Dr KK Aggarwal, EX-IMA chief, dies of Covid aged 62
NEW DELHI: Former national president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Padma Shri awardee Dr KK Aggarwal died of Covid-19 late on Monday night.
Aggarwal, 62, breathed his last at 11.30pm on Monday at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). His condition was critical, and he was on ventilator support for the past few days, hospital authorities said.
A statement making the announcement of his death was posted on his Twitter profile at 1.59am. “It causes us immense pain to inform you that our dear Dr KK Aggarwal passed away at 11.30pm on May 17, 2021, in New Delhi, after a lengthy battle with Covid-19,” the statement said.
“Even during the pandemic, he made constant efforts to educate the masses and was able to reach out to 100 million people through numerous videos and videos and educational programmes and saved countless lives. He wanted his life to be celebrated and not mourned,” it added.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said it was a “setback for the whole nation”.
“He acted all his life for the health rights of common people especially poor, deprived n marginalized. A great human being. RIP!” Kejriwal tweeted.
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot also offered his condolences. “My heartfelt condolences at the passing away of former Indian Medical Association president, Padma Shri Dr KK Aggarwal. His services as a doctor shall always be remembered. May God give strength to his family members to bear this loss. May his soul rest in peace,” he tweeted. Dr Aggarwal was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010. He was also awarded the Dr BC Roy prize. He was president of the Heart Care Foundation of India.
“The show must go on,” Aggarwal said in one of his last videos posted on Twitter, as he sat with a nasal cannula for oxygen support.
“We have to get people out of this crisis,” he said in the video, urging doctors to see more and more patients with similar symptoms at one go during teleconsultations. Born in Delhi on September 5, 1958, he completed his MBBS from MGIMS, Sevagram, under the Nagpur University, in 1979.