Two BSF jawans and one CISF man died of Covid-19 even as paramilitary forces battled to contain the spread of coronavirus in their ranks. The number of positive cases in the Central paramilitary forces increased by 100 during the last 24 hours, taking the total to nearly 500.
The BSF on Thursday reported 41 new cases, taking the total count of active cases in its ranks to 193. The two deaths that it reported are the first in the BSF ranks due to corona virus infection.
A Head Constable of the CISF deployed in Mumbai died on Thursday morning. There are 32 active cases in the CISF across the country.
“A critically ill patient died who had contacted Covid while visiting clinics for his treatment. Other BSF man died on Monday (May 4) in Safdarjung Hospital, where he was admitted on May 3. From the normal ward he was shifted to ICU on May 4,” a BSF spokesperson said.
After his death, prior to post-mortem examination, COVID-19 test was done and result came positive by late night on Wednesday.
“Prahari pariwar is grief stricken with deaths of two BSF personnel during this pandemic. DG, BSF and all ranks mourn the untimely demise of the corona warriors of BSF. BSF fraternity conveys condolences and stands firm with the bereaved families,” the spokesperson further said.
Braving the challenges of securing frontiers, working with civil administration and while shouldering other essential responsibilities, 41 new Covid-19 positive cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, he said.
Most of these BSF personnel have been aiding the police in internal security duties during this critical phase of Covid pandemic, he added.
With the tracing of primary, secondary and tertiary contacts of earlier detected cases, testing of all such listed, mostly asymptomatic contacts, was undertaken on priority after immediately putting them in quarantine, BSF officials said.
All instructions and protocols issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are strictly followed. BSF establishments have set up well equipped quarantine/isolation centres as per the prescribed norms to prevent the contagion. The composite hospitals of BSF are dedicated COVID Health Centres (DCHC) and are diligently handling cases of BSF personnel, they added.
Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 positive cases in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) surged to 159 from the last count of 138 corona virus patients, an official of the paramilitary said. A CRPF Sub Inspector had recently died due to the pandemic.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Thursday said 37 new Covid-19 positive cases were reported in the paramilitary ranks. The total number of Covid-19 positive cases in the ITBP now stands at 82. At least 13 cases of corona virus infection have been reported in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) till now.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a tweet, “Deeply pained to know about the loss of our two brave @BSF_India soldiers, who were battling COVID-19. I join millions of Indiansin mourning their untimely demise. Condolences to the bereaved families. May God give them strength to withstand this tragic loss. Om Shanti Shanti.”