Russian team visits Rooppur plant to see Covid-19 situation

A Russian worker of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant died from Covid-19 on Friday while over 200 coronavirus infected Russian workers of the plant are undergoing treatment.

Amid this situation, high officials from the Russian government's Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation visited the plant in Pabna's Ishwardi on Saturday to observe the situation.

The delegation, headed by the deputy director of Rosatom, also consists of their medical experts, said Dr Shawkat Akbar, project director of Rooppur plant.

The delegation discussed with the project officials and the Ministry of Science and Technology about taking necessary steps for smooth progress of the development project amid the alarming Covid-19 situation, said project authorities.

"Russian workers at the plant will get the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. It has already reached the project area. Around 700 Bangladeshi officials of the project are likely to get this vaccine too," he said.

Meanwhile, Ivan Karpovan (38), a worker of Russian construction firm Nikmith-Atmostroy, died from Covid-19 at a private hospital in the capital's Shyamoli on Friday.

Md Ruhul Kuddus, in charge of the plant's site office said Ivan was infected with Covid-19 last month and was admitted to the hospital in Dhaka on June 19. Later, he was shifted to the ICU as his condition became critical.

Talking to The Daily Star, Dr Fakhrul Islam, a doctor at Rooppur plant, said a total of 231 Russian workers were found Covid positive last month. Of them, 144 have been hospitalised in four hospitals.

"A total of 1,300 Russian workers will get the Sputnik V in first two phases. Over 3,600 Russian workers are working in the Rooppur plant," Dr Fakhrul said.

Dr Shawkat said they are monitoring the health condition of all local and foreign workers on a regular basis from the very beginning of the pandemic.

"Still some workers got infected…, so we have to be more cautious," he said.