Yet another serving prof in AMU dies

: Yet another serving professor in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) of Aligarh Muslim University died on Tuesday. Noted physician Prof Shoaib Zaheer, 55, died in Delhi where he was undergoing treatment for past the 20 days.

The exact reason for his death is not known. To note, 15 AMU professors have died of Covid and three of non-Covid ailments in the past 20-25 days.

AMU spokesperson Prof Shafey Kidwai confirmed the death but said, “We are yet to know the exact reason behind death of professor Mohammad Shoaib Zaheer who was under treatment in Delhi.”

Besides working at JNMC, prof Shoaib Zaheer also worked at the Consultant College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia and Diwan of Royal Court, The Palace, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

It may be recalled that till Monday, 18 serving faculty members at AMU have died, out of whom 15 died because of Covid-related reasons. The cause of three other deaths was nonCovid. “There are more deaths, which include retired faculty members and staff at Aligarh Muslim University,” said Dr Rahat Abrar, the public relations officer of AMU.

“These deaths have taken place in the past 20 to 25 days. Concerned by this, the AMU vice chancellor has written to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for genome sequencing of the virus active on the campus,” Dr Abrar said.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) is affiliated to AMU and situated on the university campus.

There are about 5,000 non teaching staff and around 1,700 teaching staff at AMU.

In all, 18947 people have tested Covid positive in Aligarh till date and 98 deaths have been reported, as per government sources.