A doctor at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in Guwahati who was said to have died of COVID-19 on Monday has been denied by GMCH authority. The doctor identified as Dr. Jahan Iqbal Ahmed was suffering from fever with cough and had respiratory distress today and died on his way to the hospital.

However, a tweet by Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma later cleared the air. He mentioned that the deceased doctor succumbed to COVID-19.

Dr. Ahmed was an Associate Professor of Opthalmology.

Dr. Navanil Barua of GNRC in a Facebook post wrote, "With extreme shock and grief , I mourn the passing away of my classmate Jahan Iqbal Ahmed , Assoc Prof , Ophthalmology, GMCH . He was having fever with cough and had respiratory distress today and died on way to hospital."

Having known him since 1978, I feel devastated.

May he find peace at the abode of Allah almighty, Dr. Barua said.