Srinagar, A senior doctor died on Sunday due to COVID-19 at S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Kashmir valley.This is the second death of a doctor in less than a fortnight in the valley, where the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 430 while several frontline workers, including doctors and paramedical staff, have been infected since March this year.Condoling the demise of Dr Mohd Ashraf Mir from Pampore, Doctor Association Kashmir (DAK) asked the medical fraternity not to lower their guard and also urged to administration to provide protective gear to the frontline warriors. Official sources said that the 45-year-old doctor, who was admitted at SKIMS Soura after being tested positive for COVID-19, died at around 0650 hrs. “The doctor was presently working as Senior Medical Officer at District Hospital Pulwama,” they said.They said the doctor was admitted to SKIMS when he developed complications about two weeks ago, adding he was suffering from bilateral pneumonia.DAK president Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan expressed deep sorrow over the death of the doctor, who according to him laid down his life while saving lives of patients battling against COVID-19. “While doctors have taken oath to save the lives of people, they have to take all precautions as they treat patients so that we can win the fight against COVID-19,” he said.The DAK president said the rationalization of staff should be done so that all doctors are not exposed to the virus. “If all the doctors are exposed to the virus, they our healthcare could crumble and that can be disastrous,” he added.A 46-year-old doctor — Shabir Ahmad Malik, a resident of Bandipora — died at SKIMS hospital on July 28, thirteen days after ‘recovering’ from COVID-19.