“Where Will I Go Now?”: 10-Year-Old Boy Breaks Down After Losing Both Parents to HIV in Etah

Etah, Uttar Pradesh: A heart-rending incident that shook the conscience of all present unfolded at the Etah Medical College, where a 10-year-old boy, Sunny, sat beside his mother’s lifeless body, repeatedly asking, “Where will I go now? Who will carry my mother’s bier?”

Sunny had already lost his father seven months ago due to HIV infection. His mother, his only remaining support, had been undergoing treatment at the medical college for the past week but succumbed to the same infection on Thursday. After her death, Sunny waited desperately for relatives to arrive for the last rites, but no family member came forward.

Moved by the boy’s plight, the police and district administration intervened. On Friday, with no relatives present, the police performed the last rites of Sunny’s mother, arranging all necessary preparations.

At the post-mortem house, Sunny sat inconsolably beside his mother’s body, crying bitterly and repeating the same haunting question about his future. He said the family belongs to a village under the Jethra police station area. Now, only he and his 17-year-old sister remain in the family.

Sunny also made serious allegations against his uncle, claiming that both he and his sister face a threat to their lives. He alleged that his uncle wants to kill them to grab their ancestral land. Following this, the police assured the child of protection and safety.

After the incident, officials from the Child Helpline, Probation Department, and other concerned agencies reached the post-mortem house to assess the situation and initiate steps for the children’s rehabilitation and welfare.

The tragic episode has once again highlighted the vulnerability of children affected by disease, social stigma, and abandonment—and the crucial role of the administration in stepping in when humanity fails.