Debdatta Ray, a 38-year-old WBCS officer, succumbed to Covid-19 early on Monday, the day 1,435 new infections and 24 deaths were reported in Bengal.

Ray, a 2010 batch officer posted as deputy magistrate and deputy collector in Hooghly’s Chandernagore, died at Serampore’s Covid hospital. Deployed at Dankuni station, Ray had handled thousands of migrant workers returning from other states.

“Grieved to hear about the untimely passing away of Debdatta Ray…A young WBCS (Exe) Officer, she was at the forefront fighting the pandemic & displayed outstanding devotion in discharge of her duties,” tweeted chief minister Mamata Banerjee. “I, on behalf of the Govt of West Bengal, salute her spirit & the sacrifice she’s made in service of the people of #Bengal. Spoke to her husband today & extended my deepest condolences. May the departed soul rest in peace...”

Hospital sources said Ray was found Covid-19 positive on July 8. Her oxygen saturation level decreased from Sunday night and she passed away around 5am on Monday.

However, it remained unclear whether the administration had factored Ray’s death in the day’s toll of 24 according to the 9am bulletin.

1,435 new cases

With the 1,435 new cases, 8,461 cases in just a week, the total number of infections now is past 31,000 and the number of active cases over 11,000.

Of the new cases, around 77 per cent were from Calcutta and nearby populated districts. Calcutta reported 418 cases, North 24-Parganas 363, South 24-Parganas 95, Howrah 168 and Hooghly 54.

The Covid-19 toll in Bengal is now 956, of which 775 (81.1 per cent) have been classified “comorbid” by the state government. In the past seven days alone, the state has witnessed 177 Covid-19 deaths.

Ray’s district Hooghly accounted for 31 deaths, two in the past 24 hours till 9am on Monday. Calcutta accounted for 509, with 10 in the past 24 hours till 9am on Monday. Similarly, North 24-Parganas reported 172 deaths, eight in the past 24 hours till 9am on Monday. Howrah reported 129, two in the past 24 hours.

“Calcutta and North 24-Parganas have accounted for as many as 681 deaths out of 956 in the pandemic, which is over 71 per cent of the total toll,” said a minister.

“Calcutta’s total (number of infections) now is over 10,000, a third of Bengal’s. North 24-Parganas also has 6,000-odd. Those two districts have contributed to half the total cases,” the minister said. “But we have also set a new 24-hour record of 632 recoveries. The total is past 19,000. A week ago, our recovery rate was 66.27 per cent. Now, it is 61.09 per cent. It has fallen because of the rapid rise in new cases. The national recovery rate is now 63.05 per cent.”

While Bengal’s mortality rate stood at 3.03 per cent, that of Calcutta’s is 5.07 per cent and of these two districts put together is 4.25 per cent. The national mortality rate now stands at 2.62 per cent.