Rajasthan- As many as 21 COVID-induced deaths were reported from Rajasthan's Sikar district after a COVID-infected dead body was allegedly buried without taking into consideration the COVID-19 protocols.
However, as per the officials, only four deaths have occurred due to the deadly infectious virus between April 15 and May 5.
As per an official report, a dead body of a man who succumbed to the coronavirus infection was brought to the Kheerva village on April 21. The last rites were attended by about 150 people and the burial took place without proper COVID-19 guidelines.
The officials say that the dead body was touched by several people during the burial after being taken out of the plastic bag.
"Only 3-4 deaths have occurred due to COVID-19 out of 21 deaths. A majority of deaths are from the older age group. We have taken a sample of 147 members of families where deaths have occurred to check whether it is Covid-19 community transmission," Lakshmangarh sub-divisional officer Kulraj Meena told PTI on Saturday.
The SDO said that a sanitization drive has been carried out in the village by the administration and that after made aware of the severity of the pandemic, the village dwellers have been cooperating with the authorities to curb the spread of this deadly contagion.
Ajay Chaudhary, Sikar's Chief Medical and Health Officer said that the local authorities have been asked to submit a report on this matter after which we will make his comments on this incident.
The Kheerva district falls under the Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra's Vidhan Sabha constituency.
Following the deaths due to the burial of COVID-infected dead body flouting COVID-19 protocols, he tweeted, "with profound grief, I have to say that more than 20 people have lost their lives and several are infected." He later removed this tweet.
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