Fact Check: Milkha Singh has not died of COVID-19
The legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh tested positive for COVID-19 last month and has been battling against the virus since then. Several social media users have now claimed that Milkha Singh passed away due to COVID-19.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 6 Jun 2021 2:00 PM GMT
Hyderabad: The legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh tested positive for COVID-19 last month and has been battling against the virus since then. Several social media users have now claimed that Milkha Singh passed away due to COVID-19.
Posts with the caption "Flying Sikh Milkha Singh passed away due to Covid RIP" are being shared on social media.
Fact Check
The claim that Milkha Singh passed away due to COVID-19 is false.
NewsMeter searched online for news reports about Singh's death but found none that supported the claim. There were reports about the four-time Asian Games gold medallist testing positive for COVID-19 but none mentioning his death.
Milkha Singh was admitted to the ICU Covid ward at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, on 3 June. An Indian Express report quoted Prof. Ashok Kumar, the official spokesperson of PGIMER, as saying, "On the basis of all the medical parameters today, that is June 5, his condition has been observed better than yesterday."
Milkha Singh is alive and currently, his condition is improving. On 4 June, Jeev Milkha Singh, the son of Milkha Singh, had tweeted that his father had to be shifted to the hospital again but that his condition was stable.
Kiren Rijiju, the Union minister of youth affairs and sports, refuted the viral claim and tweeted, "Please don't run false news and create rumours about the legendary athlete and pride of India Milkha Singh Ji. He is stable and let's pray for his fast recovery."
Evidently, the claim that Milkha Singh has passed away due to COVID-19 is false.
Milka Singh passed away on 18 June 2021, Friday with Covid-19 related issues in a Chandigarh hospital. He was 91.
