BAHAWALPUR: Coronavirus claimed the life of a 65-year-old man on Sunday at the government Civil Hospital on Jhangiwali Road.

The deceased – the first to have died of the virus in Bahawalpur -- had been admitted to the hospital three days ago in a serious condition after his test for Covid-19 by a private laboratory here came out positive.

Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Rana Muhammad Yousaf told Dawn that the deceased had been brought to the hospital by his family in critical condition. He was placed on a ventilator and doctors tried to treat him, but he breathed his last on Sunday. He said the body had been handed over to officials of the health department, who would arrange his burial under the coronavirus standard operating procedures.

Two members of the deceased’s family have also tested positive for Covid-19 and shifted to the hospital for treatment.

The condition of a 28-year-old man undergoing treatment for Covid-19 was improving and doctors claimed that he was stable.

Meanwhile, the local administration said 18 pilgrims were shifted to the local quarantine centre from Taftan in the early hours of Sunday. They were brought here from Multan in a bus where their screening and tests would be completed on Monday.

ACCIDENT: Two people were killed in a truck-motorcycle collision near Bhatta Chowk, about 70 kilometres from here, on Sunday.

According to Rescue 1122, an over-speeding truck hit a motorcycle and killed both its passengers – a man and a woman – on the spot. Their bodies were shifted to Mubarakpur health centre for post-mortem. Police claimed to have arrested the truck driver.

KITE FLYING: Police claimed to have arrested 16 people on Sunday for violating the ban on kite flying in the city.

During a crackdown, the Civil Lines, Baghdadul Jadid and Kotwali police arrested 16 people from various areas for flying kites in the streets.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2020