GOVT. DATA CONFIRMS MASSIVE UNDERCOUNT OF PANDEMIC DEATHS

As per latest data, excess deaths in 2021 were nearly six times more than the reported COVID-19 deaths in 2021, confirming The Hindu's analysis done for that year

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In 2021, an analysis of excess deaths — the increase in the death tally over expected numbers based on previous years (2015-2019) — shows that the number was nearly six times more than the reported COVID-19 death toll. This was the year when the delta variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus wreaked havoc across the country.

Counting the dead: On measuring excess deaths

Some States had a much higher multiple than the national average. For instance, the Gujarat government had officially reported only 5,812 COVID-19 deaths in 2021, but the excess deaths were 44 times this tally, the government data reveals. Similarly, the excess deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were a multiple of 19.5 times more than the reported toll.

Chart 1 shows the total number of registered deaths in India over the years (in lakh). Over 1 crore registered deaths were recorded in 2021, a 27% increase compared to the previous year. The bump in 2021 is obvious on account of the pandemic.

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