Senior Govt Doctor Dies of Coronavirus in Bengal; Mamata Banerjee Salutes Sacrifice

In her tweet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also hailed the sacrifice of Biplab Kanti Dasgupta and expressed her heartfelt consolation to Dr. Dasgupta's bereaved family members and colleagues

Photo: PTI/AFP

West Bengal: A senior doctor-cum-health official with West Bengal government's health and family welfare department, who had tested positive for novel coronavirus earlier this month died at a hospital here on Sunday. The 60-year-old doctor posted as an assistant director of the state health services and in-charge of the Central Medical Stores, was initially admitted in a state government hospital, but transferred to the private health facility on April 18, and put on ventilation as he developed respiratory problems. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences in a tweet that said she was "deeply pained at the untimely demise" of state assistant director, health services, Central Medical Stores, Biplab Kanti Dasgupta. "We have lost Dr Biplab Kanti Dasgupta, Assistant Director, Health Services, West Bengal in the early hours of today. He was Assistant Director of Health Services, Central Medical Stores. We are deeply pained with his untimely demise," she said on her twitter handle.

His sacrifice for the cause of ailing humanity will ever be in our hearts and will make our COVID warriors fight the deadly virurs with even greater determination. My heartfelt condolence to Dr Dasgupta’s bereaved family members and colleagues. (2/2)

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 26, 2020

In her tweet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also hailed the sacrifice of Biplab Kanti Dasgupta and expressed her heartfelt consolation to Dr. Dasgupta's bereaved family members and colleagues. The condition of Dasgupta worsened on Saturday, and he passed away at 1.30 a.m. on Sunday. A hospital source said the official also had diabetes and hypertension. It was still not clear whether the state government would categorize his death as one due to COVID 19 or because of other comorbidities. Hospital sources said the official's wife is also under treatment after having contracted the virus. A number of employees of the Central Medical Stores have been sent on quarantine after the official tested positive for the viral disease. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said the death was indicative of the health system collapsing and situation spinning out of control. Ghosh further said, "On Friday, a media person suspected COVID 19 case died. On Sunday, a senior health official passed away. He was corona positive. Those in the frontline of the fight against coronavirus are not only contracting the disease but are also dying. I think the situation is going out of control,".