Kashmir records first coronavirus death
Amid cries of negligence, govt announces probe
Srinagar: A 65-year-old man infected with the coronavirus died at Chest Disease (CD) hospital Dalgate, Srinagar in the early hours of Thursday as Kashmir recorded its first death due to the disease, official sources said. The man had a medical history of illness with diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
“Despite our best efforts, the COVID19 positive patient at Chest Disease Hospital, passed away due to cardiac arrest. The patient had medical history of prolonged illness with Sugar, hypertension and obesity,” they said.
The patient is said to be a resident of a posh area in uptown Srinagar (though he is originally, a resident of north Kashmir) who had a travel history to various places besides being part of a ‘Tablighi Jamaat’ attended by people from Indonesia and Malaysia.
As of now, eight persons have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Kashmir Valley while the tally of such patients in the entire J&K has gone up to 11. Three cases were reported from Jammu earlier this month.
Following the death, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered an inquiry to fix responsibility as to why a COVID-19 suspect, who later tested positive, was allowed to leave a hospital where he had gone for treatment with signs of infection.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole, taking serious note of the lapse, had on Wednesday directed Medical Superintendent and head of the chest medicine department SKIMS hospital Bemina to explain their position forthwith.
He also directed Additional Commissioner Kashmir Tassaduq Hussain Mir to inquire into the matter for action against the officers.
Mir has been directed to submit a report within two days.
Pole said the inquiry had nothing to do with the coronavirus patient who died on Thursday.
“The inquiry has been ordered not for punitive purposes but with curative objectives so that such incidents are not repeated,” the Divisional commissioner told PTI.
According to a report furnished by the Principal SKIMS Medical College, the patient had reported to the casualty department of SKIMS Hospital Bemina on Mar 21 along with his travel history and was found to be a COVID-19 suspect.
The report said the patient, who tested positive later on, was not handled as per the required protocol.
The report castigated the hospital administration for not informing the district administration and police as the patient had a travel history and showed symptoms of COVID-19 but was not admitted.
“The patient has been given ample time to spread the virus by intermingling with public and relatives,” the report added. (with PTI inputs)
KV Correspondent
