Aajkaal's senior photojournalist dies of suspected coronavirus infection in West Bengal

Bengali daily Aajkaal senior photojournalist Ronny Roy complained of shortness of breath when he stepped out of home on Friday morning and subsequently died later in the day

Kolkata: Bengali daily Aajkaal senior photojournalist Ronny Roy on Friday died of suspected COVID-19.  Ronny Roy was reportedly complaining of shortness of breath when he stepped out of home on Friday morning. This is the primary suspected coronavirus death in the media fraternity.

On Wednesday, the Press Council of India expressed “grave concern” over the huge number of journalists contracting COVID-19 and urged the central government and media houses to assist such scribes.

In a statement, the PCI said it is saddened to know that a large number of journalists while on duty have contracted the COVID-19 virus.

It appealed to the government and all concerned authorities to assist these journalists who have contracted the virus while reporting on the pandemic from the containment zone, hotspots and other COVID-19-affected areas by offering medical assistance and required support to mitigate their hardships.

Earlier, nine Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, who had recently gone to Delhi for some urgent official work, have tested positive for COVID-19.

The personnel were part of a 28-member RPF contingent from the Kharagpur division of SER, who had returned on April 14 from the national capital with a consignment of arms and ammunition aboard a parcel express train, he said.