Oklahoma Group Working To Help India During COVID-19 Crisis

Indian community members in Oklahoma City are rallying support for their family and friends in India, as soaring numbers of COVID cases have rocked the country in recent weeks. 

Members of the Indian American community are dealing with loss after loss and living in fear for family they can’t do much to help.

Shruti Desai lost her mom to COVID-19 in February. The virus claimed her mother’s life in just five days. 

Desai missed important funeral ceremonies arranging visas and travel to India.  

“All I wanted was to go to India and to be with her, but unfortunately, I was not able too,” she said.

The travel delay and separation from her family while grieving were painful aspects of her mother’s death.

“I know there are so many daughters and sons like me who have lost their parents and I don’t want them to go through the same trauma I feel because it’s not pleasant,” she said. 

Now, travel to India is restricted, as new COVID-19 cases skyrocketed in early May. Flying over to help is no longer an option. 

 “We just want to get over that helplessness feeling, because we can’t go home. It’s...very saddening,” said Shilpa Kurella, whose parents are in India. 

Angela Oommen is a member of the India Association of Oklahoma. 

“We all know people who are affected. It’s just not our immediate family. Everyone knows people who are in the hospital right now,” she said. 

But a group of families came together to send help.

Kiran Alturi organized a bake sale. They hoped to raise a few hundred dollars but ended up making about $5,000. 

They made traditional Indian foods and snacks that were sold on Mother’s Day. 

“There is lack of oxygen. Which made us think, we need to do something about it. Aid this crisis, this ongoing crisis in India. All of my friends here, support my crazy ideas and they said we should do it,” said Alturi. 

From family to family, this group showed how the power of community can reach to the other side of the world. 

“To say that people are dying, it doesn’t do justice to what is happening over there. And the fact that many of our family, loved ones are over there, makes the experience that much more gruesome for us. But for Kiranati, (Kiran Alturi) she didn’t stop there, she made sure her loved ones are getting the help they need,” said Shreya Nuguri. 

The number of new COVID cases in India is showing a decline, but even with that, there are about 250,000 new cases average every day this week.

Donations to purchase medical equipment are being accepted through the Sai Temple website, at www.saitempleokc.org. Add the memo line COVID SUPPORT.