Coronavirus deaths are not reported correctly in Delhi: Civic authority

Delhi is in a mess as far as reporting of the number of COVID-19 deaths is concerned. MCDs in the city have given totally different picture than that of the state government.

New Delhi: With nearly 11000 cases in a day, India has taken over the UK as the fourth-most-affected nation by the number of coronavirus cases.

In a worrisome development concerning COVID-19 situation in the national capital, Municipal Corporation of Delhi has questioned the official death figures of the Delhi Government and said 2,098 people have died of the contagious virus and not 984, as has been claimed by the government in the period between March and 10 June.

The Delhi government is in the midst of yet another controversy as there have been discrepancies in the number of deaths reported by civic bodies and the government.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Bhupinder Gupta, Chairman, South MCD Standing Committee, said that 1080 bodies were cremated in the South MCD zone, 976 in North MCD and 42 bodies were cremated in the East MCD crematorium grounds.

On being asked why such a difference has emerged in the figures, he said it is for them to explain.

"We don't want to politicize the issue. Our intention is that people should be informed correctly as it's their right and it would also help them understand the true picture of the situation," he said, adding that the health system in the national capital has already crumbled and efforts should be made to provide good health care to the people.

According to the Delhi government health bulletin, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the city stood at 34,687 and 1085 deaths.