J&K: Former legislator from Rajouri dies of Covid, UT’s toll at 784

at 1:50 pm
Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A former legislator from J&K’s Rajouri district, Thakur Rashpal Singh, died due to coronavirus this morning, health officials here said.

Singh, a resident of Sialsui Kalakote, who was also senior National Conference leader, had won elections several times from the Kalakote assembly segment of Rajouri. He also served as Vice Chairman of the State Kissan Advisory Board during Omar Abdullah led government in 2009-15.

The officials said that the former legislator developed some medical issues last evening and was taken to SMVDN hospital in Katra where he breathed his last at around 2 AM. He was tested positive for coronavirus and was having multiple ailments at the same time, they said.

“I have been informed that former legislator has been tested positive for coronavirus,” said Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajouri, Mohammad Nazir Sheikh. He said that the deployment of police has been made in the area to prevent any large gathering for funeral.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic in J&K, the deadly virus has claimed 784 lives that include 63 from Jammu and 721 from the Kashmir region. Srinagar district alone has 263 cases, highest in the J&K UT.

-ARK/RJV