Assam woman under quarantine commits suicide; swab result tests negative

Guwahati: A woman who was under quarantine at a school in South Assam's Hailakandi district reportedly committed suicide in the wee hours on Sunday, July 12. The woman named Sarbin Taj, 37, was found hanging from a noose at the quarantine centre at around 4 am in the morning.

The woman along with her husband Abul Hussain Laskar and her son aged eight arrived in Assam from Bengaluru by flight on June 28. On reaching the Inbound Passenger Facilitation Centre at Dholeswari, their swab samples were collected and they were put under quarantine at a school at Nichintapur Part II under the Lala Police Station.

Swab samples of the three-member family were sent to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). While the swab result of Laskar tested negative, Sarbin and her son's swab could not be examined because of deficiency in quantity.

Dr.A Barman, the Joint Director of Health Services disclosed that several swab tests could not be conducted at GMCH due to deficiency in quantity. Dr. Barman said the swab samples collected might have been displaced on the way to Guwahati, a distance of over 400 km from Hailakandi.

Health personnel accompanied by the magistrate and police rushed to the site of the incident and they conducted a rapid antigen test after collecting the swab of the deceased woman. Dr. Barman said though the swab result of the deceased woman tested negative, they have sent the swab to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for RTPCR test on Sunday, for confirmation.

An inquest was conducted and the body was sent to SK Roy Civil Hospital for post mortem. Sub Inspector, Abdul Aziz, Incharge of the Hospital Police Outpost, revealed that after the autopsy was conducted, the body has been kept at the morgue and will soon be handed over to the 

An investigation is on.

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