Several UP-based journalists succumb to COVID; some due to lack of medical care, others during treatment

The second wave of Corona infection continues to spell doom in Uttar Pradesh, with some districts including Lucknow witnessing COVID patients passing away in large numbers.

Many journalists too have succumbed to the disease. In the last few days, about ten journalists in the state have died from COVID-19. Some of them died due to lack of medical treatment like hospital beds when they needed it.

Here is a list of the cases:

Vinay Srivastava

After 65-year-old Vinay Srivastava, an independent journalist living in Vikas Nagar, Lucknow, contracted COVID, his oxygen level had steadily declined to 52. He sought help from CM Yogi Adityanath through Twitter as no hospital and doctors were taking calls. His son Harshit Srivastava took him to several hospitals in Lucknow, but could not find a bed for Vinay anywhere. Despite pleading with the Chief Minister, no help reached him.

Though the Chief Minister's media advisor promised to help him, by then, it was too late. Vinay Srivastava had died by then.

Vinay Srivastava was counted among the senior journalists of Lucknow and the country.

Tavishi Srivastava

The political editor of The Pioneer newspaper Tavishi Srivastava died on April 18 from COVID. She also died due to lack of treatment at the right time. Tavishi kept waiting for an ambulance at home to take her to a hospital, but by the time it arrived, she had died.

Hours before her death, Tavishi told a journalist colleague, "Save me from death."

Tavishi was a veteran and well-known journalist from Lucknow. Her father, Professor Kali Prasad, was the Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University and also the Chairman of the Department of Psychology and Philosophy.

Tavishi Srivastava lived in Aminabad, Lucknow. She knew almost every chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. She also had good contacts in the bureaucracy.

Himanshu Joshi

Senior Lucknow-based journalist Himanshu Joshi also succumbed to death due to COVID. Joshi died on April 16 while undergoing treatment at TS Mishra Hospital after getting infected.

Himanshu Joshi was the Bureau Chief of UNI Lucknow.

Ankit Shukla

Ankit Shukla (35), working in the Lucknow edition of the Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagran, died on April 16 from COVID. Shukla used to cover legal matters in Dainik Jagran as a law correspondent.

A few days ago, Ankit was admitted to Lohia Hospital due to poor health. Later, he was shifted to a special ward for treatment, where he passed away.

Ankit is survived by his wife and a daughter, and his wife is also COVID positive. Ankit was an energetic and passionate young journalist. He was also involved in social work. He lived in Ahimamau, Lucknow.  He was employed in Dainik Jagran, Lucknow for almost a decade.

Pramod Shrivastava

Pramod Srivastava (48), a senior journalist from Lucknow and a newly elected executive member of the Accredited Press Committee of Uttar Pradesh Headquarters, also succumbed to death due to COVID. Srivastava was undergoing treatment at KGMU, where he died on March 27 during treatment. Srivastava was admitted to KGMU in a critical condition on March 25.

Shrivastava had worked in various newspapers for the last 25 years. He was quite active in the election of the correspondents’ committee. After the election was held, a lot of journalists tested positive for COVID.

Durga Prasad Shukla

Durga Prasad Shukla was working as a correspondent at Amar Ujala from Bakshi Ka Talab area. Durga Prasad had been battling fever and shortness of breath for several days. He died at his residence.

Durga Prasad is survived by his wife and two sons. Durga Prasad Shukla was employed in various newspapers for the last three decades.

Sachchidanand Gupta’s ‘Sacche’

Another senior journalist from Lucknow, Sachchidanand Gupta ‘Sacche’ also died on April 14 due to COVID. Sachchidananda ‘Sacche’ was the editor of the Jadid Amal newspaper.

Brijendra Patel

Brijendra Patel, a 50-year-old journalist working in the Agra edition of Hindustan, died on April 19 from COVID. When his health started deteriorating, Brijendra Patel got a COVID test done which came back positive. He was admitted to SN Hospital in Agra, where he died during treatment.

Brijendra was a resident of Kanpur, and was serving in Agra for almost two years. He worked as a journalist for almost 25 years, having served in many media outlets including Dainik Jagran, Umar Ujala and Rashtriya Sahara.

Shivanandan Sahu

Kaushambi-based journalist Shivanandan Sahu (38), who served as a correspondent with Punjab Kesari Digital, also died from COVID on April 10. After complaining of fever and shortness of breath, Shivanandan Sahu was admitted to SRN Hospital in Kaushambi, but his condition deteriorated and he died during treatment.

Sahu's entire family too is in the grip of corona infection.

Prashant Saxena

Bareilly-based journalist Prashant Saxena succumbed to COVID while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Delhi on April 20. Prashant was a resident of Faridpur tehsil of Bareilly.

Prashant started his journalism with the Punjab Kesari newspaper. Prashant had also served in Amar Ujala and Prime TV. He was associated with a digital platform at the time of his death.