A new study suggests that India’s actual death toll during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 could be eight times higher than the government’s official numbers. The study, published in Science Advances, found that there were 1.19 million excess deaths in 2020 compared to the official COVID-19 toll of 148,738 deaths. This discrepancy raises questions about the government’s response to the pandemic and highlights the deep inequalities among the pandemic’s victims based on gender, caste, and religion.
The research shows that marginalized communities, such as Muslims and scheduled castes, suffered disproportionately during the pandemic, with significant declines in life expectancy. Women also saw a greater decline in life expectancy compared to men. The youngest and oldest Indians were the most affected by the increased mortality rates, possibly due to disruptions in public health services.
Experts have criticized the Indian government for undercounting COVID-19 deaths and have called for greater transparency in data collection. The World Health Organization estimates that the actual death toll in India could be between 3.3 million and 6.5 million, making it the highest for any country. Further research is needed to understand the full impact of the pandemic on India’s population.
Overall, the study underscores the need for accurate and transparent data to assess the true toll of the pandemic in India and to address the deep-rooted inequalities that were exacerbated by COVID-19.
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