Ranchi has reported exactly half of the 82 Covid deaths that occurred in Jharkhand since March 10, indicating that the state capital was accounting for more casualties during the second wave of Covid-19 in comparison with East Singhbhum, which reported the highest number of fatalties during the first wave last year.

As per figures compiled by the National Health Mission (NHM), Ranchi accounts for 41 of the 82 Covid casualties reported in the state in the past one month. On the other hand, East Singhbhum, which continues to top among Jharkhand districts in terms of Covid casualties, has reported only seven Covid fatalities since March 10, reveals NHM data.

While health experts attribute the higher count of casualties in Ranchi to the high number of cases here, government figures highlight that Ranchi reported the highest number of Covid cases last year as well, but fewer casualties as compared to East Singhbhum.

Dr Ajay Kumar Singh, the state coordinator of Indian Medical Association (IMA), warned that the second wave of Covid-19 was more lethal than the first one as the virus was mutated and may behave in mysterious ways. The higher number of deaths in Ranchi, he said, could also be attributed to the fact that most of the severely-ill patients came to the state capital for treatment.

“Firstly, the second wave of a mutated virus was more lethal than the first one. Secondly, Ranchi was more likely to get exposed to the mutated virus due to high inflow of severely-ill patients and connectivity with almost all cities in India,” said Singh.

Not only has Ranchi reported the highest number of Covid deaths during the second wave, but also the highest count of cases. As per NHM data, Ranchi reported 7,017 of the 14,279 fresh Covid cases in Jharkhand since March 10. In totality, the district accounts for 40,407 of the 1,34,715 Covid cases reported in Jharkhand so far. The figures indicate that Ranchi has reported 49 per cent of cases in the past one month and only 29 per cent of the total cases reported in Jharkhand so far.

As per government data, Ranchi accounts for 290 of the 1,175 Covid casualties, about 24 per cent, in Jharkhand so far. However, in the past one month, the state capital reported 50 per cent of the casualties. East Singhbhum, on the other hand, accounts for 363 Covid deaths, which is the highest among the 24 districts in the state, and is about 30 per cent of the total Covid casualties.