A dispute has emerged with the release of a World Health Organization (WHO) report suggesting that Covid-19 deaths in India were approximately ten times higher than the government’s declared data, a charge that the Centre has categorically denied.
According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus pandemic killed approximately 15 million people worldwide, with India accounting for roughly a third of those deaths (4.74 million).
To collect data on Covid deaths around the world, the global health organization stated it established a “innovative” and “robust” technique as well as a “fully transparent approach.” According to the WHO, between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic killed 14.9 million people worldwide (14,910,195 to be precise).
The stated global death toll from Covid-19 is 5.5 million, leaving 9.4 million unaccounted for deaths.
According to the WHO, ten countries accounted for 68 percent of all excess deaths, including India, Russia, Indonesia, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Turkey, Egypt, and South Africa. With 4,740,894 unaccounted deaths, India topped the list.
Covid fatalities began to rise considerably in India in the second half of 2020, according to the WHO.
Approximately one-third of India’s excess deaths (2,721,643) can be attributed to just three months in 2021 – April, May, and June – when the country experienced one of the greatest health crises in history, with hospitals running out of beds to accommodate patients.
However, India has rejected the WHO report as “statistically unsound and scientifically questionable”.
In response to the report, which attracted a lot of attention, India wrote at least 10 letters to the UN body in the last four-five months asking for clarification regarding the process and methodology used to gather data, but the UN body’s response was lukewarm.
“During the member consultation meeting, India raised its flag three times but was not given a chance until the end, and even then, they were unable to persuade us,” an official said.
