Lucknow: A “hero” is somebody who possess supernatural powers even to ‘bend steel’. As humans, we are pretty limited to such potential. But here we are introducing a hero without cape, 26-year-old Arshi of Shahjhanpur, Uttar Pradesh, who is fondly monikered as ‘Cylinder Waali Bitiya’ (the daughter with the oxygen cylinder) by the locals.
Arshi has been pumping hopes into the lives of people battling Covid-19 by supplying oxygen from one door to another in her district and those around it, including the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand.
Arshi lives in Madaar Khel, Shahjahanpur, and has delivered about 20 oxygen cylinders astriding her scooty so far. She does this for free with some aid from her brothers and some other associates.
Her altruistic expedition begun when her father Mashoor struggled for life-saving oxygen after being Covid-positive.
She narrated her story to news agency PTI, “We had struggled a lot to find oxygen cylinders for my father. When I approached the authorities, I was told that patients in home isolation cannot get oxygen cylinders and was advised to get my father admitted to a hospital.”
“Despite moving from pillar to post, I was not able to arrange a cylinder. As desperation grew, I somehow managed to get one from the office of the city magistrate,” Arshi told PTI.
“I then came in contact with a social organisation based in Uttarakhand through WhatsApp which provided oxygen for my father, and he subsequently recovered from the illness,” she added.
Ever since, anyone who is in need of oxygen contacts her on WhatsApp or phone, and Arshi starts her aid efforts.
The young woman has received many laurels for her heroic actions risking her own life.
Kudos to Arshi!!
