As many as 68 more jawans in a Delhi-based battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of cases in this battalion to 122. However, overall figure of COVID-19 cases in CRPF is 127.
These 122 personnel belong to the 31st battalion of the country’s largest paramilitary, which has more than 1000 troopers, and are based in Mayur Vihar Phase-III area of the national capital.
“A total of 122 troopers of this battalion have tested positive for the virus. Results for over 100 more are awaited,” a senior official said, according to PTI.
“Test results of 68 more jawans have shown them COVID-19 positive. All jawans are attached to a battalion having camp in East Delhi. Total positive cases in this battalion have reached 122 and overall figure of COVID-19 cases in CRPF is 127, including one recovered and one death,” CRPF stated.
ALSO READ: In lockdown 3.0, liquor shops to open in all zones but with conditions
The reasons for such massive spike in cases in one battalion were discussed in a meeting chaired by Directorate General (DG) CRPF AP Maheshwari.
In the meeting, Maheshwari also pointed out the laxness of officials in handling the coronavirus situation in the 31st battalion of CRPF.
Officials were informed in the meeting that the battalion had kept more jawans than its prescribed capacity in barracks and also had an insufficient number of toilets, which led to a compromise in social distancing, as mentioned in consolidated guidelines of lockdown issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
(With agency inputs)