Chennai: S Balamurali, Law and Order Inspector of Mambalam station under T Nagar Police district, tested positive for Covid-19 in the first week of June and died on Wednesday.
The 47-year-old is survived by his wife and two children. It is said that his name was on the list of police officials soon to be promoted as Assistant Commissioner.
A native of Vellore, he joined the Tamilnadu police department in 2000 as a Sub-Inspector and lived in the police quarters in Vadapalani. His father too had served in the police department.
Balamurali completed B.E in Electronics and Communication, but chose to join the police. His colleagues hailed him as one of the finest officers in the force. ‘He was a teetotaller and very sincere. His line of investigation was always perfect,’ they said and praise his helping nature too.
On 3 June, Balamurali who was on Covid-19 duty, had given his sample for testing at a coronavirus testing centre in Virugambakkam and the following day his result had come as positive.
He was isolated at Corona Care Centre at IIT-Madras and when his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Omandurar Governemnt hospital and later to Rajiv Gandhi Medical College and Hospital where he passed away.
He is survived by his wife Kavitha, daughter Harshavardhi (16), a class 11 student and son Nishanth (13), studying in class 8.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had contacted the family and expressed his condolence and promised the family a government job.
It may be noted that 731 police personnel are affected by Covid-19 of which 330 have recovered.