Oppositions Allege Odisha Govt Of Projecting ‘Fabricated’ Covid Death Figure In Nabarangpur

The Oppositions BJP and Congress on Saturday alleged mismatch in the Covid-19 deaths reported in Nabarangpur district of Odisha and accused the State government of projecting a ‘fabricated’ figure to save its face in the fight against the pandemic.
Opposition parties have further alleged that there are many irregularities between the Covid fatalities data furnished by the district Collector and State Government’s Covid dashboard.

According to reports, as many as 114 trees were planted at Om Shanti Sarobara premises in Nuagada area under Nanmdahandi block on June 5 on the occasion of World Environment Day. The District Collector has posted in his Facebook account that the trees have been planted in the memory of the Covid victims in the district during the first and second wave of the pandemic.

However, State Government’s Covid dashboard shows that there are only 45 fatalities so far in the district due to the pandemic.

“It is evident from the mismatched figures that the Odisha government has tried to suppress the Covid death numbers to protect its image. This kind of intention will harm everybody’s cause,” said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Working President Pradeep Kumar Majhi.

Echoing similar views, State BJP Vice-President Balabhadra Majhi said, “The State Government is trying to conceal the fact to take false credit for effective Covid management. It will only deprive the family members of the Covid victim from getting the benefits of the government assistance.”

Koraput MLA Saptagiri Ulaka demanded an audit of the number of fatalities.

“There should be an audit of the number of actual deaths and it should be properly registered, so that the family members of the victims could be able to get the government assistance,” said Ulaka.

Responding to the allegations of the Oppositions, CDMO Sobharani Mishra said, “We have submitted the report about the number of cases and deaths to the State Government. The State Government will declare weather the fatalities occurred due to Covid-19 or comorbidities.”

(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)