Cremated as Covid positive, two Ludhiana victims not on list of dead

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 27

A day after the bodies of two Covid patients were ferried on a cart and an auto-rickshaw for cremation without following the safety protocol, negligence on part of the Health Department in maintaining record of patients who died due to Covid has come to the fore. An inquiry has been marked into the matter by the Civil Surgeon.

Two patients — Bhagwan Shah (67) of Focal Point and Kanta Rani (60) of Amarpura — were admitted to the Civil Hospital, where they died on Sunday after testing positive.

After postmortem on Monday, the bodies were handed over to the families for cremation in sealed bags (with Covid positive marking), but as ambulances at the hospitals were busy, the families made own arrangements and ferried the bodies to the crematorium. Shah’s body was taken in an auto-rickshaw, while Rani’s body arrived at the crematorium on a hand-pulled cart.

Strangely, the details of both victims were missing from the daily deaths’ list of Covid patients shared by the administration every evening.

Sweeper sacked for giving bodies

An inquiry has been marked. Also, a sweeper outsourced by the department has been expelled as he handed over bodies to families without informing the authorities — Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar, Civil Surgeon

Lapse unacceptable: Minister

Many patients have co-morbidities, but have to be counted as Covid deaths since they were +ve. Lapse in this regard can’t be accepted — Balbir Sidhu, Health Minister

On Sunday, nine persons lost their lives in the district and only two were reported from the Civil Hospital. Both males belonged to Janakpuri and Jodhan. On Monday, 10 persons lost their lives and four were admitted to the Civil Hospital, which included two males and two females and they belonged to Jawaddi, Basti Jodhewal, Kailash Nagar and Arya Mohalla.

Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar, Civil Surgeon, has marked an inquiry into the matter. “Statements were taken and the report is likely to be submitted tomorrow,” he said.

Sunny, nephew of Rani, said they had admitted their aunt to the hospital on Saturday. The authorities told them verbally she had Covid-19 but they had no written report.

Ranjodh Singh, president of Ramgarhia Shamshan Ghat, said both bodies came in a sealed bag as positive cases.