Twenty-two die in 20 days in Jharkhand village; COVID-19 suspected
Twenty-two deaths in 20 days were reported from a tribal-dominated village in Jharkhand's Palamu District prompting the authorities to order a probe to ascertain the reasons behind it, officials said on Friday. The deaths in Sua Kaudia village under Medininagar Police Station were suspected to be due to COVID-19 but the victims allegedly did not get any treatment. Here are more details.
Earlier, 10 people had died within 12 days in Hazaribag
The deaths are said to have occurred in the village, located 10 km from the district headquarters, between April 25 and May 15. This follows similar deaths in the Hazaribag district of the state where the administration has constituted a team to investigate 10 fatalities in a span of 12 days at village Khutra near Ichak Bazar.
Villagers will be tested for COVID-19
Palamu Deputy Commissioner Shashiranjan said that the administration is aware of the deaths but the reasons could not be ascertained. Divisional Commissioner Jatashankar Choudhary said that he has asked the Deputy Commissioner to arrange for the COVID-19 test of villagers besides establishing a medical camp in the village. Choudhary has also ordered a probe into the deaths.
Rural areas are bearing the brunt of the second wave
The BJP's Palamu District President Vijayanand Pathak who hails from Sua Kaudia said that the deaths were suspected to be caused by COVID-19. Pathak demanded a thorough probe into the deaths. Reportedly, rural areas across India— with limited medical infrastructure, are bearing the brunt of the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jharkhand has recorded more than 3.2L COVID-19 cases so far
On Friday, Jharkhand logged 2,056 fresh COVID-19 cases, and 60 COVID-19 deaths, thus pushing the state's total tally to 3,24,884 COVID-19 cases and 4,714 COVID-19 related deaths. With active cases standing at 26,511, the state has so far recorded 2,93,659 COVID-19 recoveries.
