Two more police officers die of Covid
NEW DELHI: Two Delhi Police officers posted in central and outer districts died of Covid-19 between Saturday and Sunday morning, taking the total number of deaths in the police force to three since May 5, when the first death of a constable was reported.
Senior police officers said the two, both assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs), died while being treated for the virus at the Army Base Hospital.
More than 500 police personnel in Delhi, including two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, have tested positive for Covid-19 so far.
The Capital has so far registered 19,844 cases of Covid-19, and 473 deaths. As many as 1,295 people tested positive for the disease on Sunday alone, the largest single-day spike in the city yet.
Deputy commissioner of police (central) Sanjay Bhatia said 54-year-old Shesh Mani Pandey, posted as a fingerprints expert in the central district’s mobile crime scene inspection team, died on Saturday evening.
Bhatia said Pandey, a former Army jawan who joined the Delhi Police in 2014, was tested for the virus at Lady Hardinge hospital on May 26 after he complained of fever and cough.
“On May 28, the report confirmed he had been infected with the virus. Pandey was admitted to the Army Base hospital the same day. He died on Saturday evening,” Bhatia said.
Four police personnel from the mobile crime team and two of his family members have been tested and quarantined, Bhatia said.
Pandey is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Sunday’s death, Vikram, posted at the Sultanpuri police station in outer district died of Covid-19 at the hospital, where he was admitted on May 26.
According to the statement, Vikram had tested negative in two earlier Covid-19 tests, conducted on May 11 and May 22.
“On May 26 morning, Vikram started facing difficulty in breathing at his Kirari Suleman Nagar home. He got himself admitted to the hospital and the same evening he was shifted to Army Base Hospital. In the third test, his report came positive. Around 11.30 am on Sunday, he died during treatment,” the statement read.
MORE THAN 500 POLICE PERSONNEL IN DELHI, INCLUDING TWO INDIAN POLICE SERVICE STAFF, HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 SO FAR