No record of 65 deaths at Haridwar Covid facility

DEHRADUN/HARIDWAR: The Uttarakhand state health department has issued a notice to Baba Barfani Hospital in Haridwar — set up as a dedicated Covid healthcare centre to cater to patients during Kumbh — for hiding details of around 65 patients who died during treatment there between April 25 and May 12. State Covid control room head Abhishek Tripathi said the lapse is being viewed “extremely seriously” by the health department and an explanation is being sought from the CMO of Haridwar as well as the hospital officials.
Sources told TOI that 75 deaths took place at the hospital since it became operational from April 1, when the Kumbh officially started. However, data of only 10 deaths was shared by the hospital with state Covid control room authorities.
Asked about it, Anshul Singh, the IAS officer who’s currently the nodal officer of the hospital, said, “ The lapse probably happened as doctors who were uploading data were from UP and they returned to their original postings when Kumbh ended.” He said, “Of the 65 deaths, 90% were critical and needed ICU. Patents were mainly from Haridwar.”