principal and Darjeeling Diocesan Inter Faith Dialogue Commission head Dr. George Thadathil.

The ceremonial oil lamp kept in the lobby in front of Don Bosco’s statue is flanked by a navy blue panel on which is written “Salesian College remembers Covid 19 victims, students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, benefactors and well wishers.”

Also listed on the panel are names of 16 countries from where students and benefactors hail.

Every evening, 11 residential members of college community (five staff and six students) pray the rosary for the well being of the extended family members of the college.

The college’s community venture, Radio Salesian 90.8 FM, continues its daily broadcast 12 hours (8 am to 8 pm), in spite of the total lockdown in place.

Sonada is one of the small towns which most tourists zoom past on their way to Darjeeling through NH 55. It has some 2,500 house holds with 11 primary schools, 4 middle schools, 4 secondary schools, 2 senior secondary schools, and 2 degree colleges catering to students from some 20 plus tea plantations in the valleys between Kurseong and Darjeeling.