Former intelligence agent, 20 others succumb to virus

LUCKNOW: A former intelligence agent who had risked his life for the country lost the battle against Covid-19 on Monday after waiting hours for a hospital bed here. Twenty others also died during treatment for Covid in Lucknow, where 6,035 patients were discharged and there were 4,566 new cases.

The former agent could not be admitted to hospital despite having fulfilled all documents with the Covid command centre.

“The process for his admission was going on as per the protocol. Since Covid positive cases are to be taken to designated hospitals, the process was being done,” said Dr Sanjay Bhatnagar, chief medical officer of Lucknow. Having worked in Pakistan for India, the agent had even gone to jail. Manoj Ranjan

Dixit was left at the Wagah border by Pakistan in 2005. He lost his wife in 2013. Since then, he was living in Lucknow but lost the job of storekeeper during the lockdown.

He tested positive for Covid-19 on April 21 and was in home isolation with fever. A film producer sent medicines. When his condition worsened, a request was made for a referral letter from the integrated Covid command and control centre. At about 11pm, the process started. Around 2am, the papers were readied for Era, Lok Bandhu and Balrampur Covid facilities. Efforts were made till 4am, but the admission could not be done, and he breathed his last.

Meanwhile, the active cases in the state capital came down to 50,627 from 52,068.