Covid-19 Death Toll Under Scrutiny After CRS Report Shows 76,000 Excess Deaths in 2021

As the Covid fatalities in Odisha have continued to be sketchy even after four years of the pandemic, the Civil Registration System (CRS) 2021 report released by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday has brought to the fore some very disturbing numbers.

- HEMANT KUMAR ROUT @ Bhubaneswar

The report has revealed a staggering 76,744 excess deaths in the state as compared to 2020. Odisha registered 4,39,726 deaths in 2021, a sharp jump from 3,62,982 recorded in 2020, the year the pandemic first struck. The increase of 76,744 deaths in just one year has raised questions, particularly when juxtaposed against the officially declared Covid-19 death toll of 6,216 for 2021.

Even after accounting for these officially recognised Covid deaths, there remains a discrepancy of nearly 70,528 deaths, over 11 times the reported Covid toll sparking speculation over large-scale underreporting of cases.