Siliguri man tests positive for Covid, dies - Five patients in Kurseong had returned from Delhi

SNS, SILIGURI, 5 JUNE 20: A 58-year-old resident of Pradhannagar under Ward 45 in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) today became the second person to die of Covid-19 in Darjeeling district and the third in north Bengal. He breathed his last at the Desun Hospital in Siliguri that the government has taken over to treat suspected patients. As he died today, officials later conformed that he had tested positive for the virus.

The death comes two months after a 53-year-old railway employee and a resident of Ward 47 died of Covid 19 at the North Bengali Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) on 5 April.

Family members said the man used to earn a living by imparting music lessons to his students. Health department officials said the person did not have any travel history and was admitted in the hospital on 3 June of after being referred by the NBMCH. Darjeeling district chief medical officer of health Dr Pralay Acharya confirmed the death.

"The body was not handed over to family members, but was cremated at Sahudangi, on the outskirts of Siliguri, in the evening as per the guidelines laid down by the union health ministry for Covid- 19 deaths" sources said.

Another 28-year-old resident of Matigara in Siliguri also died at the same hospital today. He, however, tested negative for Covid- 19, sources

said. On the other hand, at least eight fresh cases were detected in the last 24 hours in Darjeeling district. Four of the cases are from SMC areas.

Five persons, including a 31-year-old woman from Kurseong have also tested positive for the virus, officials said. All of them had recently returned to Gourishankar, Giddha Pahar, Mahanadi and Springside areas in Kurseong from New Delhi, sources said. All of them were in quarantine in community centres in their respective areas, it is learnt.

44 more cases in Malda

Another 44 migrant workers were tested positive for Covid- 19 in Malda last night, taking the toll of affected persons in the district to 202. Yesterday's count was the highest detected in a single day so far in Malda. Among the affected, 17 hail from English Bazaar, 15 from Gazole, three from Manikchak, two each from Kaliachak-II and Ratua II, and one each from Harishchandrapur-II, Chanthal-I, Chanchal-II. Ratua-I and Habibpur.

One fresh case in South Dinajpur

In South Dinajpur, only a single fresh case was detected, while 13 patients were discharged from the Covid hospital after they recovered. The total number of cases in the district stands at 42 and 35 of them have won the Covid fight and have returned home so far, officials said.

Chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Anit Thapa today said the relief fund the GTA relief fund

GTA had been collecting would be used whenever the situation demands.

The 'Chairman GTA Relief Fund' has been formed to help people in distress, mainly tea garden workers, during the Covid- 19 pandemic and the lockdown, with many contributing and donating in it. Around Rs 1.99,28,111 has been collected until 3 June.

Talking to reporters at Dudhia under Mirik sub-division, Mr Thapa said. "We have not used anything from the Relief Fund that is being collected with more people contributing even now. I feel that in the hills, such a large amount close to Rs 2 crores has never been collected before"

"There are positive cases being reported almost every day, and the situation could worsen, which is when we plan to use the funds. Right now, we are seeing many organizations distributing food materials and no one is dying of hunger," he said.

Quarantine centres

State tourism minister and MLA from the Dabgram-Fulbari Assembly constituency, Gautam Deb, has said around 10 areas had been identified for setting up of quarantine facilities in the constituency. The area does not have any quarantine centre and the chairman of the board of administrators of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Asok Bhattacharya, has been saying that no such facility has come up for the 14 added wards (31-44) which fall in Jalpaiguri district and under the constituency.

Mr Deb said he held detailed discussions with the Jalpaiguri district administration over this.

On Mr Bhattacharya's allegation of lack of coordination of the Jalpaiguri administration and the health department with the SMC, Mr Deb said that being a representative of the state government, Mr Bhattacharya could directly talk to the government.

(Courtesy, source- The Statesman- https://epaper.thestatesman.com/2701932/Siliguri-The-Statesman/6TH-JUNE-2020#page/2/2)