In May, Hisar witnessed 3-time jump in fatalities

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, June 7

A threefold rise in deaths was reported in Hisar in May this year as compared to the corresponding period in 2020.

While 426 deaths were reported in May 2020, the figure has gone up by three times this year as per the applications received in the Hisar Municipal Corporation (MC) for death certificates. MC sources said they received 1,413 applications for death certificates in May this year. However, the threefold jump in deaths in May as compared to the same month last year had raised many eyebrows.

A member of the Hisar MC admitted that there seemed to be certain instances when Covid patients stayed at home and could have died without treatment. MC member Amit Grover said he used to receive about 150 to 200 calls every day and worked 24x7 in an attempt to provide beds, oxygen and ventilators to the patients.

“Still I was not able to help all needy persons. It is quite possible that certain deaths occurred at home as these could not be included in the official Covid casualty data. The situation was so scary that many people avoided going in for testing and preferred staying at home.”

Meanwhile, the figures of April this year reveal that 534 persons died in Hisar. In the corresponding month last year, Hisar had reported 335 fatalities on the basis of the death certificates issued by the MC.

However, a Hisar MC official said they had cremated 418 bodies under the Covid protocol in May this year. While in April, 175 deaths due to Covid were reported in Hisar, the official added.

A Civil Hospital official said during the peak of the second wave in May, there was severe crunch of beds, oxygen and ventilators. “It might be possible that some persons succumbed at home and were not able to reach hospitals for testing and treatment. Though the Health Department tried its best and health workers along with MC members continued testing and tracing of Covid-suspected persons, a sudden spurt in the number of patients had led to the shortage of beds.”

Civil Surgeon Dr Ratna Bharti could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.