Congress leader dies, tests Covid-positive

SANKHA GHOSH, SNS, SILIGURL, 17 JULY 20 : Veteran Congress leader and former Darjeeling district party president, Uday Dubey, died here late last night. His swab samples have tested positive for Covid-19, while the report came in only after his death.

Dubey, 66, was associated with the century- old Mina Sanunilani in Siliguri, and suffered from fever and breathing problems. He had been holding the post of the president of the Mina Sammilani. However, he was not actively associated with politics later.

Political leaders from the Trinamul Congress and the CPI-M expressed sadness over his death.

Dubey was admitted in the Siliguri District Hospital late last night after initiatives taken by state tourism minister Gautam Deb. He, however, died there after some time.

"He had been my political mentor. I entered politics with his guidance. We had a long association of more than four decades. I immediately took the initiative for his treatment when I came to know about his illness at around 10 pm yesterday. But it pains me that we could not get good time for his treatment. I am deeply saddened at his untimely demise," Mr Deb said. Dubey lived in Ward 17, the same area where the minister also lives.

Coordinator of Ward 16, Sujay Ghatak, other Congress leaders including Subin Bhowmik and Kuntal Goswami, and district Trinamul Congress president Ranjan Sarkar were present at the hospital. The body was later cremated according to the guidelines of the government.

Meanwhile, around 55 fresh Covid cases have been reported in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area. Sources said Ward 27 recorded 10 cases, Ward 39 six, and Ward 19 four cases, among other wards. Three cases each were also found in Matigara and Naxalbari.

Also, 37 patients were discharged from different Covid treatment facilities in Siliguri today, officials said.

Containment zones

The administration has declared 31 places under four gram panchayats under the Rajganj block in Jalpaiguri district as containment zones.

Eight areas under Fulbari I, seven under Fulbari- II, seven under Dabgram-I and nine of Dabgram-II GPs now come under the zone.

"The decision has been taken to stop further spread of Covid-19 infection. Police will take steps to effectively enforce the decision," a senior administrative officer said.

Meanwhile, with personal initiative of the minister and Dabgram-Fulbari MLA, Gautam Deb, food and other essential items were given to people in the area for 15 days, Mr Deb said he has stood by thepeople since the first day of the lockdown in March and will continue to extend his support.

(Courtesy & source- https://epaper.thestatesman.com/2753520/Siliguri-The-Statesman/18-TH-JULY-2020#page/2/2)