Kolkata: Bagri Market trader dies, family quarantined – Times of India

KOLKATA: After two of his shops at Bagri Market were destroyed in a fire last year, he would often tell his family that God had bigger plans for him, an irony that has returned as a blow to them.
The businessman, who lost two sprawling and well-stocked shops in the blaze that devoured the wholesale market, died last week after he tested positive for Covid-19. The death of the 45-year-old businessman, known to be a friendly and cheerful person, has left his family, friends and business colleagues in Bagri Market in complete shock.
His wife, two children and ailing parents have all been quarantined in their Burrabazar home.
“It is shocking and unbelievable,” said a cousin over the phone. “Ever since the lockdown started in March, he would only step out to purchase groceries and medicines for his ailing parents. He suddenly started complaining of fever and discomfort. We took him to a private hospital off EM Bypass, where he passed away,” said the cousin.
The trader lived with his family in Burrabazar, which has emerged to be a sensitive zone, with stricter lockdown restrictions being imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Multiple people from the area have tested positive for Covid-19.
When his shops in Bagri Market, which were located right on the main road, were gutted, his business faced losses worth crores of rupees.
“He was in a bad shape financially. Their life turned upside down overnight after the fire destroyed their shops. For the past 18 months, he had been visiting markets and supplying goods to make a living out of it,” said another a trader at Bagri.
Relatives recalled the set-back had made him more resilient and he was preparing to start his business from scratch. “He would often tell his wife and parents that God had bigger plans for him. None of us could even imagine what was in store for him,” said the cousin.