Cop defeats Covid in 4-week battle

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 11

Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Harmesh Lal is one of the several frontline Covid workers, who contracted infection while on duty. It was a tough struggle for four weeks that saw him survive and get back to normal.

The 52-year-old ASI was posted on guard duty at the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, where Covid patients are admitted. On August 15, he felt slightly tired. On August 16, he fell unconscious while on duty. He was immediately admitted to the Civil Hospital on a level-2 unit where he tested positive.

However, his health deteriorated the next day as he was also a diabetic. On August 17, he was shifted to the DMCH, Ludhiana, to a level-3 bed attached to a ventilator. Till the time he finally recovered, it had been a day-to-day rather minute-to-minute struggle for this cop.

His condition continued to deteriorate at the DMCH too and his oxygen level dipped further. His case was monitored through videoconferencing by the state advisory board from the state headquarters.

While a patient has to survive and struggle inside the ICU, it is equally difficult for his/her family members outside the hospital. Harmesh’s family members, including son, a BA student, and daughter, an MBA, who got married a few months ago, camped outside the hospital all these days.

On Friday (September 11), Harmesh walked out of the DMCH completely recovered, albeit with some weakness, which is fallout of Covid. He spent 24 days in the Covid ICU. While it saved his life, but it was not an experience anyone would wish to have.

“The site of a dead body is horrible and nauseating. Watching someone die because of the same disease you are suffering sends shivers down your spine. Only the luckier ones among them live to tell these tales and I was one of them,” says Harmesh.

He recounts with despair as how at times he had to eat while a dead body was lying on one side of his bed. “Most patients are unable to eat in such a situation. But, one has to eat, particularly someone, who is a diabetic,” adds Harmesh.

He expressed his gratitude towards Punjab Chief Minister and the DGP for keeping a watch on his health with the help of the state advisory group and also thanked his boss the Ludhiana Commissioner of Police (CP), Rakesh Agrawal, who personally monitored his treatment at the DMCH and ensured whatever was needed was done.

“In 90 per cent cases, Covid does not affect much and patients only have mild symptoms like cough and fever for a few days. In some cases, it gets serious and at times even life threatening. People with co-morbidities (diabetes or hypertension) like Harmesh are more vulnerable,” the CP said.

“One injection required for Harmesh was to be delivered by a company in three days, but his condition deteriorated. So, I arranged injection on the same day,” the CP added.

It was encouraging to receive ASI Harmesh amidst beating of drums, garlands and showering of flower petals on Friday, the CP said.

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