Guwahati (Assam) : A 55-year-old Sub-Inspector with the CRPF hailing from Assam , who had tested positive for coronavirus, passed away at the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The 55-year-old CRPF sub-inspector from Assam,SI Ikram Hussain was posted with 31st Battalion of the CRPF in Noida.
He is survived by his wife and son. The CRPF has contacted his brother who lives in Delhi for final rites and according to sources would be conducted in Delhi .
Hussain succumbed to his infection due to “breathlessness” during the treatment at around 4 pm, a CRPF official said.
As per reports, the CRPF official, a resident of Borbori under Sarpeta police outpost in lower Assam’s Barpeta district, had got the infection from a nursing assistant of the force who had also tested positive earlier this month.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah mourned the death of the CRPF Sub-Inspector, calling it an “irreparable loss”.
Posted with the 31st Battalion in Noida, the SI succumbed to the dreaded virus due to “breathlessness” during the treatment at around 4 p.m., an official of the CRPF said.
The SI was reported Covid-19 positive on April 24 and was admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital.
A total of 30 other CRPF personnel, who came in contact with the nursing assistant, are under quarantine at the Delhi government’s facility in Mandoli.
Expressing condolence, Home Minister Shah tweeted: “I am deeply saddened to learn about the death of the brave Sub-Inspector of CRPF who was fighting the coronavirus infection. He fought heroically with the disease until the end. His contribution to the service and internal security of the country inspires all of us.”
Shah said that he had spoken to the family members of the SI over phone .
“Losing a brave soldier of the country is an irreparable loss for all of us. I express my condolences to his family. The entire country and the Central government are standing with his family in this hour of grief,” the Home Minister said.
CRPF Director General Anand Prakash Maheshwari in a tweet said that the SI fought valiantly but succumbed to the viral infection.
“The CRPF SI contracted the viral infection on the line of duty. He faced it valiantly, but succumbed. We stand shoulder with the family in this hour of grief and reiterate our commitment to the people,” Maheshwari said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, meanwhile, has asked Maheshwari to explain how more than 40 personnel caught the virus.
Forty-seven CRPF personnel have tested positive for coronavirus so far, with 45 in Mayur Vihar alone. One Rapid Action Force constable and a personnel in Ahmedabad have also tested positive. Twelve personnel in Mayur Vihar who came in contact with the nursing attendant tested positive on Tuesday. “80% of the personnel who came in contact with the nursing attendant have tested positive. All of them have been sent to Mandoli for treatment. Others are in our quarantine facility in Narela,” officials said.
(With IANS inputs )
