Bandipora: Locals in the Gurez valley in north Kashmir’s Bandipora Sunday said some of the COVID-19 related deaths are missing from the official list available at the Chief Medical Officer’s office.
Arshad Ahmad, a local from Gurez said that atleast three deceased -one among them in his relation- are missing from the official list even as they were buried with COVID-19 SOPs and medical records mentioning COVID as the cause of their death.
“So far three COVID related deaths are missing from the official records. However, we can not verify if more are missing as the CMO’s office did not provide us with a copy,” he said.
As per the details collected from the locals, Zainullah Ahamd Lone from Achoora, Hanan from Wanpora and Rehman from Bagtore who died due to COVID are missing from the official list. These deaths as per the official occurred in tertiary care hospitals last year.
The death certificate of Rehman, 65 from Gulshan Pora Bagtore mentions his cause of death as COVID. He had died on August 12 this year.
The locals alleged “official mismanagement” in maintaining the record even though the last rites of all these deaths were conducted as per the laid down protocol in presence of the officials.
With the announcement of the compensation to the family of the COVID-19 victims, the locals accuse that there was “misappropriation” being done at the official level . The officials on the other hand believe that with the announcement of relief the locals have “woken up” who otherwise would hide the deaths and did not report them to authorities.
Chief Medical officer Bandipora, Bashir Ahmad Khan said a team has been constituted on the orders from the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora to ascertain the facts.
“If anyone is found missing from the list we will get it verified from the BMO office. Medical records and reports from police will also be collected so that all genuine cases are enlisted.”
Meanwhile, BMO has reported that their office had sent all the details to the CMO’s office, however, some names are missing from the list, which is now being updated.