DU Assistant Professor Dies Of COVID-19 After Her Husband, Students Organise Virtual Prayer Meet

DU professor dies of COVID-19: On Monday, Chetan Jassal, a 45-year-old DU assistant professor died of COVID-19, less than 10 days after her husband succumbed to the deadly disease. They are survived by two children.

DU professor dies of COVID-19

Chetan Jassal was an assistant professor in the commerce department of Mata Sundri College for Women. On April 25, her relatives took her and her husband Pawan Kumar Jassal to Chandigarh. Reportedly, they failed to find a hospital bed in Delhi. Jassal's husband died on May 8.

Jassal's colleagues and friends claimed that she was unaware of her husband's death. One of them, Veenakshi Sharma said that Jassal called her on April 24 and asked for some leads for an oxygen cylinder for her husband. He had difficulty in breathing and they were trying to find a hospital bed. Both of them were affected at that time. After they were unable to find a bed here, Jassal and her relatives took him to a hospital in Chandigarh. Her condition worsened at that time and she too had to be hospitalised.

"She was on ventilator support since April 30. She did not know about her husband's death," she said. "She was a very dear friend. I can't believe a person as lively as her has gone so early," Sharma added.

The principal of Mata Sundri College for Women, Harpreet Kaur said that Jassal sent her documents to college for a pending promotion days before leaving for Chandigarh. She would have soon been promoted to the post of associate professor. "She was a very hardworking and responsible colleague. We will never forget her ever-smiling face and lovable personality," she added.

The college is trying to help Jassal's sons academically. The chairperson of the college's governing body will sponsor their education as per reports.

Student reactions to Jassal's death

Several DU students arranged a virtual prayer meet in her memory on Wednesday. They also posted messages on social media expressing their shock over her untimely demise. A student, Shifat Kapoor said in a Facebook post, "It's very hard to believe that you are not with us and the college anymore".

DU Teachers Association said that more than 35 faculty members from across colleges in the university have died of COVID-19 since March.