The Pune Metro project. (Representational) The Mahametro, which is implementing the Pune Metro project in Pune city and Pimpri-Chinchwad, has registered its first death due to Covid-19 on Friday morning.
The 54-year-old senior officer, who worked as the general consultant, died while undergoing treatment in his hometown in Karnataka.
“He went to Karnataka a few days ago where he contracted the infection. He died while undergoing treatment in a private hospital,” said MahaMetro spokesperson Hemant Sonawane.
His death is the first one registered by the MahaMetro since the pandemic began last March. In the first wave, the MahaMetro had registered no casualties due to Covid-19.
Sonawane said, in the second wave, as many as 120 personnel have been detected positive. “Of these, 30-35 people are undergoing treatment, some have been discharged, while others are in home isolation,” he added.
The MahaMetro said they are taking care of the all the hospitalised as well as home-isolated patients. “For the hospitalised patients, each one has a medical policy as per the terms of our contract. Therefore, there is no problem regarding their hospital bills,” he said.
The MahaMetro said since the restrictions were imposed in the second wave, many workers have left for their hometowns. Of 6,000 labourers, Pune Metro now has 4,400 workers. Total 1,600 of them have returned home. As a result, Sonawane said, the work has been impacted by at least 40 per cent.
“Some workers have contracted Covid, while others have returned home. Due to depleted manpower, the pace of Metro work has been reduced by at least 40 per cent on both the corridors,” he added.
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Metro officials said once the pandemic subsides and normalcy returns, they would make up for the loss.
The MahaMetro said all workers above 45 years of age have been vaccinated so far. “From May 1, as the new norm comes into effect, we will start vaccinating all of those above 18 years of age,” Sonawane said.
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