PGI death: PM writes to widow, promises greater ‘sensitivity’

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Chandigarh: The widow of kidney patient Sumit Verma, who died yesterday after personnel deployed for the PM’s security allegedly delayed his entry to the emergency section of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research, on Wednesday received a letter of condolence from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The letter, delivered to the family by Ambala deputy commissioner Sameer Pal, was addressed to the widow, Isha Verma, and read, “I am writing to you to express my profound sense of sadness at the death of your husband Shri Sumit Verma yesterday. I understand your husband could not reach medical care because of security restrictions placed because of my visit. I regret it deeply.”

Sumit Prakash Verma, a resident of Ambala and a chronic kidney patient died at PGI on Tuesday while the PM attended the convocation ceremony of the hospital. The family has alleged that their entry to the emergency section was delayed by almost one-and-a-half hours as they were not allowed access by security personnel. Verma was declared “brought dead” when he finally reached the hospital.

With Verma’s demise, the family has an unemployed widow and two small children — Saran (12), Chirag (6) —and no source of income.

However, the PM’s letter has brought some comfort. A relative, Neeraj Verma, said it assuaged their pain when a “person of this stature” took out time to write to “common people like us”. “Nothing can compensate for the loss, but this gesture by the Prime Minister has lessened our pain,” said Neeraj.

The DC also handed over a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to the widow and assured free education for the two children until Standard XII. The DC also assured the family that the city administration would look for some suitable employment for the widow.

PM’s letter to Isha Verma

Dear Smt Verma,

I am writing to you to express my profound sense of sadness at the death of your husband Shri Sumit Verma yesterday. I understand that he could not get access to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh in time because of the restrictions in place for my visit there. This is something I deeply regret. I have issued instructions so that in future authorities are more sensitive to the concerns of the common man while imposing such restrictions for reasons of security.

With regards

Yours sincerely,