THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister K K Shailaja called Medical College authorities to her office and reprimanded them over the recent suicide of two Covid patients in the hospital.

The health minister has also asked the Health department principal secretary to inquire into the incident and submit a report to her immediately.

Two persons committed suicide in the Covid ward of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College within a span of six hours. The allegation is that the hospital committed lapses in keeping an eye on patients who showed alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Anad native Saji Kumar, who committed suicide first, had fled the Isolation ward in hospital dress. He, who reached Anad in KSRTC bus, was blocked by the locals and sent back to hospital with the help of the police.

In another case, an NRI who was admitted in the hospital with Covid symptoms was sent back home even before the results came out; this had also become controversial .

Soon after this came the complaint over the delay in getting the Covid test result of a priest. Earlier also, Covid patients had jumped out of isolation wards and left for home and other places, clandestinely.

Meanwhile, the BJP and the Opposition have intensified the attack against the government over the incidents.