A senior executive of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP)succumbed to coronavirus on Sunday at AMRI Hospital, Bhubaneswar. Patrick Toppo (55), General Manager (GM) in Blast Furnace Department, had been referred from Ispat General Hospital to AMRI a few days back as his condition deteriorated.The demise of Toppo is a great loss for RSP and Rourkela Steel Plant Executive Association, said association leader Bimal Bishi. The RSP has been badly-hit by the Covid surge. So far, nine RSPemployees have succumbed to Covid-19 during its second wave.During the second wave, more than 500 workers of RSP are affected with corona so far.
The spread of Covid in Sundargarh district is in its peak for last three weeks. As per reports, 80 per cent of the affected in district are from Rourkela urban area. During this panic time, good news has come that Super Specialty Hospital with 40 beds with all modern facilities has been functional from April 24 for critical Covid patients.