Guj: COVID-19 patient escapes from isolation ward, found dead

Surat, Apr 30 () A 50-year-old coronavirus patient,who allegedly ran away from the COVID ward of a civil hospitalin Gujarat's Surat city two days back, was found dead on abench outside the medical facility on Thursday morning, policesaid.

A probe is underway into the matter, they said.

Preliminary inquiry and CCTV footage of the hospitalindicate that the man did not go outside the hospital campus,located in Khatodara area, during the last two days, anofficial from Khatodara police station said.

The official further said the man "secretly" walkedout of the COVID ward on the night of April 28 anddisappeared.

Though the police tried to search for him at everypossible location, he was not found, the official said.

"As of now, we don't know why he ran away in themiddle of his treatment, where he went and how he died. We arecarrying out a thorough investigation into it," DeputyCommissioner of Police Vidhi Chaudhari said.

As per the civil hospital records, the man was aresident of Salabatpura area and got admitted to the hospitalon April 21 after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Before that, his wife had also tested positive forcoronavirus and was admitted to the same hospital, anotherofficial said, adding that she is currently undergoingtreatment at the medical facility. COR PJT PDGK GK