A 49-YEAR-OLD Indian man from Pimpri-Chinchwad has caught the attention of media after photos of him wearing a gold mask went viral.

A resident of Indrayani Nagar, Shankar Kurhade has got himself a gold mask made for around Rs 3 lakh (US$4,000).

The man said that the metallic mask was light-weight and weighed 50 grams with a few minute holes, ensuring there is no difficulty in breathing.

“I didn’t do it for publicity. I’m fond of gold,” he said.

However, Kurhade said he was not sure if the gold mask will protect him from COVID-19. “It is not the gold or cloth mask, but social distancing and hand washing that will protect human beings from coronavirus.”

Kurhade said he got the idea of gold mask after watching a video clip of a man from Kolhapur wearing a silver mask.

(SD-Agencies)