Chennai: Even as the Tamilnadu government forming a panel to probe into allegations of under-reporting of Covid-19 deaths in the State, especially Chennai, it is suspected that the volume of such cases could be more than what is being alleged.
“Only a detailed and fair investigation can bring out the truth. The Tamilnadu government should ensure this and crack a whip on those involved in this. Because, this is a serious crime considering the spread of the pandemic and its deadly impact on human beings,” says Murali, an activist.
According to reports, a team of officials from the Directorate of Public Health who visited Greater Chennai Corporation’s headquarters Ripon Buildings found the death register maintained by the civic body on had recorded 236 more deaths than the state register.
It is said that if these deaths had been added, the fatality rate in the state would be close to 1.5 per cent, against the 0.7 per cent reported by State officials.
A few officials cited procedural lapse as the reason behind mismatch, since there was no system of reporting deaths recorded in the Chennai Corporation’s registry to the government on a daily basis.
State Health Secretary Beela Rajesh today said a committee will be formed to look into the issue.
A nine-member committee will now audit all coronavirus deaths in Chennai, where it is suspected that most of the deaths not included in the government data occurred.
Beela Rajesh said the process would be completed in two weeks and “if there are any cases left out, it would be added to the official figures”.
A few days ago, Arappor Iyakkam had alleged under-reporting of deaths due to the pandemic in the State. Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of the NGO, filed a complaint with the Health Secretary, stating that the deaths of three persons — two in Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai and one in Raja Muthiah Medical College Hospital, Cuddalore — have not been reported by the health department till date.
He stated in the complaint that the three cases prima facie raised serious doubts on the death cases being reported by the State government. Reporting deaths transparently was the need of the hour, he said, adding that hiding of any deaths would only lead to more fear among the people.