Srinagar, Jun 6: Four more COVID-19 deaths were reported in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, taking the total number of fatalities due to the virus in the J&K to 40, officials said.

While three deaths took place in the Kashmir Valley, one was recorded in Jammu region, they said.

Sources that a 70-year-old patient from Baghat Barzaulla died at JLNM hospital Rainawari. “The patient was admitted four days before and had tested positive two days ago,” medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Roshan Din Kasana said. “He had comorbidities,” he added.

Earlier, swab samples of a 70-year-old man from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district returned positive for the virus, hours after his death.

A resident of Handwara area of the north Kashmir district, the septuagenarian was brought to the hospital around 2:30 to 3 a.m. on Saturday and died within an hour after admission, Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital Dr Nazir Choudhary said.

“He had multiple problems and died of bilateral pneumonia,” he said. The hospital authorities had kept the body in mortuary and later handed over it to the family as per covid-19 protocol, sources said.

Prior to him, a 70-year-old man from Shopian and another 62-years-old from Jammu succumbed to the virus.

Medical superintendent Chest Disease hospital Dr. Saleem Tak said that 72-year-old man from Shopian was shifted to CD hospital yesterday. “He had underlying symptoms and died today,” he said.

Meanwhile, a 62-year-old woman from Jammu died at GMC Jammu. Dr. Kirti Bhushan, deputy medical superintendent GMC Jammu, said that the elderly woman from Miran Sahib Jammu was admitted on 24 May and tested positive subsequently. “She was suffering from heart and orthopedic problems,” he added.

With the latest fatalities, the death toll due to the virus in J&K has gone up to 40. So far Srinagar district with ten deaths due to the virus has the highest fatalities, followed by Baramulla seven, Anantnag five, Kulgam four, three each in Shopian and Jammu, two each in Budgam and Kupwara while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Doda and Udhampur. (GNS)