Ram Temple Trust Head, Who Shared Stage with PM on Aug 5, Tests COVID Positive

Lucknow/Mathura: The head of the Ram temple trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das (80), tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and was rushed to the Medanta hospital in Gurgaon, officials said.

On August 5, Das shared the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

According to the officials, Das was rushed to the Gurgaon hospital on instructions from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"A team of doctors tested him for COVID-19 after the district administration was informed in the morning that he was feeling uneasy," Mathura District Magistrate (DM) Sarvagya Ram Mishra said.

He added that the process to identify those who had come in contact with Das in the recent past has started.

Adityanath has spoken to Mishra as also to Naresh Trehan, the chairman and managing director of the Medanta hospital, and requested for immediate medical attention to Das, the officials said.

Das, who is also the president of the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Nyas, was at the Sri Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura till 1.30 am. He had performed the "abhishek" of the deity at the Bhagwat Bhavan from 11 pm to 1 am, Gopeshwar Nath Chaturvedi, a member of the Sri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan, said, adding that till then, he had not complained about his health.

UP Reports 4,537 New Cases, 50 More Deaths

Uttar Pradesh reported 50 more COVID-19 deaths and 4,537 new cases of the infection on Thursday.

Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said the total number of cases in the state stands at 1,40,775 and the death toll at 2,280.

"So far, 88,786 people have been treated and discharged. There are now 49,709 active COVID-19 cases in the state, of which 22,408 are in home isolation," Prasad said.

The state's COVID-19 tally was 1,36,238 on Wednesday.

The official, however, said 4,603 new cases were reported in the state in the past 24 hours. The official did not specify which 24-hour period he was referring to.

The total number of COVID-19 tests done so far in the state is over 35 lakh, of which 87,214 were conducted on Wednesday.

Prasad said emphasis was also being given to patients suffering from other diseases. "Between Jun 1 and Aug 12 last year, 42,528 major surgeries were done in the state. In the same period this year, 34,139 major surgeries were done despite the pandemic," he said.

"Similarly, in this period last year 71,560 minor surgeries were done and in the same period this year, 53,623 minor surgeries were done," Prasad added.