West Bengal: KMC contradicts State Govt's COVID-19 death toll, BJP targets TMC

Amid continuous rise in coronavirus confirmed cases in country, exact number of COVID-19 deaths in West Bengal is becoming thing short of a mystery. state government on Friday maintained that death count was still five, on contrary, Kolkata Municipal Corporation came out with a list claiming that it had arranged last rites of 10 persons who perished due to deadly disease in and around city.

Soon after KMC published list, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha appeared before media and claimed toll still stood at five. Sinha said state w had 89 active COVID-19 patients. He said KMC has neir right to publish such information r power to issue a death certificate to a person who dies after testing positive for coronavirus.

Ironically, KMC board is also run by state's ruling Trinamool Congress, with city Mayor Firhad Hakim being one of most influential ministers in government.

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However, according to Central government data, total number of persons afflicted with disease since its onset in state is 116, of whom 16 have recovered, and five perished. Last week also, re was confusion over number of deaths in state due to viral infection.

Expert committee member and eminent pulmologist Dhiman Ganguly, in a media conference, had given toll as seven, which included four people who passed away in previous 24 hours. About three hours later, Sinha held ar round of video conference with journalists, where he claimed number of deaths was three and said or four deceased had comorbidity.

As per reports, he also came up with some statistical jugglery to project a lower figure, for viral infection in State, by highlighting number of active cases at present, rar than total number of persons testing positive.

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BJP slams KMC

However, KMC data gave fresh ammunition to opposition, as Union Minister and BJP leader Babul Supriyo in a video mess displayed KMC list and yet again accused Trinamool administration of suppressing facts including death count related to COVID-19.

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(With ncies input)