Two retired officers get Covid OSDs duty

Surat: The state government appointed two retired government officers as officers of special duty (OSDs) for Covid-19 in Surat even as the number of cases continue to spike every day.
RJ Makadia, a retired IAS officer and V P Machhar, a retired GAS (Gujarat Administrative Service) officer, were appointed in Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).
According to the order issued by municipal commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, Makadia will oversee the city's east zone (Varachha) and New East Zone (Sarthana) besides monitoring the Covid-19 spread in the diamond and textile industries.
Machhar will monitor the Covid-19 control room at SMC-run SMIMER hospital and other related activities in the south-east zone, home-based treatment and civic body's surveillance.
In addition, GB Mungalpara, additional collector of Surat, will oversee 104 helpline operations and supervise Dhanvatari Raths in the city
On Friday, Surat city reported 161 fresh and Katargam zone crossed 1,000 mark.
Three Covid-19 patients succumbed to the virus, taking the death toll to 152. The deceased included a 63-year-old man from the central zone, 55-year-old man from Rander zone and 65-year-old man from Katargam zone.
Meanwhile, 62 patients also recovered and were discharged on Friday.