Nagpur: In March, the city witnessed 1,307 more deaths than usual, after accounting for Covid-19 victims and the average monthly fatalities before the pandemic. This hidden toll, which is three times the registered Covid fatalities, is also a result of the pandemic, say doctors and activists.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has compiled data of cremations performed in March at 23 ghats, 10 Muslim cemeteries and two Christian cemeteries in the city. This shows 3,351 funerals were performed in the city in March.
The district started to witness second wave of the pandemic from third week of February. Cases and deaths rose from beginning of March. The district registered 763 Covid-19 deaths in March, of which 446 were residents of the city, 224 from rural parts of the district, and 93 from other districts who succumbed during treatment in hospitals in the city.
Funeral of all deceased from city was done here. As per norms, 93 deceased from other districts were also cremated here. Around 40% (90) of 224 deceased from rural parts of the district were also cremated here. Thus, 183 deceased from rural and other districts were cremated here. So, of the total 3,351 funerals, 3,168 funerals done in city were of native residents.
In March last year, there had been 1,415 funerals in the city, which can be considered the routine number of deaths. Adding the city’s official Covid toll of 446 in March, we would expect total 1,861 fatalities. However, since there were 3,168 funerals, the city witnessed 1,307 excess deaths in March.
If one considers data of last 12 months of the pandemic, the city registered 3,286 excess deaths, which is almost at par with the official Covid toll of 3,248.
Convener of Vidarbha Hospitals Association (VHA) Dr Anup Marar told TOI, “The statistics are alarming. This can surely be linked to the pandemic as there was no other obvious cause for fatalities. Many patients are testing negative in RT-PCR but positive in CT scan and other clinical parameters in second wave. Deaths of swab negative patients were obviously not counted in Covid toll.”
He also said the health infrastructure is unable to handle the load, and many seniors with comorbidities did not get hospital beds, and their home deaths may have been certified without RT-PCR test. Anyway, RT-PCR test of dead body has become practically impossible as home visits from laboratories have stopped due to high case load. Also, relatives do not wish to wait for RT-PCR results in 24-36 hours before going for the funeral. “The city does not have enough mortuaries even if people waited for RT-PCR reports of all such deaths,” he said.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Nitin Shinde said, “There is high possibility of Covid deaths due to lack of access to medical care or delayed care. With almost all hospitals turned into Covid, getting bed for non-Covid patients has become difficult. Also, many patients are not willing to go to hospital due to Covid scare. If healthcare system has collapsed, all deaths should be counted as Covid fatalities in direct or indirect manner.”
Activist Narayan Ahuja said, “Many senior citizens and comorbid died at homes with symptoms, but without tests being done in March. The number is higher in April, which will become clear after NMC’s data is here next month. NMC should investigate all home deaths to find exact impact of the pandemic. These deaths are due to improper management of disaster and lack of awareness by authorities.”