India and Andhra Pradesh batsman Hanuma Vihari has become a savior for many who are looking for hospital beds or oxygen tanks as the country battles the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vihari, who is currently in the UK for his country stint with Warwickshire, has been using his Twitter handle to amplify SOS calls for help. He has also created a team of 100 volunteers, comprising friends and followers from across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.
Vihari's friends and followers have reached people with plasma, oxygen cylinders, and arranged food and hospital beds for patients.
"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," the 27-year-old told PTI.
Vihari will join the Indian team directly in England when they arrive on June 3.
Vihari, like every Indian, has been shocked by the obstacles that Covid-19 patients and their families have encountered on a daily basis. The difficulties have included finding something as basic as hospital beds, oxygen supplies, and essential medicines.
"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," Vihari, who has more than 110,000 followers, said.
"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," said Vihari.
Vihari further said that he formed a network of his friends and found support from common people, his own family, and Andhra teammates like Prithviraj Yarra.
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"I built my own team. It's all about good intentions and people do get inspired and come out to help me. 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," said Vihari.
"I started as one and now we have many friends in different platforms through my following on social media. I send them requests I get and they do the search. I chip in if any recommendations are required or to post on social media. Even my wife, sister, and few of my Andhra teammates are part of my volunteer team. It's so heartening to see their support," Vihari said.
(PTI inputs)
