India reports first case of coronavirus in army

India reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus in the army with a 34-year-old soldier posted in the Himalayan mountains of Leh in Ladakh testing positive, according to army sources today.

The man has been placed in isolation. The soldier is from Ladakh Scouts, an infantry regiment of the Army, our New Delhi correspondent reports, quoting sources.

Reports say the soldier's father returned from Iran, one of the worst-hit countries by coronavirus, on February 27. He was on casual leave and at home when his father arrived. He re-joined duty on March 2.

His father was quarantined from February 29 and reported positive for coronavirus on March 6. The soldier was quarantined a day later, and he tested positive on Monday.

The soldier's sister, wife and two children are also quarantined in a hospital.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases across India climbed to 147 today, including 25 foreigners.

Three persons have so far died of the virus.