Delhi government seeks funeral data from corporations

NEW DELHI: Delhi government has sought funeral data from North and South Delhi Municipal Corporations for carrying out audit and verification of deaths due to Covid-19.
Delhi government's health secretary Padmini Singla has written to the municipal commissioner of the two civic bodies - at present headed by the same person - to provide copies of death registers and other associated documents with entries till May 17, afternoon.
Nigambodh Ghat, Punjabi Bagh crematorium and ITO graveyard have been made part of this verification process. The letter by Singla, a copy of which is with TOI, said that the health and family welfare department urgently required the details of the cremation/burial done at these places of Covid-19 deaths.
A corporation official supervising one of the funeral facilities said the copies had been submitted. "The health department wants to inquire to ascertain the reasons behind the large mismatch between the Covid-19 deaths and the funerals carried out in the city. Documents related to 580 such burials and cremations till Sunday have been submitted," he added.