West Bengal replaces health secretary amid row over COVID-19 data
Kumar’s transfer to the Environment Department as secretary comes days after a row over the state’s COVID-19 data, said official sources
KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has transferred Health Secretary Vivek Kumar to the Environment Department and named Narayan Swaroop Nigam as his replacement, officials said on Tuesday.
Kumar’s transfer to the Environment Department as secretary comes days after a row over the state’s COVID-19 data, said official sources
Under fire health minister of Bengal Mamata Banerjee shunts out Health Secretary IAS Vivek Kumar appoints Narayan Swaroop Nigam as next Health Secretary pic.twitter.com/0pQfgNNioC
— Chayan Chatterjee (@Satyanewshi) May 12, 2020
Nigam, who was the Transport Secretary, has been appointed as Kumar’s replacement, as per a notification dated May 11.
West Bengal has so far reported 118 deaths due to coronavirus infection.
The state has attributed 72 other deaths to comorbidities — cases where COVID-19 was incidental.
The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 2,063 in West Bengal with 190 fatalities, according to Health Ministry tally.
