Although the death figure due to Covid-29 in the district is shown officially as 16, yet it is assumed that the figure would be above 100.
The cremation of the Covid patients while is being done by the district administration in a dedicated cremation site (Muktidwar), 82 bodies belonging to the Hindu community from the Jyothi Hospital have been cremated.
Besides the Hindu community, the last rites of bodies of other communities were conducted in other earmarked places under the district administration arrangement as per Covid guidelines and their number could be around 3-5.Besides deaths in the Covid Hospital, some more patients from the district too have reportedly died in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar while undergoing treatment for Covid.
Taking account of all these bodies, it is estimated that the death toll could be around 100 against the official figure of 17.
For cremation of a body a sum of Rs 7 ,500 is paid towards the cost of wood and other allied materials to the committe at the cremation ghat. According to a committee member of the cremation ghat although 82 bodies( Hindus) have been consigned to flames yet not a single pie was paid to them by the district administration.
The total due is Rs 6.15 lakh.In the month of August while last rites of 45 bodies were performed in the ghat( Mukti Dwar) till Septembet 15, 37 bodies have been cremated.In the meantime, there are complaints from the family members of the deceased who died of Covid regarding delay in getting death certificates.