The health system in India is overwhelmed. Especially in the rural regions in the north of the country, the large number of deceased is a problem.
New Delhi – The corona situation in India is still very tense. The hospitals, crematoriums and thus the entire health system are on the verge of collapse. In the north of the country, numerous bodies have now been found on the banks of the Ganges. The AFP news agency reports that these are believed to be corona bodies that were washed up.
The 40 or so bodies were discovered in the Buxar district near the border with the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. These regions are considered to be particularly poor. The bodies are now to be buried or cremated, said a spokesman for the authorities on Monday (May 10th, 2021). In other media reports, there was even talk of up to a hundred corpses.
Corona in India: Rural regions particularly affected
The rural regions of India are particularly hard hit by the corona pandemic. Hospitals and other health facilities are overwhelmed, and crematoriums and cemeteries are overburdened. Locals told AFP that the dead were probably thrown into the river because of the overcrowded crematoria. In addition, it is possible that the surviving dependents of the victims could not have afford the wood for a pyre.
Around 4,000 people currently die every day in India in connection with corona infection. 250,000 dead have been officially confirmed since the pandemic began. Experts suspect a high number of unreported cases. The WHO blamed a “perfect storm” of low vaccination rates, virus mutations and mass gatherings for the skyrocketing case and death numbers in India. (Sebastian Richter with AFP)
