Non-stop cremations cast doubt on india's counting of Covid dead. Several states are reporting far larger numbers of cremations and burials under Coronavirus protocols than official death tolls. In many cases, patients come to hospital in an extremely critical condition and die before they are tested and there are instances where patients are brought dead to hospital, and do not know if they are positive or not. The officials say that mismatch in death tallies may be caused by several factors, including over-caution.
The deluge of infections and deaths highlight just how unprepared central government has been to deal with the latest wave of the epidemic. In the past weeks large crowds have gathered for elections rallies in five states, festivals, and religious pilgrimages -- indicating things could get even worse for the country and its crematoriums.
Covid presents a good opportunity for the government to solve the emerging crisis of shrinking burial space especially in major cities. The business of death has become highly lucrative as the cost of dying rises in cities across the country. Even with the rise in deaths, experts say India is still underreporting fatalities.
An acute shortage of beds in hospitals and a long wait for ambulances followed. Essential medicines have disappeared from pharmacies even as their prices on the black market skyrocket. Central government has mishandled the pandemic really bad.
KG Vilop, Chorao
