2 more COVID-19 related deaths in Kashmir, toll reaches 26

Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, May 27

Two more people have died due to coronavirus in Kashmir Valley, taking the COVID-19 death toll in J&K to 26. Out of them, Kashmir has recorded 23 deaths.

At least 100 people have been tested positive for the virus.

While a 55-year-old man of Fateh Kadal, Srinagar, died at the chest disease hospital on Wednesday, another 70-year-old man from Sarnal, Anantnag, died at Government Medical College Anantnag.

The Anantnag man had died yesterday and his sample for COVID-19 came out positive today.

Officials said the Fateh Kadal resident was shifted to CD Hospital Srinagar from SMHS on May 18 as operated case of “Exploratory laprotomy with Appendicectomy” after testing COVID-19 positive.

“Today the patient developed sudden cardiac arrest. Patient was immediately intubated, coupled to ventilator and resuscitated. Patient developed another cardiac arrest but after that he could not be revived,” Nodal Officer Dr Salim Khan said.

More cases of COVID-19 were reported from Kashmir on Wednesday. The new cases included that of a driver of the CD hospital and few cops in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Meanwhile, amid criticism over harassments of healthcare workers, J&K Police resorted to ‘Gandhigiri’ to placate angry doctors and frontline workers in Kashmir.

On Wednesday while some police officers were seen giving roses to the doctors and healthcare workers outside the Lal Ded hospital in Srinagar, at various health institutes policemen were seen distributing sweets.

Some police officers also held meeting with health officials to get to know the issues they are facing during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“It was a good initiative by police. But we want every policemen on the ground should emulate such gestures and ensure smooth passage of the healthcare workers during the lockdown,” said a medico.

A police spokesman said in order to show solidarity and support to Covid warriors, including doctors, paramedic staff, nurses and other frontline workers, J&K Police facilitated them across Kashmir Valley.

The police move to reach out to doctors and medicos came a day after the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar issued directions to all Senior Superintendents of Police to brief the police officers and personnel deployed on Covid-related duties and other checkpoints to facilitate the smooth movement of the Covid warriors, especially the doctors and paramedics.

J&K Police has faced lot of criticism in past few days after a senior cardiologist, chief medical officer Bandipora and four senior doctors of LD hospital were allegedly harassed by police.