Trooper dies of COVID-19 infection in Kashmir

SRINAGAR — A 40-year-old paramilitary CRPF personnel, posted in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, and a 35-year-old resident of Khanyar Srinagar died of COVID-19 at two hospitals here, officials said on Monday.

With the two deaths, 43 people in Jammu and Kashmir have succumbed to virus so far in J&K—38 in Valley and 05 in Jammu division.

Confirming the death of the paramilitary trooper, Professor Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent SKIMS said that the swab samples of the 40-year-old, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, were taken on June 05 which subsequently returned positive for the pathogen.

“He expired on June 07 due to cardiopulmonary arrest. The patient was diagnosed with ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome),” he added.

Sources said that the personnel was posted with CRPF’s 90 Battalion at Uranhal Anantnag.

Meanwhile, a 35-year-old man from Miskeen Bagh Khanyar died last night at CD Hospital, hours after he was shifted from SMHS Hospital after he tested positive for the virus, Medical Superintendent, CD Hospital, Dr Salim Tak, said.

“He was admitted in SMHS Hospital. Soon after his swab sample returned positive for COVID-19, he was shifted CD Hospital where he died,” he said.

With the latest fatalities, the death toll due to the virus in J&K has gone up to 43.

So far, Srinagar district with 12 deaths due to the virus has the highest fatalities, followed by Baramulla (seven), Anantnag (six), Kulgam (four), three each in Shopian and Jammu, two each in Budgam and Kupwara while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Doda and Udhampur.