For people living in Srirangam near Tiruchirapalli, Souriraajen Raghunathan is a well-known name. While most people know him as the owner of Sri Ranga Tours and Travels, a travel agency, he is also the caretaker of the crematorium near the Cauvery river in Srirangam. This was earlier managed by Mr KV, as he was famously known.
Ever since the lockdown started, he has been helping with cremating the bodies of COVID patients. More than 20 people have been cremated by him, as there is widespread fear about going anywhere near the vicinity of a coronavirus patient. Because of the absence of people to perform last rites, he had come forward and performed them himself. He had contracted a cold due to having had to shower each time he performed these rituals.
Sourirajan had a coronavirus scare recently due to this, where he had experienced breathing trouble due to congestion and phlegm. He was later diagnosed to be negative.
He is also famously known for being a Sriman thaangi, the term denoting those who carry the deity around during religious processions and periodical festivals that happen at the Srirangam Ranganathar Temple.