Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Samaresh Das MLA who had tested positive for COVID-19 recently died in Kolkata on Monday as cases and mortalities continued to rise in West Bengal. The State recorded 3,080 cases of infections in the past 24 hours, taking the number of total cases in the State to 1,19,578. Active infections in the State remained at 27,402. West Bengal recorded 45 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the total deaths due to COVID-19 to 2,473.
Also read: Trinamool MLA Tamonash Ghosh dies of COVID-19
Samaresh Das, the deceased MLA, represented the Egra Assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district. The three-time MLA was 76 years old, and had other comorbidities along with the contagious viral infection. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed condolences over the death and said the MLA’s death has left a political void. This is the second death of a sitting MLA from West Bengal due to COVID-19 infection.
In June this year Tamonash Ghosh, a three-time MLA from the State’s ruling party, who represented Falta Assembly constituency in the State’s South 24 Parganas succumbed to the viral infection. Earlier this month, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former MP Shyamal Chakraborty died after testing positive for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the State government started a COVID-19 patient management system that will provide online information on patients receiving treatment for the disease. The CM said that September 1 will be observed as ‘Police Day’ to honour the contribution of police personnel in the fight against the pandemic. She also announced that activities of the Police Welfare Board will be strengthened in the State.
