IPS officer plays angel to Covid positive constable, family

Police constable, his nurse wife and their children get private hospital treatment after DGP Surolia intervenes; three of them are now back home

For police constable Babu Patni and his nurse wife Savita, DGP AK Surolia of the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) is no less than an angel. Savita, who was on Covid duty at GCRI, tested positive for the infection in the second week of May. Subsequently, Babu and his two children too tested positive. When Surolia found about it, he immediately arranged for private hospital treatment for Babu-who is also his orderly-and his children to be treated at a private hospital. The timely treatment helped the trio and they are back home.

The family's struggle began on May 7 when Savita developed symptoms of Covid. With several of her colleagues testing positive, Babu took her to Civil Hospital. The first test was inconclusive. "Once the test came positive, I took her to a civic body hospital from where we ultimately had to get Savita admitted at GCRI itself," said Babu, who is posted at Shahibaug police headquarters. Sources at GCRI confirmed that Savita had been admitted to the hospital on May 12.

What followed was nothing than a nightmare. A doctor said, "She was fine for the first two days and then her condition worsened. So she was put on ventilator support." The couple's two children were admitted to GCRI a few days after Savita as both of them also tested positive. Babu too tested positive for Covid-19.


As soon as the matter came to Surolia's attention, he arranged for Babu and his two children, who were also admitted to GCRI, to be transferred to CIMS Hospital. Savita could not be transferred immediately due to her delicate medical condition.

Babu and his son were discharged on Monday, while his daughter was discharged on Tuesday, confirmed Dr Dhiren Shah of CIMS. Now home, Babu says he is worried about his wife. "I spontaneously break into tears thinking of my wife every minute, but I must have some semblance of control before my children. There is nobody to support them if I break down," he rued.

However, even in the midst of his insurmountable grief, he remembers the guardian angel who took his family under protection in the time of need.

Mirror spoke to DGP Surolia who confirmed that Babu was his orderly. He said he had asked him not to be stationed at his house at the start of the lockdown. However, when he learned of what had happened, he said he had to help. Declining to talk about his help to the family, the senior IPS officer said, "It was my duty."

Meanwhile, Dr Darshan Bhimani, Medical Superintendent of Aashka Hospital in Gandhinagar., where Savita was shifted from GCRI said she had come in very bad shape but is improving.

(Names of Covid-19 patients have been taken with their consent).