News Analysis India

Tag: covid deaths

  • Opposition attacks CM Nitish Kumar for Bihar Covid death tally anomalies

    Express News Service
    PATNA:  Inconsistency in the reporting of deaths due to Covid-19 in Bihar has become ammunition for the Opposition to attack the NDA government with. After a recount, it was found that 3,951 deaths were not mentioned in earlier reports. These have now been added to the official tally.

    Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav of RJD and Congress spokespersons trained their guns at the government, saying that the actual death tally is still not in public domain. Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Yadav said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his government are lying. “Nitish ji, do not lie so much that you end up getting buried under the heap of lies,” he tweeted.

    Yadav alleged that the state government has been concealing the real number of deaths. “The number of deaths is 20 times higher than what this government is saying. If the Nitish government is fake, its statistics will also be fake,” he said in another tweet.

    Congress leader Dr Madan Mohan Jha also alleged that more deaths from Covid-19 have occurred, which are not mentioned in the official count. Sources in the medical fraternity said a huge number of deaths took place in private hospitals and on way to hospitals in rural areas. These were not reported in the official count. Additional Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit had said on Wednesday action would be taken against the responsible.

  • COVID-19: As India reports ess than one lakh cases for the second successive day, this is what it means to national recovery rate

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: As the country records less than one lakh cases for the second successive days, the daily positivity rate of India has declined to 4.66 per cent, informed to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Wednesday.

    “The weekly positivity rate is currently at 5.66 per cent while the daily positivity rate stands at 4.66 per cent today. It has remained less than 10 per cent for 16th consecutive days now,” the health ministry said.

    India has been witnessing a continuous fall in the active caseload and is below 20 lakhs for nine successive days. The country’s active caseload today stands at 12,31,415.

    “A net decline of 72,287 is witnessed in the last 24 hours and active cases are now only 4.23 per cent of the country’s total positive cases,” it said.

    Meanwhile, India reported 92,596 daily new cases in the last 24 hours.

    The Union Health Ministry informed that India’s daily recoveries continue to outnumber the daily new cases for the 27th consecutive day.

    “As many as 1,62,664 recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours. India’s cumulative recoveries have reached 2,75,04,126 today. The National Recovery Rate has grown further to touch 94.55 per cent,” the ministry said.

    The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 23.90 crore today under the nationwide vaccination drive. 27,76,096 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

    A total of 23,90,58,360 vaccine doses have been administered through 33,44,533 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today.

    “The total of 23,88,40,635 include 99,96,113 Healthcare Workers (HCWs) have taken the first dose and 68,94,206 HCWs have taken the second dose, 1,63,86,094 Frontline Workers (FLWs) (first dose), 87,28,340 FLWs (second dose),” it said.

    These include 3,18,51,951 people in the age group of 18-44 years (first dose), 3,18,313 in the same age group (2nd dose), 7,26,04,407 people in the age group of 45 to 60 years (first dose), 1,15,39,053 in the same age group (2nd dose), 6,12,98,568 aged above 60 years (1st Dose) and 1,94,41,315 in the same age group (2nd Dose). 

  • Pilots’ body moves Bombay HC, seeks compensation for COVID-19 death, priority in vaccination

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: An association of Indian pilots has approached the Bombay High Court seeking schemes for adequate compensation for pilots who died of COVID-19 or got infected by it, priority in vaccination against the disease and insurance coverage for those working during the pandemic.

    The petition, filed by the ‘Federation of Indian Pilots’ on June 7, said pilots are providing essential services, and sought a direction to the Union government to provide an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 crore to the families of pilots who died due to COVID-19.

    As per the public interest litigation (PIL), since February 2021, 13 pilots have succumbed to COVID-19.

    The petition said since March 2020, all airlines and pilots are diligently working to operate the ‘Vande Bharat’ and other flights for evacuating Indian citizens stranded in other countries and also for the air transportation of medical supplies during the second wave of the pandemic this year.

    “In such times, several pilots have been infected by the coronavirus and many have lost their lives. Several pilots also face the risk of permanent or temporary disability due to the after-effects of COVID-19, like mucormycosis,” it said.

    The PIL further said pilots have operated flights during the pandemic with substantial risk to their personal and family safety.

    “Despite this, several pilots have been subjected to massive pay cuts since the beginning of 2020,” it said.

    As per the PIL, the petitioner and the Indian Pilots Guild had made a representation to the Centre, seeking that they be declared as frontline workers and given priority in vaccination against COVID-19.

    But, till date there is no scheme for adequate compensation for the families of pilots who died due to COVID-19, it claimed.

    The PIL has also sought a direction to the Centre to frame a comprehensive insurance policy for all pilots, and to create of a separate class of COVID-19 first responders as ‘Air Transportation Workers’ for the purpose of priority of vaccination.

    The petitioner and other airline pilot unions have their own individual welfare schemes for eventualities, but the same does not envisage or factor in the severity or probable death in the present pandemic situation, it said.

    The petition will be taken up for hearing in due course of time.

  • Uttarakhand tops among Himalayan states in number of COVID-19 deaths

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand is on top of six Himalayan states when it comes to death rate due to COVID-19. Six out of 11 states/UTs in the country that have the highest death rates are Himalayan states.

    “The second wave has exposed fragility of the mountain states of India. Death rates are alarmingly high compared to the other states of India. This observation deserves attention of highest levels of the government of India,” said Anoop Nautiyal, whose Social Development for Communities has been collating and analysing Covid 19  data from March 15, 2020. 

    After Punjab (2.6 per cent), Uttarakhand (2.0 per cent) and Nagaland (1.9 per cent) have the highest death rates in the country. Other Himalayan states making the list are Himachal Pradesh (1.7 per cent) Meghalaya (1.7 per cent) Sikkim (1.6 per cent) & Manipur (1.6 per cent). 

    In the list of top 10 states in terms of death rate, six are Himalayan states while five are non-Himalayan states- Punjab (2.6 per cent), Maharashtra (1.7 per cent), Delhi (1.7 per cent), Goa (1.7  per cent) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1.7 per cent). 

    With 446 new cases on Sunday total number of active cases reached 16125 in Uttarakhand. Cases of black fungus/Mucormycosis reached 299 out if which 47 died and 18 have been cured. 

    Meanwhile, Uttarakhand government is mulling to extend some relaxation in curfew restrictions in five districts from June 8 which have shown improvement in terms of COVID situation. The districts of Bageshwar, Champawat, Haridwar, Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar recorded a test positivity rate of below 5 per cent in the past one week. 

    Officials told that more shops are likely to be permitted to open in these five districts and curfew timings are likely to be relaxed. The government is also planning to permit the plying of public transport vehicles with a two-third occupancy.  

  • 624 doctors lost their lives during second COVID wave, says IMA

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: As many as 624 doctors lost their lives during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) latest data has revealed.

    As per the IMA’s COVID Registry, the highest number of deaths have been reported in Delhi (109), over a sixth of the total fatalities.

    It is followed by Bihar with 96 deaths, and Uttar Pradesh with 79.

    According to the IMA, 748 doctors had died of the infection across the country in the first wave of the pandemic.

    Meanwhile, India reported 1,34,154 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s infection tally to 2,84,41,986, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday. India’s active caseload has further declined to 17,13,413, a decrease of 80,232 in the last 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate also declined to 6.21 per cent, remaining below the 10 per cent-mark for the tenth consecutive day, while the weekly positivity rate stands at 7.66 per cent. The positivity rate declined by two per cent as compared to yesterday’s 8.21 per cent.

    The death toll due to the virus climbed to 3,37,989 with 2,887 fatalities being recorded in 24 hours.

    Meanwhile, recoveries continue to outnumber the daily new cases for 21 successive days, as India witnessed 2,11,499 recoveries in the last 24 hours, the ministry said. The recovery tally of India has reached 2,63,90,584 and the recovery rate increased to 92.79 per cent.

    According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a total of 35,37,82,648 samples tested up to June 02 of which 21,59,873 samples were tested yesterday.

    The Union Health Ministry has informed that nearly 22,10,43,693 vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. 

  • Jammu and Kashmir records 39.37% of Covid cases, 41.56% deaths in May

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir last month recorded 39.37 per cent of the total Covid cases and 41.56 per cent of deaths due to the virus. This apart, only 28.86 per cent Covid vaccines have been administered till May end. 

    According to the data provided by the administration, the UT recorded 114382 covid cases in May, thus taking the tally to 290465 since the outbreak of Covid-19. 

    The UT also registered 1624 deaths due to the viral infection last month. The deaths due to Covid, that stood at 2283 on April 30, increased to 3907 a month later accounting for 41.56 percent of the deaths.

    In Kashmir, the Covid cases rose by 40.38 per cent (7219) in May and the deaths went up by 30.26% (605). In Jammu region, the cases increased by 37.77 percent (42203) but the deaths increased by 53.40% (1019).

    In Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, the cases increased by 21725 last month. On April 30, Srinagar had a total of 43438 cases and the tally rose to 65163 in May-end leading to the city recording 33.33 percent of total cases in May. The death toll in Srinagar, which stood at 536 on April 30, increased by 235 taking the tally to 771 on May 31, accounting for 30.47 of total deaths in May.

    Jammu, the winter capital, witnessed 55.20% of the total deaths in the district in May. On April 30, its death toll was 478 and it surged to 1067 on May 31. The number of Covid cases here increased by 16056 which is 31.68% of the total cases. Its covid tally on May 31 stood at 50675. 

    Covid vaccine

    The UT has inoculated 3290420 persons till May -end. Of these, 949668 persons received their vaccination in May. In Jammu region, 557332 persons have been given the vaccine while in Srinagar, the figure stood at 392316, 

    In Jammu district, 620526 people have been administered the covid vaccine and in Srinagar, 253738 people have been given their vaccines. 

    In Jammu district, 100 percent population above 45 age group have been vaccinated while in Srinagar only 44.49 per cent population above 45 age group have got Covid vaccine jabs so far.

  • Two men caught on tape throwing COVID patient’s body into river in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur

    By Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: After disturbing visuals of unidentified bodies floating in the Ganga river, a video went viral in which two men are seen dumping the body of a Covid patient into the Rapti river in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district.

    The 26-second clip, which appears to be filmed by a person from a vehicle, shows the two men, one of them wearing PPE suit, amid rain throwing the body from a road bridge.

    While the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) confirmed the patient had tested positive, the police announced that two persons, including a close relative of the COVID victim and a sanitation staff, was arrested for the act that took place on Saturday. “A criminal case was lodged against them and further investigations are underway,” ASP, Balrampur, Arvind Mishra said.

    ये ‘कूड़ा’ नही, नदी में लाश फेंकी जा रही है,तस्वीरें ‘उत्तम-प्रदेश’ के बलरामपुर की है…pic.twitter.com/xiJPsYKB30
    — Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) May 30, 2021

    According to Balrampur CMO Dr VB Singh, a 68-year-old man from Shohratgarh area was admitted at a hospital in Balrampur district on May 25, where he tested Covid positive the next day. He was shifted to an isolation ward at the Jila Sanyukt Chikitsalaya but died on May 28 evening.

    The body was handed over to the patient’s nephew Sanjay Shukla and sent in a vehicle for cremation the next morning.

    But, the police said, instead of getting the body cremated at the Bijlipur Ghat, Shukla took the body and got it thrown in the river with the help of the sanitation staff and another man who works at the riverside cremation ground.

    Shukla allegedly oversaw the operation from an SUV, and the police are looking into the possibility of money being exchanged for getting the work done. Also under scanner is the role of those who filmed the clip.

    The opposition Congress tweeting the video on Sunday and asserted that the awful state of affairs in UP was exposed yet again. “Will the UP government now prove this video as false,” it questioned.

    Disturbing visuals from Balrampur

    The 26-second clip, which appears to be filmed by a person from a vehicle, shows the two men, one of them wearing PPE suit, throwing the body from a road bridge

  • Plea in SC seeks constitution of 3-tier committee to ensure dignified disposal of bodies

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Centre and other authorities to form a committee to ensure dignified disposal of bodies of COVID-19 victims while referring to recent reports of floating corpses in the river Ganga in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

    The plea has sought directions for constituting a three-tier committee at the central, state and panchayat, and the rural and municipality levels to look after the disposal of the bodies.

    Petitioner Vineet Jindal has claimed in his plea that disposal of bodies of COVID-19 victims in rivers could have a devastating effect on the drinking water supply of people residing in cities and villages situated on the river banks, and there is an apprehension of transmission of diseases as well.

    “It is respectfully submitted that the dead bodies of COVID-19 affected persons are being buried on the banks of rivers.

    Sand covering the bodies is blown away by strong winds, exposing the decomposing bodies,” said the plea filed through advocate Raj Kishor Choudhary.

    The petition has arrayed the Centre, the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and the pollution control boards of these two states as respondents.

    It has sought a direction to the authorities to remove all such bodies and restore the ecology of the riverbeds.

    The plea has also sought to declare the Ganga riverbed an ecologically sensitive area and hence, be protected and preserved.

    It said that directions should be given to the authorities concerned to provide safe drinking water to people living near river banks so that they do not use contaminated water.

    The plea has sought directions to the authorities to immediately take appropriate steps to either conduct door-to-door COVID-19 test or organise medical camps for tests in such areas where bodies were found along the river banks so that infection may not spread to others.

    It has also sought directions for taking appropriate steps to vaccinate people residing adjacent to the river banks of the Ganga.

    The plea said many poor people do not have the resources for a proper burial and the authorities should be directed to take strict action against those who charge money in the name of performing last rites at crematoriums and graveyards.

    It said that “in order to ensure that dignity is upheld during handling of bodies, the cremation/burial ground staff must be sensitised about proper handling of the body”.

    The plea said necessary safety equipment and facilities should be provided to the staff at cremation and burial grounds so that they can perform their duties efficiently and without any fear or risk.

  • Tata Steel to continue giving salaries to dependents of employees falling victim to Covid

    By Express News Service
    RANCHI: In a first of its kind decision taken by any corporate house, Jamshedpur-based Tata Steel has rolled out a social security scheme for its employees, under which the nearest kin of an employee, who dies of Covid, will get the last drawn salary till 60 years of age along with housing and medical benefits. 

    In addition, for all its deceased frontline employees, Tata Steel would bear “all the expenses of their children’s education till graduation in India”.

    #TataSteel has taken the path of #AgilityWithCare by extending social security schemes to the family members of the employees affected by #COVID19. While we do our bit, we urge everyone to help others around them in any capacity possible to get through these tough times. pic.twitter.com/AK3TDHyf0H
    — Tata Steel (@TataSteelLtd) May 23, 2021

    According to the announcement made by the company, “Tata Steel’s best-in-class social security schemes will help ensure an honourable standard of living for their families, whereby the family will get the last drawn salary till 60 years of the age of the deceased employee/nominee along with medical benefits andhousing facilities.”

    The statement released by the company further stated that for all its frontline employees, who as part of their job, met with an unfortunate death due to Covid, the company will bear all the expenses of their children’s education till graduation in India.

    “The Company has always been a shield of steel, supporting its stakeholders at all times. This time is no different. Tata Steel family stands stoically with its entire people, committed to their security and well-being,” it said.

  • SC seeks Centre’s response on compensation to Covid victims’ kin

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Centre on a plea seeking compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of those who have died from coronavirus.

    A vacation bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah also asked the Centre to place before it the ICMR guidelines on issuance of death certificates for COVID-19 victims, saying there should be uniform policy for issuing such documents.

    The apex court was hearing two separate pleas seeking directions to the Centre and states to provide compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of coronavirus victims as provisioned under the Disaster Management Act of 2005, and a uniform policy for issuance of death certificates.

    The bench said unless there was a uniform policy for issuance of any official document or death certificate stating that the cause of death was Covid, the kin of the victims would not be able to claim benefits of any compensation scheme, if given.

    The bench posted the matter on June 11 and asked the Centre to file its reply by then.