Dead Tarn Taran ASI’s family aghast over report goof-up

TARNTARAN:Contradictory coronavirus reports of a 55-year-old assistant sub-inspector (ASI) posted in the police’s special branch in Tarn Taran not only came as a shocker to his family but also deprived them of performing his funeral rites with traditional rituals.

Sukhdial Singh was declared negative for the virus during his treatment at GMC, Amritsar, hours before his death on Friday. But he was declared positive for the disease after his post-mortem the next day. As if this was not enough, he was declared negative again after his cremation which was held while following the Covid-19 protocol.

Only 3-4 family members, including the deceased’s son and daughter, were allowed to attend the ritual. The reports were tested at the GMC’s viral research diagnostic laboratory (VRDL). Atinderpal Singh (29), the deceased’s son, said, “How the same laboratory could give three different results in two days? We want a thorough probe into the matter.”

“This has left the whole family shattered,” said Sukhwinder Singh, 60, father-in-law of Sukhdial’s son. He said, “Sukhdial was taken to the Tarn Taran civil hospital on Thursday . He was referred to GMC after his samples were taken. His sample was collected there again and the report came negative.”

“He was put on ventilator when his condition deteriorated. Around 9:30pm, we took him to a private hospital but he was declared brought dead. When we were preparing to bring his body back to Tarn Taran we got a call informing us that he tested positive. The health staff took the body directly to his native village in Patti,” he added. Tarn Taran civil surgeon Dr Anoop Kumar said, “It was a mistake on the part of the laboratory.”

GMC principal Dr Sujata Sharma said, “It was a clerical mistake by a data entry operator but it which was rectified later.”

THE CONTRADICTORY REPORTS DEPRIVED THE COVID WARRIOR OF A PROPER FUNERAL