Coronavirus: Arvind Kejriwal Announces Rs 1 Crore For Families Of COVID-19 Warriors Who Die While Handling Patients

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced that Rs 1 crore will be given to the families of COVID-19 warriors if they lose their lives while dealing with coronavirus patients in the national capital. “If anyone loses their life while serving any #COVID19 patient, be it sanitation workers, doctors or nurses or any other staff, temporary or permanent, from private or government sector, their family will be given Rs 1 crore as our mark of respect for their service,” tweeted Kejriwal.

The chief minister made this announcement while interacting with doctors through videoconferencing in the national capital and said that that they were no less than soldiers fighting on the borders.

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"Your contribution is no less than a soldier's...if any healthcare personnel, including government or private doctor, nurse and sanitation workers, die while serving coronavirus patients, the government will give Rs one crore for their families," he said.

He interacted with doctors of Delhi after three doctors tested positive for coronavirus. He said that the amount is nothing compared to the efforts these warriors are putting in. “But this will be the country's way of thanking you for your services and showing that we respect your efforts," Kejriwal said.

"Whether they are from private or government sector -- it doesn't matter. Their families will be provided Rs 1 crore each as a mark of respect for their services," he said.

Meanwhile, Railways is scrambling to provide information regarding thousands of passengers who travelled on five trains with people who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, many of whom have tested positive. All these trains began from Delhi between March 13 and March 19 - the Duronto Express to Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, the Grand Trunk Express to Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Express to Chennai, New Delhi-Ranchi Rajdhani Express and the AP Sampark Kranti Express.

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While there are yet no definite numbers with the railways on the actual number of people who could have come in contact with the participants of this event, sources say that each train carried around 1000-1200 passengers and other staff members which could put them all at risk.