Bengal CM’s brother dies of Covid

KOLKATA: Ashim Banerjee, 62, the younger brother of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, died on Saturday due to Covid-related complications.
Family sources said he was cremated following all Covid protocol at the Nimtala cremation ground in the afternoon. Firhad Hakim, the KMC BoA chairperson, was present there. “He was being treated at the critical care section for Covid infection. Despite a fight for about three weeks, we unfortunately lost him to a cytokine storm around 9.30 am,” said Alok Roy, chairman, Medica Superspeciality Hospital.
Popularly known as Kali Banerjee, his cremation was attended by members of the Banerjee family. Ashim resided in the same house as the CM at 30B, Harish Chatterjee Street. The entire Banerjee family was devastated by Ashim’s passing away, leaders close to them said. “He had been improving and deteriorating. But the battle ended on Saturday after a month,” said a leader.
Several senior Trinamool Congress ministers conveyed their condolences. Senior Congress leaders, including Adhir Chowdhury, also expressed their condolences.