Padma Shri awardee Bhai Nirmal Singh dies after testing positive for Covid-19 - Hindustan Times
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Padma Shri awardee Bhai Nirmal Singh dies after testing positive for Covid-19

Hindustan Times, Amritsar | ByMandeep Kaur Narula
Apr 02, 2020 09:25 AM IST

The former hazoori ragi of Harmandar Sahib, a Padma Shri awardee, had attended a kirtan in Chandigarh on March 19 where over 100 people had gathered; Amritsar health authorities alert their Chandigarh counterparts

Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa, 67, a Padma Shri awardee and a former hazoori ragi (Gurbani exponent) at Golden Temple, passed away after a heart attack at 4.30am on Thursday, a day after he was diagnosed with coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa, a former(HT file photo)
Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa, a former(HT file photo)

Amritsar civil surgeon Dr Prabhdeep Kaur Johal said he was put on ventilator on Wednesday night after his condition worsened due to his bronchial asthma.

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With his death, the toll due to Covid-19 in Punjab has risen to six.

Bhai Nirmal Singh was referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) from the local Shri Guru Ram Das Hospital on March 30 after he complained of breathlessness.

“He visited England in November. A health department team visited his house on March 3 after we got the information that two guests – his uncle and aunt – from the US visited him. They were found asymptomatic. When the home quarantine period of the guests was over on March 17, they were found asymptomatic. Bhai Nirmal Singh then went to Chandigarh for a kirtan samagam on March 19 where over 100 people gathered,” Dr Johal said.

“He tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. He may have caught the infection during his trip to Chandigarh. He died of sudden cardiac arrest on Thursday,” she said.

Then President Pratibha Patil honouring Bhai Nirmal Singh with the Padma Shri in 2009. (HT file photo)
Then President Pratibha Patil honouring Bhai Nirmal Singh with the Padma Shri in 2009. (HT file photo)

Punjab special chief secretary Karan Bir Singh Sidhu also confirmed the news by tweeting, “Bhai Nirmal Singh passed away during the ambrosial moments of Amrit Vela around 4.30 am on Thursday.”

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