SRINAGAR: A day after the last rites of the respected Ladakh leader, P Namgyal, more than 150 people from a cross-section of the Leh society have been put under quarantine. In a rush of emotions, they all had rushed to the top leader’s home and consoled his family members.
Of the four close relatives of Namgyal, reports said, two have tested positive and two negative.
Deep #condolences to the family of Sh. Phuntsog Namgial, former Union Minister, his demise has left a huge void in the #Ladakhi society.
His contribution in the #development of the region will always be rememberedMay his soul rest in peace. #RIP : LG Ladakh @R_K_Mathur @ANI pic.twitter.com/H4Z4phnJnW
— Office of the Lt. Governor, Ladakh (@lg_ladakh) June 1, 2020
A former minister in the union cabinet, Congressman Namgyal was a veteran Ladakh leader who represented the desert region, now a UT, in parliament thrice. Namgyal was minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs, Surface Transport and Chemicals and Petrochemicals in the Rajiv Gandhi government. Congress sees him as the second most important Ladakh leader after Khushok Bakula Rinpoche. He contracted the infection and died of the Coronavirus.
After his death, now Leh is in panic. Authorities and the civil society failed to understand that the norms set for the condolences and they all rushed to Namgyal residence to express their sympathies. Now everybody is in a panic if they have contracted the virus or not. However, the last rites of the dead leader were performed by the administration as per the set protocol.
Those advised to be in-home quarantine include the Chief Executive Councilor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh and at least four of his executive councillors. Also, there are some top officials of the Ladakh UT administration, politicians, some doctors, journalists, police officials and even commoners who have been quarantined. Authorities have already collected their samples and sent them for testing.
BJP has now demanded that the handling of the Namgyal’s mortal remains shall be investigated as the set protocol was flouted.
Authorities have taken certain measures. Reports said the district administration has constituted two committees to probe the lapses if any. Officials, however, do admit a prima facie case in the handling of the body.
Namgyal was in Delhi and flew home on May 28. Two days later he reported unwell and was driven to the hospital where he died on June 1. Dr Diskit Dolma, one of Namgyal’s three daughters said her father was briefly ill and was taken to the Sonam Norbu Memorial Hospital where he died. He is survived by three daughters and wife.
Samples taken from his body tested positive posthumously. With his death, the Ladakh region reported the first Coronavirus death. However, some pilgrims from Kargil have died earlier of the pandemic in Iran.
Authorities said they have contacted the aircraft that flew Namgyal home and suggested them to take adequate measures.
A resident of in Summor in Nubra, Namgyal was an Agriculture Research Officer before joining politics in 1969.
The region that was earlier dubbed infection-free has now 42 active cases. Of the latest nine cases, seven reported from Kargil. It was not immediately known if they have a recent travel history.
