The sample of a 71-year-old man who died on Saturday while under quarantine in Buldhana in Maharashtra for suspected exposure to novel coronavirus has returned negative, a health official said on Sunday.

It was feared earlier that the septuagenarian became the first victim of Covid-19 in the state, which has reported 32 confirmed cases as on Sunday.

The man, with a history of diabetes and high blood pressure, had returned from the United Arab Emirates some days ago, an official said.

”He was admitted in Buldhana general hospital, where he died on Saturday. His sample, which was sent to Nagpur for testing, has returned negative,” Civil Surgeon Premchand Pandit told PTI.

There have been no deaths due to viral transmission in Maharashtra so far.