Covid-19 Pandemic: Three more deaths reported, toll touches 63
79 CRPF men, army soldier among 179 persons test positive
Srinagar: Kashmir valley on Monday reported three more deaths due to Covid-19 taking the death toll in Jammu and Kashmir to 63, officials said.
The three deaths include an 18-year-old youth from Handwara area of Kupwara, an elderly man from Chadoora area of Budgam and an 80 year old from south Kashmir’s Shopian area.
Medical Superintendent SMHS Dr Nazir Choudhary said that over 70-year-old man from Chadoora area of Budgam who was admitted as a patient of bilateral pneumonia on June 14 and he died on the same day.
“His samples were taken and his body was kept in GMC mortuary. His reports came as positive for the virus today,” the doctor said.
He further said that that an 18-year-old youth from Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district was admitted at SMHS on June 12 as a “medico-legal case” and next day his sample for Covid-19 was taken which tested as positive.
“He had a severe injury in his head and he died on Monday morning. It is difficult to judge whether he died of covid-19 or head injuries. But he was a positive patient for Covid,” the doctor said.
He said that through postmortem things will be clear as to what caused the boy’s death. However, family of youth claimed that their kin has died due to severe injuries and not due to COVID-19.
Liyakat Ali, uncle of deceased said that his nephew was thrashed by some persons in a scuffle in which he sustained serious head injuries.
“He died of injuries and not of covid-19,” Ali said. “Those involved in assaulting him should be brought to book,” he demanded.
Nazir Ahmad Khatana, Sarpanch of the area said that their entire area is free from Covid-19, how can government claim that youth died of virus?
“He had no travel history, no contact history, then how he turned out to be Covid-19 positive,” the Sarpanch questioned and demanded that the matter must be investigated at the higher level.
Meanwhile, officials said that police in this regard have registered a case under FIR No.FIR. No. 59/20 under section 307, 452, 323 and four persons were so far questioned in this regard.
Later on Monday evening, an 80-year-old man from Sedav Shopian with underlying diseases died at CD Hospital, two days after he was admitted there.
“He was diabetic besides had pneumonia and COPD. He died today,” Dr Salim Tak, medical superintendent CD hospital said.
Pertinently, 63 Covid-19 related deaths have been witnessed in J&K—seven from Jammu and 56 from Valley. Srinagar district with 15 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla 11, Kulgam eight, Anantnag six, five each in Shopian and Kupwara, four in Jammu, three in Budgam, two in Pulwama while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri.
Meanwhile, 79 CRPF personnel, an army soldier, and a policeman were among 179 fresh cases of novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir which were declared by the government on Monday. The cases, also include two pregnant women and as many shopkeepers besides 29 travelers, taking the overall tally of the covid-19 patients to 5220.
Official sources said while 126 cases were confirmed at viral diagnostic laboratory at SKIMS Soura, 53 cases were reported from various other laboratories.
Giving the district wise breakup of the cases, officials said Anantnag district reported 79 followed by Shopian (19), Srinagar (15), Kupwara (10), Pulwama (8), Udhampur(7), six each in Baramulla, Budgam and Samba, Ramban (4), three each in Kulgam , Bandipora and Reasi besides ganderbal (2) while one each from Kathua and Kishtwar.
Sources said that among the cases, 14 were confirmed at the CD hospital’s diagnostic laboratory and included a soldier (31) from 42 Rashtriya Rifles stationed at Tral, a 40-year-old policeman from Awantipora police station, two pregnant women—both aged 32-year-old each, one from Wanpoh and Rahmoo—besides as many shopkeepers—45-year-old female from Duderhama Ganderbal and 50-year-old male from Drabgam Pulwama.
Dr. G H Yatoo, Nodal Officer Coronavirus Control Measures at SKIMS, said that out of the samples processed at the viral diagnostic lab today, 126 returned positive for the virus.
Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, told that among them 79 are from CRPF Battalions, 19 from Shopian, 14 from Kupwara, six from Baramulla, three from Bandipora and one each from Ganderbal, Srinagar, Budgam, Kulgam and Kupwara.
The CRPF cases are from 90 battalion Urnhal Annatnag, 132 Batallion Santnagar Srinagar, 79 battalion Sonawar besides 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 101, 102, 105, 107, 108 batallions Anantnag. The Baramulla cases are from Delina and Gutyar while those from Kupwara include people from Tanghdar, Kiigan, Khurhama, Yamler, Daril Vilgam, Dardpora and Harie. The Shopian cases include are from Sedow, Matribgugh, K-Ullar, Nehama Kul, Gadipora and Kadigam while out of the samples taken at SKIMS three tested positive and they include one male each from Khansahib Budgam, Pandach Ganderbal and Batamaloo while Bandipora cases are from Ward 5 and Barnoie.
Dr Riyaz Untoo, Principal SKIMS Bemina, told that out of 602 samples processed at the hospital’s lab, 18 tested positive for COVID-19 and included 15 from Srinagar and three from Budgam—55-year-old man from Ichigam, 29-year-old man from Riayar and 68-year-old woman from Wadwan.
Regarding Srinagar cases, he said, they include one male (53) from Safakadal, 62-year-old man and 53-year-old woman from Batmaloo, 5 persons—3 male (aged 15, 23, and 24) and two female (aged 23 and 24 years)— from Bemina, three females (15, 18 & 43 years) from Alamgari Bazar , a 40-year-old man from Burzhama besides 46-year-old man (from DH pora,), 28-year-old from Shopian and 42-year-old from Anantnag, all working as Employees in Srinagar. (with inputs from KNO, GNS)
