Kupwara Leprosy Patient, Rainawari Woman Declared Positive After Death, Ramban Reports First Death

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 23 (GNS): A doctor was among at fourteen thirteen persons who died due to covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday. The deaths take overall fatality count in Jammu and Kashmir to 335.

Sources said that Srinagar reported five deaths, Kupwara three including a leprosy patient who was declared covid-19 positive four days after the death, two deaths were reported from Baramulla while one fatality each was reported from Kulgam, Budgam, Bandipora and Ramban—the first death due to the virus in mountainous district so far.

Official sources told GNS that the doctor, Shabir Ahmad Malik, was posted as Medical Officer, RBSK/ National Health Mission Gurez where he might have contracted covid-19 infection while treating patients.

“He Tested Positive on July 7 and was admitted next day. His second test came negative on July 10 and was discharged from SKIMS Soura on July 15,” they said.

On Monday last, they said, he developed symptoms and complained of breathlessness and was shifted to SKIMS Soura again.

“He had hemoptysis (coughing up of blood or blood-stained mucus with sudden fall in oxygen saturation. His SPO2 was 84%,” they said, adding, “X-ray Chest showed Bilateral Pneumonia.”

Survived by two little kids and wife, the doctor, a resident of Bata Mohalla Sumbal Bandipora, died, they added.

Meanwhile, the Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo and Director Health Services Kashmir expressed deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the doctor.

“The Medical fraternity described Dr. Malik as a true Covid warrior and prayed to the Almighty for eternal peace to the departed soul and for patience and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss,” an official spokesman said in a statement issued here.

Regarding Ramban fatality, they said, the 25-year-old youth from Suligam village was sampled for covid-19 on July 15 and had tested positive subsequently. “He was admitted in isolation ward of GMC Hospital Jammu on July 21,” a senior doctor at GMC Jammu told GNS, “adding, “He was a known case of Potts Spine (Spinal tuberculosis) and was on ATT for the last 10 months. Besides he was also suffering from jaundice and had Rt sided thigh and Gluteal Abcess.” The doctor said that the youth was put on oxygen on July 27 and died 5.30 a.m, today. The youth’s death was the first fatality due to the virus in Ramban district.

The Kupwara deaths include a 72-year-old Tengchak Lolab, a 70-year-old from Batpora and a middle aged man from Maratgam, who was working in Revenue department.

Regarding 72-year-old, they said, he was brought to Kupwara for medical checkup where doctors advised him for COVID-19 test. “On July 23 he died naturally at his home as he was a hypertensive and Leprosy patient. His report came positive today,” a senior health office functionary told GNS.

Regarding the septuagenarian, the official said, he died at Wayan heath centre and his test came positive for the virus while the revenue official was admitted in Handwara hospital on July 22 and was referred to Srinagar where he died later.

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old man from Nagbalkhag Budgam, who was admitted to SKIMS Soura on July 23, as a case of “hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bilateral Community Acquired Pneumonia died at 8:15 a.m., a senior doctor at the tertiary care hospital told GNS.

The other victims include a 60-year-old woman from Nowhatta, a 62-year-old man from Batamallo, a woman (age not available) from Rainawari whose sample returned positive after death, an 85 year-old-man from Barzulla area, a 79-year-old man from Habba Kadal here, a 72-year-old patient from Eidgah here and a 64-year-old resident from Rangreth, who was declared brought dead at Chest Diseases Hospital after he was shifted to SMHS Hospital besides a 59-year-old man from DH Pora Kulgam and a 75-year-old man from Noorbagh Sopore and a 70-year-old man from Pattan with “bilateral pneumonia”.

So far 311 deaths have been reported in Kashmir and 24 in Jammu division. Srinagar district with 99 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (65), Kulgam (27), Budgam (24), Anantnag (21), Shopian (20), Pulwama (19), Kupwara (20), Jammu(15), Bandipora (10), Ganderbal (6), two each in Rajouri and Doda and one each in Ramban , Poonch, Udhampur, and Kathua. (GNS)