Former Union Minister Turns Out To Be Covid-19 'Super Spreader' In Ladakh After His Death

Former union minister Phunsog Namgyal had tested positive for the coronavirus a day after his death. More than 100 people who attended his funeral have been put under quarantine.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

Ladakh: The deceased Congress leader and the former union minister Phunsog Namgyal tested positive for the deadly virus a day after his death, but the damage was done. His two daughters and eight primary contacts tested positive for the Coronavirus while 145 of his primary contacts have been put under quarantine. The 83-year-old reached home ten days ago from Delhi after which his condition deteriorated. He passed away on Monday. But hundreds of people participated in his funeral and last rites as he was the known figure for Buddhists in the Union Territory given his decades-old stint as a Congress leader, music teacher, and a spiritual leader as well. A team of doctors had taken his samples the results of which came a day after death that was positive. But the damage was done. Almost all his contacts were prime suspects besides his family members, especially two daughters, who were taking care of him. Today, Namgyal’s two daughters tested positive while his 145 contacts, who had visited his home when the news about his death spread. Officials say that 145 contacts who visited former minister to participate in the last rites and to offer condolences have been put under quarantine. Medical Superintendent, Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) hospital Leh, Dr. Tsering Samphel confirmed that two daughters of the former minister have tested positive for Coronavirus. “A number of samples were collected from primary contacts of the deceased whose tests are awaited. So far, 145 primary suspects have been put under quarantine,” he said. He said eight close contacts of the deceased have already tested positive who have been kept in an isolation ward at SNM hospital Deputy Commissioner Leh, Sachin Kumar has constituted a high-level three-member Committee to enquire into lapses in the protocol in handling Covid-19 suspect’s body and has sought a report within two days for further course of action into the same. As per the protocol and guidelines issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA), the body of all the suspects must be kept in the mortuary until the final sample reports are collected after which proper standard operating procedure (SOP) has to be followed for the burial/ last rites with attendance of very few people under the close vigil of administration. Congress leader Phunsog Namgyal had remained a member of the then Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council from 1960-73 and then from 1974-80 until he got elected to seventh Lok Sabha. Four years later in 1984, he was re-elected to Lok Sabha and severed the Central government as union deputy minister between 1988-89. WATCH | Covid & Nisarga, Maharashtra faces the worst this year | Bharat Ki Baat