Covid-19 claims life of Jalandhar's popular Paranthe Wale Bebeji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 31

Having gained popularity through a viral video about six months ago, 70-year-old Paranthe Wale Bebeji who used to make paranthas and serve them to her customers till midnight at the Phagwara Gate market passed away here on Sunday. She died after a brief illness.

Riding her cycle and carrying stuff, including wheat flour and boiled potatoes, along, she had become a popular face in the city. The district administration as well as the Punjab State Women Commission had come forward to offer Paranthe Wale Bebeji some financial support. Even CM Capt Amarinder Singh had offered her Rs 1 lakh aid on humanitarian grounds from the CSR funds.

Kamlesh Kumari, popularly known as Bebeji, had been running her shop for the past over 30 years. Women Commission chief Manisha Gulati paid a visit to her stall. She sat there and savoured her parantha. She had also gifted her a blanket and heard her personal issues for working despite being aged. Bebeji, however, said her children did not earn enough to meet the expenses of her medicines and other needs and hence, she always found it more convenient to work and make her own income.

She had said she had no grudges against her son and daughter. Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori had also presented her a cheque for Rs 50,000 at her residence in Parkash Nagar locality.