Set up high-level probe into 2 Covid patients’ death, DM tells BHU V-C

VARANASI: District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma has written a letter to vice chancellor, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar, urging him to constitute a high-level committee to probe the deaths of two Covid-19 patients who were undergoing treatment at Sir Sunderlal (SSL) Hospital of the central university.

Giving this information, Sharma also said a magisterial inquiry had already been ordered to the two incidents. A two-member team will probe the incidents and submit its report within a fortnight, he added.

In the first incident on August 23, A 21-year-old Covid-19 patient allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the fourth floor of SSL, BHU, where he was admitted, doctors treating him said.

The kin of the deceased alleged negligence on part of the SSL hospital—a charge denied by the hospital. Hospital medical superintendent prof SK Mathur said the patient was admitted to the emergency of SSL on August 16 due to some mental illness. During treatment, his sample was sent for Covid test on August 19 and his report came positive on August 22 following which he was shifted to Covid-19 ward the same day.

“He was being treated by experts. The behaviour of the patient was very unusual. He left his bed time and again and went to other patients. Even on August 23 morning, the patient made a bid to jump through the window. At that time, he was pacified and brought back to the bed. He was given medication and counselled,” Mathur said.

In the second incident, the body of a 25-year-old coronavirus patient, who went missing from the Covid-19 ward of Sir Sundar Lal Hospital’s super speciality block two days ago, was recovered from the hospital premises on Monday night, a university official said. Prof SK Mathur, medical superintendent of the hospital, said it appeared that the patient had tried to come down from the second floor of the hospital building with the help of a pipe and, as the pipe broke, the patient fell.

The body was found below, hospital staff took it to the mortuary. The hospital administration has informed the police.