Kochi: In an unfortunate incident, a 43-year-old senior army surgeon succumbed to COVID on Tuesday.
The deceased has been identified as Colonel MS Vinod Kumar, Senior Adv (Surgeon) in paediatric surgery who was serving as a COVID warrior at the Army Referral & Research Hospital, New Delhi and contracted the virus while discharging his duties.
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As per a recent report by the Times of India, the doctor contracted the deadly virus in April but his health condition deteriorated in the hospital on Tuesday and at around 3.30 am, and the doctor finally passed away. The doctor is survived by his two sons and a wife.
The doctor was originally from Thrissur and he was commissioned in the Indian army on 24 July 1999 after he completed his MBBS from the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). He pursued MS General Surgery from AFMC in 2008 and MCh in Paediatric Surgery from PGIMER Chandigarh in 2016.
"He has served in the UN Mission on deputation at Level 3 Hospital in Congo. He was a surgeon of great ability and compassion and has made valuable contributions in the field of Paediatric Surgery. His valour and sacrifice for the Service will never be forgotten," the Navy said in a statement.
The body of the senior doctor had been carried back to his hometown on Wednesday and his funeral was conducted at his house in liaison with Southern Naval Command (SNC) while maintaining all the COVID norms. Commander-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Station Commander, Kochi (Venduruthy), and the doctor's AFMC batchmates extended their condolences to the bereaved family, and wreaths were placed on their behalf on his mortal remains during the last rites of the doctor at his house in Thrissur. Senior officers also expressed their grief at the sudden demise of the doctor during his funeral, reports the daily.