Patna: COVID-19 has badly hampered the functioning of the government in Jharkhand state in the past five months with ministers coming under the grip of coronavirus at frequent intervals. So far, half the cabinet in Jharkhand has been affected by COVID-19.
Of the 11 ministers in Jharkhand, six have been infected by COVID-19. Minority welfare minister Haji Hussain Ansari, 73, succummed to the disease, while education minister Jagarnath Mahto had to undergo lung transplant at a hospital in Chennai after COVID-19 infection severely damaged his lung.
53-year-old education minister remained on life support system for 21 days in the local hospital and ultimately had to be shifted to Chennai. He is still under the observation of doctors at the hospital. The state government recently released Rs5 million as first instalment for Mahto’s treatment.