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Jharkhand edu minister wins long Covid-induced lung battle, returns home
Jagarnath Mahto was airlifted to Chennai in September last year after his condition deteriorated following Covid-19 induced complications. He underwent a lung transplant in a private hospital in Chennai
After winning a long Covid-19-triggered lung complications battle, Jharkhand school education and literacy development minister Jagarnath Mahto returned to the state after 239 days late Monday evening.
His son Akhilesh Mahto said his father is ready to resume office and waiting for directions from the chief minister’s office.
Jagarnath Mahto was brought to Jharkhand on a special chartered flight under the observation of two doctors from Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Ranchi, by the state government. Chief minister Hemant Soren received him at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda airport on Monday evening.
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At the airport, Jagarnath Mahto thanked the Jharkhand CM for “standing by [him] since the beginning.”
The education minister said, “People’s blessing and doctors’ medicines gave me a second life.”
“The second innings of my life will be dedicated to the service of the people,” he said, adding that he would be resume office very soon.
Speaking of his ordeal, Jagarnath Mahto said, “We should never lose courage… I fought Covid-19 with full courage and defeated it. The doctors and staff of the Chennai hospital provided me with a great service.”
“Doctors said I am fit and ready to extend my service to the people of Jharkhand,” he added.
Fifty-four-year-old Jagarnath Mahto had tested positive for Covid-19 on September 28 last year and was admitted to the state-run RIMS Hospital, Ranchi. When his health deteriorated, he was airlifted to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Healthcare Hospital, Chennai, on October 19.
According to doctors, Jagarnath Mahto’s lungs were completely damaged due to Covid-19. He had to undergo a lung transplant surgery at MGM Hospital on November 11 last year.
The minister was released from the hospital on February 9 this year. However, he stayed in Chennai for post-recovery care. His son said, “Initially, we were scared when we were struggling to find a lung donor. After the successful operation, we breathed a partial sigh of relief. When he was released from the hospital, we were assured that he was out of danger.”
