Coronavirus: Amid COVID-19 lockdown, Muslim men carry Hindu woman's bier for cremation in Indore, India

Unable to find a vehicle amid the coronavirus lockdown in India, a Hindu woman's bier was carried by her Muslim neighbours to a cremation ground in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Draupadi Bai, 65, a poor woman who was suffering from paralysis and living with her elder son, died at her residence in South Toda area of Indore on Monday.

Due to the lockdown, her relatives could not reach her house for her funeral and no vehicle was available to carry the body of the deceased to the cremation ground.

When some Muslim community members residing in the neighbourhood came to know about the situation, they came forward to help the grief-stricken family.

Photos and videos shared on Twitter showed the men carrying the bier while wearing masks as a precaution against coronavirus.

They helped in making arrangements for the deceased's last rites and carried the body on their shoulders to the cremation ground located about 2.5km away from the area, according to a local news report.

The report added that the Muslim men later said they considered it their duty as the woman used to shower lot of affection on them during their childhood.

The gesture was widely appreciated by many people on Twitter. While some said that this was the perfect example of humanity coming above any religion, others said that the coronavirus pandemic was bringing communities closer. They also highlighted the need for people to provide help to their neighbours in such trying times.

Twitter user @harisiddantapu posted: "Why does religion come in between every time. We are one race and we share humanity between us."

And, @CHIRAGGOWDAZ replied: "Great gesture from these brothers... Salute with folded hands."