Covid-19 positive man commits suicide in Patna city, second such incident in 24 hours

PATNA: In less than 24 hours of under-treatment Covid-19 positive youth committing suicide by jumping from AIIMS-Patna building, another Covid-19 person allegedly committed by hanging himself from a ceiling fan inside his residence at Tathagat Nagar under Malsalami police station area in Patna City on Saturday morning.
The deceased was identified as Ravi Kumar (35). Police said he was tested positive for coronavirus on July 16 after which he was in home isolation. The incident took place at around 9.30am.
Ravi’s body kept lying inside his house till late in the evening due to Covid-19 protocols. Local sources said that after the incident, even his family members came out and did not enter the residence. Police also didn’t go inside the home to gather details for investigation out of fear.
They said one ambulance had reached the spot in the morning to take the body to Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) for post-mortem but had to return as they were not equipped with PPE kits.
Malsalami police station SHO Sudama Kumar Singh said they were awaiting experts to handle the body. “None of us had entered the residence. We don’t have PPE kits,” he said.
Patna City SDPO Manish Kumar said those handling bodies in NMCH would reach the spot to take away Ravi’s body for post-mortem and proper disposal as per protocols.
“Prima facie it seems that the man committed suicide due to depression after being tested Covid-19 positive. Police are yet to quiz the family members but have come to know about some details from neighbours,” he said.
“Police will lodge a case of unnatural death in connection with the incident for further investigation,” the SHO added.
In reply to a query, SDPO said nothing had surfaced that he committed suicide after failing to get admitted to a hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, sources said, "Ravi was a vegetable wholesaler with a shop at Anta ghat near Gandhi Maidan. He had kept his shop closed since lockdown in March".
They said his brother-in-law had died of a heart attack almost a fortnight back and he had attended last rites.
“Few people in his and his in-laws’ family fell ill after attending the last rites. They all underwent Covid-19 test. He turned out to be positive while rest everyone tested negative,” sources said, adding, all these combined factors might have depressed him compelling to take such an extreme step.