Jahangeer Ganaie
Two more Covid-19 related deaths were reported in Kashmir on Monday taking the toll of the total number of deaths due to the pandemic in the J&K to 62
The two deaths include an 18-year-old youth from Handwara area of Kupwara and an elderly man from Chadoora area of Budgam
Medical Superintendent SMHS Dr. Nazir Choudhary told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) 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 an 18-year-old youth from the Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district was admitted at SMHS on June 12 as a “medico-legal case” and next day sample was taken which were 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, the family of youth claimed that their kin has died due to injuries 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.”
Nazir Ahmad Khatana, Sarpanch of the area said that their entire area is free from Covid-19, how can the government claim that youth died of the 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.
Pertinently, 62 Covid-19 related deaths have been witnessed in J&K—seven from Jammu and 55 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—(KNO)
