In quarantine, nursing officer misses his daughter: When I was leaving for duty, she said, ‘Bring me chocolate, Papa’

The nursing officer added, "COVID ward has become scary for people. I feel, just lifting their morale can make them all right, at least 50 per cent. It is depression that is disturbing them."

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he nursing officer did continuous duty in the COVID ward till April 28 and then he was advised to go in quarantine and not meet his family.

AS this 31-year-old PGI nursing officer was leaving home for his night duty in COVID ward at PGI on April 22, little did he know that he won’t be able to come back soon and bring the chocolate demanded by his two-year-old daughter. It’s 16 days now, and Bhagwan Meena has not been able to see his family.

“When I was leaving for night duty on April 22, my daughter asked me to get a chocolate for her the next day. The next day didn’t come. In fact, my wife knew that there is no date when I will come. So for 10 minutes before I had to leave, she just went in the room with our daughter and I left,” Meena said.

The nursing officer did continuous duty in the COVID ward till April 28 and then he was advised to go in quarantine and not meet his family. Bhagwan has been in quarantine at Hotel Parkview. Only after he tests negative will he be allowed to go home at Nayagaon. Meena still remembers his daughter’s words: “Bring me a chocolate when you come.”

“Since then she has been asking her mother where I am because she has never been without me for so many days,” he said. The only way Meena remained connected to his family was while speaking to the COVID patients and lifting up their morale. “I have seen those patients cry and miss their family. It is during that time that they need emotional support. I remember there was a patient who kept crying at night but I told them that look at me. I am away from family even when I am not infected,” he said.

The nursing officer added, “COVID ward has become scary for people. I feel, just lifting their morale can make them all right, at least 50 per cent. It is depression that is disturbing them.”

Meena remembers how he would share his good memories with the patients and sometimes cry when they cried missing their families. “In fact, when they would tell me how much they miss their family, I would put up a strong face but would cry from inside because I too would miss my wife and kid. Just on April 15, we three celebrated my birthday at home. I don’t know when I will get to see them now,” he said while crying.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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