Delhi govt. not giving correct data of COVID deaths, say civic bodies

Mayors say they are increasing cremation, burial facilities in the Capital

North civic body Mayor Jai Prakash on Tuesday alleged that the Delhi government is not providing “correct figures” of COVID deaths in the Capital. “The Delhi government never gives correct figures for reasons best known to them. The last rites of those losing their lives to COVID are happening almost around the clock at Nigambodh Ghat, which is one of the most utilised facilities under the North body 260 funerals took place despite its capacity of 152 yesterday [Monday],” Mr. Prakash said. “We compile cremation figures for a particular day till 6 p.m. but bodies keep coming beyond that time as well and are added to the next day’s report. If we changed the format to include last rites till midnight, the daily figures would be substantially higher,” he added. The Mayor, under whose jurisdiction 14 of the 29 funeral venues in the city lie, added that he had written to the Forest Department over the dwindling supply of wood for funeral pyres. He said he had requested the department to provide them with trees that can be used for this purpose before the current stock of wood gets exhausted.