Bihar BJP MLC Sunil Kumar Singh dies of COVID-19, becomes first lawmaker in state to succumb to virus

Patna: Bihar BJP MLC Sunil Kumar Singh died of the coronavirus at AIIMS here on Tuesday, an official said. Singh was 66. He is survived by two sons, a daughter and wife. He is the first lawmaker in the state to die of COVID-19.

“Sunil Kumar Singh today died of coronavirus disease. He was suffering from diabetes and hypertension and was on a ventilator,” AIIMS COVID-19 Nodal Officer Sanjeev Kumar told PTI.

Singh, who was BJP MLC from local self area constituency from Darbhanga, was undergoing treatment at the hospital since 13 July after he tested positive for COVID-19, the nodal officer said.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, Bihar Legislative Council Acting Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh, and a host of other leaders expressed grief over the death of the MLC.

सुनील कुमार सिंह MLC दरभंगा COVID उपचार हेतु AIIMS पटना में भर्ती थे ।हॉर्ट अटैक से मृत्यु हो गयी।हम सब लोग दुःखी है।ईश्वर उनकी आत्मा को शांति प्रदान करे ।@News18Bihar @ANI @ZeeBiharNews

— Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) July 21, 2020

In his condolence message, Kumar said the MLC was very popular among people and had an interest in social work, an official release said, adding that his death has caused an irreparable loss to politics and society.

The chief minister also talked to his son Sujeet Kumar over the phone and consoled him. Six lawmakers in the state, including the legislative council acting chairman, have tested positive for COVID-19.

Bihar minister Vinod Kumar Singh, BJP MLA Jibesh Kumar Mishra, Congress MLA Anand Shankar Singh, RJD MLA Shahnawaz Alam and JD(U) MLC Khalid Anwar have also tested positive for COVID-19.