Number Of Bodies Dumped In Ganga During 2nd COVID Wave? Govt Has No Data

New Delhi: The Central government doesn’t have any data on the number of bodies of COVID-19 victims that were dumped in the Ganga during the devastating second wave of the pandemic in 2021.

The Union Minister of Jal Shakti was responding to a query from Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’ Brien in Parliament on Monday on the estimated number of COVID victims’ bodies seen floating in the river last year as the Delta variant of the deadly coronavirus wreaked havoc in India.

O’Brien had also asked what measures were taken to remove the bodies and dispose of them according to COVID-19 protocols.

The images of bodies, suspected to be of COVID-19 patients, had sparked a political row in UP with Congress and Samajwadi Party blaming the BJP government and seeking an inquiry.

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) also asked for a detailed report from Uttar Pradesh government.