NEW DELHI: As many as 25,418 Central armed police forces (CAPF) personnel have tested positive for Covid-19 so far, with 100 having succumbed to the infection, the home ministry informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
CRPF and BSF, whose personnel have been on the frontline in the fight against Covid-19, have reported the highest number of cases and together account for over 64% of the infected cases among the CAPFs.
MoS (home) Nityanand Rai said that in addition to the normal benefits available to a para-military personnel upon death, it has been decided to provide Rs 15 lakh to the next of kin through ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ fund, in case the personnel dies due to Covid-19 infection contracted while deployed on Covid-19 related duties.
Of the 25,418 CAPF personnel who tested positive till September 10, 2020, 8,270 are from CRPF, 8,083 from BSF, 3,067 from ITBP, 2,869 from SSB, 1,605 from Assam Rifles and 1,312 from
CISF.
Among the personnel who died due to Covid-19, 35 were from CRPF, 24 from CISF, 23 from BSF, 7 from ITBP, 6 from SSB and 5 from Assam Rifles.