The deadly COVID-19 second wave claimed yet two more noted personalities of Manipur on Thursday. A noted politician and former legislator Irengbam Ibohalbi and acclaimed cinematographer of Manipuri cinema Irom Maipak died of COVID-19 related complications.
The former MLA who had represented Oinam assembly constituency of Bishnupur in the state Assembly breathed his last on Thursday afternoon, around 4.45 pm at Shija hospital, Imphal. He was admitted to the hospital on May 16 last after he tested positive for the virus.
Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Manipur State Branch was “deeply shocked and pained” by the demise of a former legislator who was a life member of the society.
In its condolence message, IRCS, called Ibohalbi as a dynamic personality whose long involvement with the Red Cross activities especially on blood donation camps and stated that his service will always be remembered by the branch and the people.
Meanwhile, acclaimed cinematographer Irom Maipak died of COVID-19 complications in the wee hours of Thursday at Raj Medicity hospital, Imphal. He was 52.
Maipak, who had worked in some of the outstanding award winning Manipuri films, was diagnosed with the viral disease on May 3 last and admitted to Raj Medicity since then. He breathed his last after struggling for life for 16 days with critical support at the hospital.
Maipak had won the national film award (Rajat Kamal) in cinematography in 2002 for his work on ‘The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh’.
“Manipur’s cinema lost one of its luminaries to the dreaded coronavirus yet again”, stated Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), in its condolence message.
With this fatality, the film fraternity of Manipur has lost four of its personalities to the ongoing pandemic, the other three victims being Moirangthem Kamaljett Singh alias Em Kay Jeet, director-producer-lyricist, Sagolsem Romio Meitei, a rising actor from Kairembikhok, Wangjing, Hem Athokpam, cinematographer-editor, it added.
Battling the second wave of COVID-19, the state has recently had four noted politicians including president of the state unit of BJP, Prof S Tikendra. Two former ministers Vivekraj Wangkhem and Laisom Lalit had recently succumbed to the COVID-19 complications.
The state had also lost two doctors who were the frontline warriors in the fight against the dreaded coronavirus.
