The National Security Guard (NSG), India’s federalcounter-terrorist commando force, on Wednesday has reported its first Covidrelated death after a senior commander succumbed to the infection.
According to the officials, Group Commander (coordination)BK Jha contracted the infection around April 19. After his health deterioratedhe was admitted to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) Hospital in GreaterNoida where he breathed his last early morning.
As per the officials, CAPF medical team earlier informedthat Commander Jha’s health is improving however his condition deteriorated onthe intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Upon realizing the critical condition of the commando,top NSG officials asked the doctors to put him on a ventilator. Unfortunately, thetwo ventilators at the CAPF were ‘non-functional.
Later, officials started making calls to the top medicalfacilities including AIIMS Delhi, but the hospital denied arranging an ICU bedat such short notice.
Following this, contact was made with the Fortis Hospitalwhere a vacant bed with a ventilator was available. However, there was anotherchallenge in the way as no ambulance was available.
While arranging a ventilator and an ambulance, crucialtime was wasted and when the NSG dispatched one of its Advanced Cardiac LifeSupport Ambulances (ACLS) was already late.
When commando Jha was taken into the ambulance andsuffered a cardiac arrest, which could not resist and died on the way to thehospital.
It may be noted here that the deceased officer wasworking with one of the administrative units of the force and was not in thecombat wing, officials added.
53-years-old Jha was a 1993-batch officer of the BSFcadre, hailed from Bihar. In 2018, the officer joined the NSG on deputationfrom the BSF and had served as the principal staff officer and commandant tothe BSF director-general.
To pay obeisance to the deceased officer, the NSG took toits official handle of micro-blogging site and wrote, “DG and all ranks of NSGmourn his death and remember his distinguished service to the Nation. MayAlmighty rest his noble soul in eternal peace and give strength to his familyto bear the loss.”