Thread by @reporters_co

TWEET THREAD
1. Out Now 🚨 #CovidDeaths Investigation II: Over 3.5 lakh excess deaths projected in just 3 states which claim only 28,609 people died of Covid-19. Thousands won't get compensation. @tapasya_umm @harshithamanwan @journomayank investigate
science.thewire.in/health/covid-r…

2. Under our @WallOfGrief project, partnering with @101reporters, more than 500 RTI applications were filed to bring out death records from across the country. Over months, the three @reporters_co members analysed RTI responses, analysed data and reviewed compensation mechanisms.

3. Such deep and rigorous investigations take time and resources. But, this is the kind of journalism that can hold the powerful accountable to citizens. To support such work please write to us at [e-mail]. And read further on our findings

4. Governments' claims fell apart. In Rajasthan, data projections show 1,62,039 excess deaths during pandemic. Govt claims only 8,964 died of Covid in the entire state. But, death registers show 10,438 excess pandemic deaths recorded in area accounting for ~7% of state population

5. In Andhra Pradesh, death register projections peg excess deaths at 1,68,408. Records of 33,099 excess deaths in areas accounting for just 19% of the state population. This is higher than the state’s entire Covid-19 death toll of 14,498 till early January.

6. A similar extrapolation of excess deaths in eight districts and the urban population of one district of Jharkhand (39% of the population) puts the excess death count of the state at 29,049. It is over five times the state’s official Covid death toll of 5,147 till January 4.

7. Compensation to the bereaved against the under-reported death numbers works out to Rs 2,410 crore. But, if governments were to acknowledge the actual pandemic toll, the compensation amount would be many times over, shows our investigation. END.