In a tragic incident, after assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Jaspal Singh (49) from Punjab Police succumbed to COVID-19 on August 9, his 24-year-old daughter Navpreet Kaur, who was suffering from renal issues and diabetes, died of shock on August 10. While Jaspal passed away at PGIMER in Chandigarh, Navpreet passed away at her home in Ludhiana. 

Jaspals 22-year-old son Sharandeep Singh informed that they had concealed the death of their father from Navpreet as she was already weak. However, on Monday evening, after they returned from cremating Jaspal at Payal, she realised that something was wrong and started crying, and asked for their father, but they had no answers. She kept calling for her father every few minutes, collapsed, fell unconscious and died of shock. We asked her to rest but to no avail. Her last words were Daddy ji?, Sharandeep said. 

Sharandeep added, Their bond was something else. Our father could not see her in pain even for a minute. Since she was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 8, he spent next 18 years of his life, running from one hospital to the other to get her treated. He would spend all his earnings to get my sister treated and would even take loans sometimes but her condition only deteriorated with time.

Singh was posted at Police Traces in Ludhiana. He was under treatment for tuberculosis since March at SPS Hospital. He was also diabetic, which ultimately affected his kidneys. He had been on medical leave before joining duty on July 24. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 on July 26. He was admitted to PGIMER, Chandigarh on August 7, where he succumbed to the virus.

Ludhiana police commissioner Rakesh Agrawal informed that the household shall be given ex-gratia according to the guidelines. Jaspal served Punjab Police for over 28 years after becoming a member as a constable in 1992.