Two Border Security Force personnel have succumbed to the COVID-19 infection while the force has reported 41 new cases of infection, according to a report by news agency PTI.
With this, the total number of infections or active cases in the 2.5 lakh personnel strong force (BSF) now stand at 193 now. The report added that two jawans have also recovered.
These are the first cases of death in the BSF due to coronavirus infection and the second among paramilitary forces after a 55-year-old sub-inspector of the CRPF had succumbed to the disease last month.
In the last five days, 54 Border Security Force (BSF) men and eight family members in Tripura have tested coronavirus positive. Authorities are yet to identify the source of infection though they are working to ensure no further spread of the virus among the troopers.
"We are working round-the-clock to prevent further spread of the disease and to identify the primary and secondary sources of infection," BSF's Tripura Frontier Deputy Inspector General C.L. Belwa told IANS.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has constituted a special cell to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure protection to its troops as coronavirus infection cases among various paramilitary forces rose to about 400, according to a report by PTI.
According to reports, more than 50 from the Army and Navy have tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection.
Last month, 26 Indian Navy personnel were found infected with the virus at the Western Naval Command in Mumbai. Overall, there have been 38 cases in the Navy so far.
The security agencies have been at the forefront of containing the spread of coronavirus. Army hospitals and shelters have been converted into quarantine facilities for travellers and those suspected of carrying the infection.?
However, the alarming rise in the number of coronavirus infections in the forces and paramilitary is a cause of worry.
The Indian Air Force is faring better and has not reported any COVID-19 infections yet.