Chirag Paswan flags 'disappearance' of COVID-19 patient in Bihar, writes to CM Nitish Kumar

Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan on Saturday flagged "disappearance" of a resident of his parliamentary constituency who suffered from cancer and allegedly went missing from a Patna hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

Paswan, who represents Jamui in Lok Sabha, shot off letters to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and superintendent of Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH) here, both of which were shared by his party on social media.

LJP chief highlighted alleged disappearance of Ranjit Kumar, a resident of Sheikhpura district which falls under Jamui parliamentary constituency.

Ranjit Kumar was undergoing treatment for cancer in Mumbai for six months and tested positive for COVID-19 on June 25, after his samples were taken on advice of doctors at Patna-based Mahavir Cancer Institute, which he had visited for check-up.

According to Paswan, patient had returned to his Sheikhpura residence by time his test reports came and he was admitted to a local COVID isolation ward on June 29, but referred to NMCH on July 3 as his health worsened.

On July 6, when family members visited NMCH to meet him, y were told by hospital authorities that he was never admitted.

Health authorities in Sheikhpura maintained that y had sent Ranjit Kumar to NMCH and information of his disappearance from Patna hospital was received by m.

"Ranjit Kumar is a resident of my parliamentary constituency. His family members are in great distress. Please look into matter and ensure appropriate action against those who are found at fault," Paswan said in his letters to chief minister and NMCH superintendent.

"My husband, a 51-year-old man, used to work in fields to eke out a living until he was rendered unfit for any type of labour because of cancer. We have five children, three of whom suffer from speech impairment. I feel so helpless," Ranjit Kumar's wife Anita Devi told PTI over phone.

Asked wher any missing report has been lodged by her family, she replied in negative, saying, "We have body who can do needful. I do t kw how to go about in se matters".

(Photo Credit: PTI)