Mewalal Choudhary, JDU MLA and former Bihar minister, passes away due to COVID-19

New Delhi: Mewalal Choudhary, a former Bihar Minister and a Janata Dal (United) MLA, has passed away, the JDU informed on Monday (April 19, 2021) morning.

The former Bihar Education Minister reportedly took his last breath at a private hospital in Patna. 

बिहार सरकार के पूर्व मंत्री एवं तारापुर से जदयू विधायक डॉ. मेवालाल चौधरी जी के असामयिक निधन से जदयू परिवार मर्माहत है। उनका निधन न केवल राजनीतिक बल्कि शैक्षणिक एवं सामाजिक जगत के लिए भी अपूरणीय क्षति है। ईश्वर उनके परिजनों को संबल प्रदान करें। उन्हें हमारी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि। pic.twitter.com/nUvoeveAbo — Janata Dal (United) (@Jduonline) April 19, 2021

As per ANI news agency, Mewalal Choudhary died due to COVID-19. 

Meanwhile, Bihar registered 8,690 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday that took the state's total caseload to 3,24,117. So far, 1,749 people ahve succumbed to the virus in Bihar.

Patna district reported the highest number of new infections at 2,290, followed by Gaya (753) and Saran (383).

The state currently has 44,700 active cases.

Earlier on Sunday, in view of the rising coronavirus cases, the Bihar government decided to impose a night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am. It also extended the closure of schools, colleges and coaching centres till May 15. 

Announcing the decision, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "Night curfew will remain in place from 9 pm to 5 am across the state. All shops selling vegetables, fruits, eggs and meat will be closed by 6 pm. Restaurants and dhabas to be operational for home delivery and take away services till 9 pm."

वीडियो कान्फ्रेंसिंग के माध्यम से कोविड-19 से संबंधित उच्चस्तरीय समीक्षा बैठक करने के बाद पत्रकारों से वार्ता की। https://t.co/xwmfq1orDt pic.twitter.com/qgMnSdfhH2 — Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) April 18, 2021

"We have directed top officials of the district to implement the restrictions and take the strongest possible action against the violators," the JD(U) supremo added.