Dhanbad: At a time when covid infections are increasing across the state with omicron also reported, five covid infected patients escaped from the Cath Lab based Covid treatment centre of SNMMCH raising serious question about the seriousness of the authorities towards Covid prevention.

The issue came to light on Saturday after the registered check by the nurses during which five patients including four males and one male covid infected patients were found missing after which a search was launched in this regard.

The authorities at SNMMC though initially denying the escape, claimed that they have been shifted to respective block based covid treatment centers but a probe conducted by district administration confirmed the escape of the patients of hospital. Repeated efforts to contact Dr UK Ojha in charge of Covid Treatment Center at SNMMCH bore no fruit.

Contacted, Prem Kumar Tiwari , Sub Divisional Officer of Dhanbad confirmed the incident and said that a probe has been conducted into the incident and all five persons who escaped from the hospital have been caught and they have been brought back into the hospital.

Meanwhile, Dr Rajkumar Singh in charge of Integrated Disease Programme (IDSP) Cell of Dhanbad also termed the incident as quite serious and conducted a probe into the escape and simultaneously conducted a separate probe with regard to charges of bribe demand by the staff of Covid treatment center at SNMMCH for providing facilities from the covid infected persons.

Meanwhile the district administration also intensified measures with regard to covid prevention and carried out an intensive mask checking drive near Jharia pul in Bank More police station area of Dhanbad during which over 100 mask less persons were caught and fines were slapped on them and they were left after strict warning to never flout the Covid norms again.

Praduman Choubey

Bolstered JFC to take on Hyderabad on Monday

JFC players train in Goa on Sunday The Telegraph Picture

Jamshedpur: Jamshedpur FC will like not to lose an inch and consolidate their position when they square up against Hyderabad FC in an Indian Super League 2021-2022 season match in Bambolim, Goa on Monday evening.

Bolstered by the arrival of Daniel Chima Chukwu in their already lethal attacking arsenal, Jamshedpur will look to continue snapping at Kerala Blasters' heels at the top of the table.

Jamshedpur added striker Chima to their ranks on Saturday. The Nigerian moved to Jamshedpur from SC East Bengal where he scored two goals.

The Men of Steel are placed second with 19 points (11 matches, 5 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses), ahead Hyderabad who have secured 3rd spot with 17 points (11 matches, 4 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses), Kerala Blasters FC top the table with 20 points (11 matches (5 wins, 5 draws, 1 loss).

Statistically, Hyderabad are not very much behind Jamshedpur on the points table and both the outfits would like to give their best in the second round of the cash-rich tournament.

Jamshedpur head coach Owen Coyle cannot afford to give space to his opponents and only a win can consolidate his side on the points table. The Red Miners would also looking to Ishan Pandita who has secured wins for Jamshedpur with late goals (against Northeast United FC and SC East Bengal). The super sub has of late become the toast of the Jamshedpur camp.

On being in the top 2 places in the league and chasing the top spot, Owen said It will take more of the same, the hard work and the performances on the field. "We have to continue to replicate those standards. If we do that we can show and we have shown that we can stand toe-to-toe with anyone. There’s certainly a lot of hard work ahead of us but, we are looking forward to it," he said.

Asked about the match versus Hyderabad and what it would take to beat them, the Scotland-born Owen said: "It will take us being at our very best. Hyderabad are one of the top teams in the league. They have some wonderful players with a head coach who I hold in very high regard, not only based on his abilities as a head coach but also because he is a lovely man.

Jayesh Thaker