Covid-19 India: Hanuma Vihari Creates A Network Of Volunteers To Help Those In Need

Cricket Image for Covid-19 India: Hanuma Vihari Creates A Network Of Volunteers To Help Those In Nee (Image Source: IANS)

Indian batter Hanuma Vihari has created a network of volunteers to help those who are distressed in the current situation of the second wave of Covid-19 in India. 

Most of his Indian teammates have also come forward to help people either financially or by giving oxygen and ventilators. Vihari, through his Twitter handle, has reached people who require instant plasma, cylinders, food, and hospital beds. 

"I don't want to glorify myself - I am doing it with the intention of helping people at the ground level, who actually need every help possible in these difficult times. It is just the start," Vihari was quoted as saying by PTI.

The middle-order batter was shocked people not being able to get a hospital bed and then decided to help them through the network of his friends and followers. 

"With the second wave being so strong, getting a bed became a difficulty and that is something which is unthinkable. So, I decided to use my followers as my volunteers and help as many people as I can. My goal is to actually mainly reach out to those people who are not able to afford or arrange for plasma, beds and essential medicine. But this is not enough. I would like to do more service in the future," he said. 

Vihari has now created a WhatsApp group of 100 volunteers including his family members and Andhra Pradesh teammates, who help in the cause. 

"I have around 100 people on a WhatsApp group as volunteers and it's their hard work that we have been able to help a few people. Yes, I am a cricketer, well known but I am able to help because of their untiring efforts to reach the distressed. Even my wife, sister, and few of my Andhra teammates are part of my volunteer team. It's so heartening to see their support."

Hanuma Vihari is currently in the UK to play county cricket with Warwickshire and will join the Indian team directly when the squad arrives in June for a long tour, which includes World Test Championship(WTC) and five test matches against England.