PATNA:
Bihar Legislative Council chairman
Awadhesh Narain Singh on Monday ordered the closure of the
Upper House and its secretariat till April 25 after one more employee died of
Covid-19.
“Lal Babu Ram, a sweeper in the council, died of Covid-19 at his home in the state capital. He was the third council employee who died of Covid-19 in the last 10 days,” the Council public relations officer Ajit Ranjan told TOI on Monday.
After a brief condolence meeting, the chairman ordered the closure to check the spread of the infection among
other employees.
Two other council employees Vijendra Kumar Sharma and Arun Ram (both working as an assistant) died of Covid-19 on April 13 and April 10, respectively.
After Arun’s untimely death, the council arranged a rapid antigen test of all its employees on April 13. Of around 75 employees who went for the test at the council premises, 18 were found positive for Covid-19.
The death of three employees in the past 10 days has sent a shock wave among all the council employees as the majority of them came in close contact with either of three deceased colleagues due to one or the other reasons. Several employees have gone into isolation at their home.
LS SPEAKER's VIRTUAL MEET: In the meantime, Lok Sabha Speaker
Om Birla on Monday held a virtual meeting with the presiding officers of state assemblies on the topic- ‘Current status of a Covid-19 pandemic: role and responsibilities of peoples’ representatives.’
Participating in the virtual meeting,
Bihar Vidhan Sabha speaker
Vijay Kumar Sinha urged
other state governments not to put unnecessary pressure on migrant workers and students for returning to Bihar during the fresh phase of the pandemic. Sinha said the governments of other states should make necessary arrangements for migrant workers and students of Bihar where they are currently living or working.
Sinha further suggested that all members of the Bihar assembly should set up a control room in their respective constituencies to provide necessary he