Lengpui Airport chaplain K. Biakṭhuama has quietly become a source of support for patients and grieving families passing through Mizoram's main airport.
The retired Salvation Army Major said he has received around 383 bodies brought through Lengpui Airport, many of them from Manipur.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Lengpui Airport chaplain K. Biakṭhuama has received around 383 bodies. Many of the bodies were brought from Manipur.
Around 200 patients leave Mizoram every month for medical treatment.
The chaplain offers prayers for departing patients and grieving families.
Support is provided regardless of religion or denomination.
The Mizoram government entrusted the Salvation Army with airport chaplaincy services.
In cases where relatives are not available to receive the bodies, the deceased are covered with cloth and adorned with flowers before being formally received, he said.
Major Biakṭhuama also spoke about the financial difficulties families can face while transporting bodies. In some cases, individuals come forward to help sponsor the expenses.
His work at the airport also extends to patients travelling outside Mizoram for medical treatment.According to Biakṭhuama, around 200 patients leave Mizoram every month for medical care. He regularly offers prayers for these patients and their families.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The story highlights a lesser-known support system operating at an airport where people regularly experience some of life's most difficult moments. For families receiving the bodies of loved ones, and for patients leaving home in search of medical treatment, the chaplain's presence provides a point of assistance and reassurance. The fact that the service extends to people regardless of religious background also makes it an example of community support beyond denominational boundaries.
The prayers are not restricted to members of a particular faith. The chaplain said patients and families are supported irrespective of their denomination or religious background.
The Mizoram government entrusted the Salvation Army with chaplaincy services at Lengpui Airport after the airport became operational. The responsibilities include receiving bodies and offering prayers for patients leaving the state for treatment.
The chaplaincy service therefore serves a role that goes beyond a conventional religious function, providing practical and emotional support to people dealing with illness, bereavement and travel for medical care.
Source: : Isaac Zoramsanga, Copy Editor (RNU), Akashvani News, Aizawl
