Kolkata, May 12 (IANS): Amid severe flak from the Centre and other opposition quarters over the Covid-19 issue, the West Bengal government on Tuesday replaced Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Vivek Kumar with Narayan Swaroop Nigam.

Nigam is likely to take charge of the Health Department from May 12 itself. He was till now in charge of the state's Transport Department, a government notification said.

A 1990-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, Kumar was shifted as Principal Secretary in the Environment Department.

The reshuffle came at a time when the state was battling the Covid-19 crisis, with the death toll in Bengal touching 118 till Monday evening. The total confirmed Covid-19 cases climbed to 2,063, including 1,374 active cases and 499 patients cured and discharged from hospitals.

Earlier, the state had transferred Manoj Agarwal, Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, after reports of protests poured in from various parts of Bengal over irregularities in ration distribution.