Uttar Pradesh: Now, 2 GRP cops in Gonda test positive

LUCKNOW: The tally of infected Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel touched 27 in Uttar Pradesh with 11 constables deployed at Lucknow and Gonda railway junctions testing positive for Covid-19 on Monday. While nine constables tested positive in Lucknow, two were in Gonda.

Superintendent of police, GRP Lucknow, Saumitra Yadav said, “Of those tested positive, five were deployed at Charbagh railway station, one at City Station and three others at the lines.” The SP said that the personnel were asked to proceed on leave on May 31 as the barracks were being closed following 16 positive cases since May 24.

Yadav said that the nine personnel got themselves tested without any information to the SP office.

“We have also closed the SP GRP office for three days and getting it sanitised after a clerk in the office also tested positive”, the officer said. In Lucknow alone, 25 GRP personnel have tested positive from May 24.

All the nine constables belong to different districts in UP, including Saharanpur , Kheri, Faizabad and Gonda. SP GRP, Gorakhpur, Pushpanjali Devi told TOI that the two constables who tested positive used to do duty at platform 1. However, they were quarantined after they had complained of nausea and chest pain last week. Later, their samples and swabs were taken, which tested positive.

“We have reduced duties at railway stations to protect the cops and also asked them to wear face shields and masks,” she said. She added that both the constables who tested positive stayed at a room along with two others who tested negative. Their movement to the barracks was restricted. The officer said that over 50 ‘Shramik Specials’ have either made a halt or originated from Gonda. ADG, Railways, Sanjay Singhal told TOI that more than 90% of the 27 personnel who tested positive for the virus are asymptomatic.