Fewer tests, underreporting of deaths in Uttar Pradesh: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested the Yogi Adityanath government’s claim of Covid-19 cases falling in Uttar Pradesh and that there was no shortage of oxygen and other essential medical items in the state.

In a letter to the chief minister on Tuesday Gandhi Vadra, All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, alleged that Covid-19 cases were rising in UP but the state administration was undertaking fewer tests and “underreporting” of deaths was taking place. She asked the state government to take urgent steps to contain the situation.

“The biggest concern is that the rate of coronavirus cases is rising, while testing is very low. A large number of cases are not being reported,” said Gandhi Vadra. “There is no testing in rural areas and people in the urban areas also are facing a lot of difficulties in getting their tests done. Test reports do not come for several days. In a state with a population of over 23 crore, there are only 126 government test centres and 115 private centres.”


The Congress leader also alleged underreporting of deaths. “This game of underreporting deaths is being played every day in every district, in every town of UP. It is being done on whose directions?” she said.

She lamented that patients were facing a shortage of medical facilities including adequate hospital beds and oxygen cylinders.