SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Jan 7: Two Covid positive patients managed to escape on Thursday night after dodging doctors and health staff despite heavy security for infected persons at the Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College, Dhanbad.
Health department officials said that two fled from the Covid Care ward of SNMMCH.
The third patient escaped from the Chirkunda check post of Jharkhand –Bengal border after testing positive.
Hospital authorities said that the patients who fled from the Covid care ward were Md Wasim of Giridih district and Md Inzamamul of Murshidabad of West Bengal.
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has set up two Covid care wards, Cath Lab and PG Block of SNMMCH for RT-PCR tests and providing better treatment to the infected patients.
Both the patients were admitted on the second floor of the PG block. In the evening, both jumped from the second floor of the hospital to escape. Md Inzamamul reportedly got injured while jumping and was later arrested by the security personnel.
PG Block Covid care nodal officer Dr DP Bhushan said that both the people had given applications for home isolation. However, before the hospital management made any decision, they tried to escape.
The third patient who fled from the Chirkunda check post of Jharkhand – Bengal border has been identified as a resident of Nirsa block and officials are making efforts to track him down.
Chirkunda check post of Jharkhand –Bengal border has emerged as a hotspot for infected persons. Every day, at least half a dozen cases, including four on Thursday, are found positive in tests.
The official said that due to the inadequate police force deployed at the check post, the health personnel have to face hardships in conducting tests of Bengal residents as they have local support.
The health department officials said that the main concern is that despite a comprehensive campaign, Covid cases are rising day by day in Dhanbad.
In the last 24 hours, the district registered 164 new cases till Thursday night. However, 78 patients recovered and were released from the hospital.
