How Darjeeling, the Queen of Hills, fought COVID-19 sans infrastructure

Darjeeling: Ryan Sangay Gelek is a nine-year-old from Darjeeling. And like many his age, Ryan too has a piggy bank to save whatever he can. But unlike other children, he won’t be using his money to buy his favorite toy or, as is common these days, video games. “I want to help people. I have collected some money in my piggy bank. I want to donate all that I have for COVID-19. I have Rs. 9,500,” Ryan said in a touching message. 

Ryan’s actions, however, are not a standalone act. His act is, in fact, an apt reflection on how Darjeeling, the Queen of Hills, battled every possible odds to script a success story in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic. 

Despite being one of the most famous, if not the most famous hill station of India, Darjeeling has only six ventilators catering to over 1.5 lakh residents.