Assam: Teen celebrates 'special' birthday at COVID Care Centre with fellow patients & frontline workers

Palashbari: The fact that life goes on although the threat of COVID looms large over our us was exemplified by a birthday celebration of an 18-year-old in a Palashbari COVID Care Centre in Assam's Kamrup district. The teen this year celebrated her birthday with the COVID-19 frontline and other patients -- all of whom did their best to cheer her up on her special day.

Heartwarming visuals from the birthday celebration show the 18-year-old birthday girl, Priyanka Bhattacharjee, cutting a cake while being cheered on by people who up until recently were complete strangers to her. The COVID-19 patients at the Palashbari COVID Centre, including some tiny tots, raised their voices in song with cheerful renditions of "Happy Birthday to You" bringing a smile on the face of the birthday girl.

Despite the phobia of the COVID virus, which has already killed over 500 people in Assam, and over 80,000 across India, the people at the centre shared the simple joy of enjoying a little get together, by leaving their worries behind.

Priyanka, on her part, hailed the doctors, nurses, and health workers for their tireless battle against the virus and exemplary care towards their patients.'

"I am not simply praising you for celebrating my birthday, but for working so hard for us for so many months at a time when our own family members are afraid to approach due to fear of the virus," the birthday girl spoke into a microphone. "You have fulfilled all our requirements while maintaining a polite and courteous front at all times. For that, I salute the frontline workers of the Palashbari COVID Care Centre."

The young girl further went on to laud the efforts of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for enabling free COVID-19 treatment in Assam. "All of us cannot afford private medical facilities. Thus, I am grateful for the authorities for making COVID-19 treatment affordable for us," she said.

Also Watch: Watch: What Arunachal Pradesh CM Does to Beat the Stress, Stay Fit