In Yogi’s Gorakhpur over 120 die of COVID-19; Panchayat polls worked as “a super spreader”

Even as the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh claims that COVID-19 situation in rural areas is not as bad as shown by the media, it has come to the fore that people in rural areas are adying of COVID-19 in large numbers.

As per the data collected by the main opposition party Congress, the situation is far worse than being reported. In Gorakhpur – the home district of CM Yogi Adityanath, over 120 people died of COVID-19 like symptoms in less than 30 days.

According to sources, these villagers died of COVID-19 only in three blocks falling under the Gorakhpur district since mid-April. Sources said the Panchayat elections worked as super spreader of the deadly virus.

Collected from various sources including local media and ground workers, the data say that in Bathat block alone, 50 people died of COVID-19 like symptoms in less than a month, “but the BJP government does not recognize them as COVID deaths,” said a Congress activist.

Similarly, in Jaitpur block, as per local media, 24 people died of COVID like symptoms since April. It is worth mentioning here that campaigning for the Panchayat elections reached its peak during the second week of April, spreading pandemic to the rural areas of the state.

Another town Chauri Chaura – where a police station was set on fire by the protesters during the freedom struggle – reported 50 deaths in less than a month. Villagers say all of them died due to COVID. They all had COVID-19 like symptoms – fever and problem in breathings but there is no way to ascertain that as there are no testing facilities inside the hinterland.

“In an attempt to do face saving, the BJP government is saying people died of natural causes,” said a Congress party activist. The Hindi national daily Hindustan recently published a report, holding up Congress’ claim.

“The BJP led government is not only lying and fudging data but has stopped testing, tracking down COVID patients also. Lack of vaccines is another big cause of worry,” said Vishwavijay Singh, Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh.

“If the situation is so bad in the Chief Minister’s home district, you can imagine what might be happening in other parts of the state,” added Vishwavijay Singh.

In Fatehpur, as many as 100 people have died so far due to COVID-19, reported a local Hindi newspaper.

Alleging the BJP government for not acting on warnings issued by the apex medical bodies such as ICMR and IMA about the second wave of COVID – 19, CPI leader Atul Kumar Anjaan had dubbed the Panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh acting as a “COVID super spreader”. NH had published a report on May 18 saying more than 1600 teachers have died of COVID during the Panchayat polls in less than 20 days.

Releasing names of the deceased teachers, the Uttar Pradesh Primary Teachers’ Association has asked UP CM Yogi Adityanath for Rs 1 crore compensation each and jobs for family members of the victims however the government has said only three teachers have died of COVID during the election duty.