The Delhi government for the second consecutive day chose to withhold the correct number of coronavirus-linked deaths in the city, raising fears that the Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation was trying to hide the actual toll.
The Delhi state health bulletin on May 15, like the day earlier, had no reported deaths for the day. It, however, showed a cumulative death figure of 123 individuals.
On Thursday, Telegraph Online had reported how the records of coronavirus-related deaths collated from crematoriums and burial grounds in Delhi till May 13, managed by BJP-led municipal corporations, revealed a stark difference of 303 deaths. On May 13, the corporations recorded 409 Covid-19-related deaths while the government claimed there were 106 deaths.
The bulletin column on hospital-wise breakup of the number of deaths was also missing. Multiple publications, including this website, found that the government was under-reporting the number of deaths from the hospitals in the city as well.
There has been no response to messages and emails sent to the health minister, principal secretary of the health department and information officers.
The Delhi government has maintained silence since the statement on Sunday by health minister Satyendar Jain blaming hospitals for the discrepancy. The same day, an order from the chief secretary had pinned the blame on hospitals’ failure to submit death summaries “despite repeated reminders”.
The hospitals, including the ones under the Delhi government, disagree. The new director of the Lok Nayak hospital, Suresh Kumar, confirmed that the hospital has been sending a daily report without fail. Kumar’s predecessor, J.C. Passey, was removed within days of the data discrepancy in Covid-19 deaths came to light.
“We’re submitting real-time data on a daily basis. Nobody can hide the data. It is already in the report and we are sending actual data on a daily basis,” said Kumar.
“Deaths are categorised in two ways: one of confirmed Covid-19 cases while the other are suspected coronavirus cases with pending test results,” he added.
Kumar, however, said that the bodies handed over for last rites go with clear confirmed Covid-19 or suspected tags. Municipal corporations had confirmed that the hospitals send the bodies with clear information so that proper cremation or burial guidelines are followed according to the Covid-19 procedure.
Other hospitals like the Lady Hardinge Medical College pointed out to their daily reports which are uploaded on their website. The hospital has been putting out daily reports since March 23.
Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital had also pointed out discrepancies in the bulletin data for the hospital. The death figures mentioned in the state release was significantly lower than reported by the hospital.