Daijiworld Media Network - Davanagere (MS)

Davanagere, Jan 30: Most of us just ignore any dead body of a stranger that is lying on the street or at any other place thinking of the hassle behind giving it a decent burial or cremation. However, a person of this district does the work of getting the orphan dead bodies, most of which have died due to accident, to their next of kin in addition to taking the injured people to hospital in his own vehicle.

Zakir Ali, a resident of Channagiri taluk in the district is the perfect example for selfless service. He has been doing this noble act tirelessly for the past 21 years. He has taken the dead bodies which were highly mutilated or decomposed in certain cases to their heirs.

Zakir, who sells firewood for a living had been to the forest one day. He saw a vehicle that had hit the tree that was on teh side of the road. Six people had died on the spot. Some of them had writhed in pain and sought help in the blood soaked condition but no one had gone near them. However, Zakir, without even thinking for a second, took all of the injured to the hospital and got them treated.

In the past 21 years, Zakir has admitted more than 1,500 people, who were injured in various accidents, to the hospitals. In addition, he has handed over more than 2,500 dead bodies to their next of kin. He, himself has conducted the final rites to the dead bodies whose next of kin information was not available.

Zakir reports to the accident spot at anytime of the day or night, when someone calls him for help. The government has honoured him with 'Jeeva Rakshaka' award for his exemplary service to the humanity.