Indian-origin father-daughter doctor duo die of COVID-19 in US
New York: An Indian-American father and daughter, both doctors in New Jersey, have died due to the COVID-19, with Governor Phil Murphy describing their demise as particularly tough" and hailed them for dedicating their lives for others.
Satyender Dev Khanna, 78, was a surgeon who served both on staff and as the head of the surgical departments for multiple hospitals across New Jersey for decades.
Priya Khanna, 43, was a double board certified in both internal medicine and nephrology. She was Chief of Residents at Union Hospital, now part of RWJ Barnabas Health.
"Dr. Satyender Dev Khanna and Dr. Priya Khanna were father and daughter. They both dedicated their lives to helping others. This is a family dedicated to health and medicine. Our words cannot amply express our condolences," New Jersey Governor Murphy tweeted on Thursday.
Both dedicated their lives to helping others and we lost both of them to COVID-19, Murphy said during a press conference on Thursday, saying their demise is a "particularly tough one.
Satyender passed away at the Clara Maass Medical Center where he had worked for more than 35 years.
Murphy described him as a "pioneering doctor who was one of the first surgeons to perform laparoscopic surgery in the state. He is being remembered by colleagues as a gentle and caring physician."
And for a doctor, I'm not one, but I would bet, I don't think there could be a more fitting way to be remembered, or a nurse or a healthcare worker of any kind, Murphy said, adding that the doctor had a passion for bicycling, and he often found peace from the hustle of the hospital in biking along the Jersey Shore.
Priya did all of her medical training in New Jersey and then did her fellowship in nephrology in South Jersey with the Cooper Health System.
Like her father, she too worked at Clara Maass, where she died.
She was also Medical Director at two dialysis centers in Essex County and took pride in teaching the next generation of doctors, Murphy said, adding that the ICU physician who cared for Priya Khanna was trained and taught by her as well.
Priya will be remembered as a caring and selfless person who put others first. And even while in the hospital, fighting her own battle, she continued to check up on her mom and dad and her family, Murphy said.
This is a family, by the way, dedicated to health and medicine, he said.
The governor spoke with Satyender's wife Komlish Khanna, who is a pediatrician. The couple has two more daughters - Sugandha Khanna, an emergency medicine physician and Anisha Khanna, a pediatrician.
Unbelievable. Our words cannot amply express our condolences nor, I am sure, can they express the pain that the Khanna family is feeling. But I hope that the fact that our entire state mourns with them is some small comfort. And we mourn everyone we have lost. We commit in their memory to saving as many lives as we can, Murphy said.
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Lara Dutta stranded in Dubai as Middle East unrest escalates, urges better sense to prevail
Mumbai (PTI): Bollywood actor Lara Dutta Bhupathi, who is currently in Dubai with her daughter and former tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, on Wednesday said she is feeling “nervous” and “stressed out” due to the ongoing conflict and is hoping to return to Mumbai.
The actor said she had travelled to Dubai , which has been like a home to her for the past three years, for a brand-related commitment when the Israel-Iran war began. She recalled hearing explosions and seeing missiles being intercepted while she was at a studio.
“I can’t lie (been) stressful days. We are nervous and it’s been scary. Lots of fighter jets flying overhead, lots of loud booms. Though we live in a villa in a very safe neighbourhood, the windows shake, the house and the doors rattle, and it's unnerving. But I haven't felt unsafe, not even once,” the actor said in a video clip, admitting that the nervous energy compelled her to make it.
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Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply after the United States and Israel launched a coordinated offensive against Iran on February 28. Tehran responded by firing drones and missiles at Israel, US military installations across the Gulf region, and the global business hub of Dubai.
She praised the UAE government and said they’ve doing an “incredible” job and they are being “looked after” and “protected” regardless of the nationality.
“…We feel like we count, we matter. The UAE government as somebody living in this city, is making sure they do everything in their power to protect us and keep us safe,” Dutta said.
The actor expressed her admiration for the workforce from her gardener to delivery riders, and said she has immense respect for the everyday heroes who keep the country running.
She said they are looking at flights back to India, and but they are not available.
“We are trying to get back to Mumbai, more so because the kids are lot more nervous, we are as well as grown-ups. We are trying to get out,” an emotional Dutta said.
“I was in India, obviously, when India and Pakistan went to war, and we saw how well our country protected us then. And it's the same here. No one, no civilian, deserves to live in fear or be caught up in a war that is destabilising an entire region,” she said.
Dutta said she is hoping that the “common sense and better judgement would prevail”.
Friends and colleagues from the film industry commented on Dutta’s post.
“I'm glad you're safe, Lara, and credit where credit is due to the UAE govt,” actor Richa Chadha said.
Actor Sudhanshu Pandey said, “Lara my dearest, you hang in there, all will be well. Stay together stay strong, this will be over soon.”
Earlier, actors Esha Gupta, Sonal Chauhan were stranded in UAE and have safely returned to India.
