Meerut Twins die hours apart after battling COVID-19; days after their 24th birthday

As India continues to combat dely wave of COVID-19 pandemic, a family in Meerut has lost twin sons pertaining to post COVID-19 complications. duo turned 24 a day before y tested positive for virus. 

Born three minutes apart on April 23, 1997, to Gregory Raymond and Soja Raphael, both employed as teachers in St.Thomas School Meerut, identical twins Joefred and Ralphred Gregory bread ir last on Thursday and Friday respectively in a city capital. y received a call at around 11 pm on May 13 from hospital saying ir 24-year-old son Joefred Varghese Gregory h passed away due to COVID. Earlier that day, Joefred h complained of breathing issues. 

Meanwhile, Ralphred who was in same hospital was also battling for his life after his condition deteriorated. And when Ralphred spoke to his parents and enquired about Joefred’s health, he immediately sensed something was wrong, even though, his mor said that Joefred h to be moved to a hospital in Delhi. “Maa, you are lying. Something has happened and you are not telling me,” Ralphred told his mor. And, very next day, Ralphred also succumbed to COVID-19.

Twins turn 24 a day before testing COVID-19 positive

According to ir parents, twins who were engineers celebrated ir 24th birthday this April and both contracted COVID-19 a day later. Residents of Meerut’s Cantonment area, Gregory family initially treated brors at home, thinking fever would subside, however, it didn’t. ir far Gregory said that both his sons were isolated at home after testing positive for virus.

He ded, "Amid increasing cases of corona in Meerut, our area was among containment zones. For this reason, I was treating m at home. I thought ir fever would subside but it did not happen. y died on May 13 and 14 due to COVID-19. When oxygen levels of both sons started dropping below 90, doctors vised us to mit m to a hospital to monitor ir health for two more days in COVID ward. n, suddenly, on evening of May 13, my wife got call. Our world crashed.” 

“Three days later, our world came crashing… When Joefred died, I h a sixth sense that Ralphred would not make it. Simply because y were inseparable,” far said.

“I hope two brors are at peace, toger”: Gregory 

Gregory claimed to have mitted his sons to a private city hospital on May 1. parents stated that first corona report of ir sons came positive but after a few days, ir second RT-PCR report h come negative. y furr said that doctors were planning to shift duo from COVID-19 ward to ICU. 

Gregory said that on April 13, he came to know his son Joefred h died of post COVID-19 complications, after which he h decided to move Ralphred to a hospital in Delhi but he too died next day on May 14. Raphael ds, 

“I hope two brors are at peace, toger.”

two brors who pursued B Tech toger from Karunya University in Coimbatore, were working from home in Meerut due to COVID situation in country. While Joefred worked in Accenture Pvt Ltd, Ralphred was with Hyundai Mubis Company. Following ir death, family has been holding prayer meetings to find peace and strength.

(With ANI inputs)