Four COVID-19 patients died on Wednesday in Chhattisgarh’s Dongargaon and their bodies were taken for cremation in a garbage van, reported ANI. The concerned chief medical health officer, however placed the responsibility on the Nagar Panchayat.

“As far vehicle’s concerned, it’s up to Nagar Panchayat to make such arrangements,” the officer said. 

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On media reports that the four died due to a lack of oxygen supply, the officer rubbished them saying that the district had been equipped with 10-15 oxygen beds and that three of them were given oxygen support. 

“We’ve arranged 10-15 oxygen beds at every COVID care centre
in district. Three of them had died last night, they were given oxygen support
while being treated, yet to gather info on the fourth. As far vehicle’s
concerned, it’s up to Nagar Panchayat to make such arrangements”, ANI quoted
him as saying.

Also read: As COVID deaths spike, Delhi’s graveyards, crematoriums struggle to keep pace

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, on Wednesday,
included Chhattisgarh in the list of states that needed to ramp up their
RT-PCR testing levels.

“The weekly positivity rate in case of Chhattisgarh is
increasing from 1.40 per cent to 27.95 per cent. This is another cause of
concern,” Bhushan was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

He also noted that the ratio of RT-PCR testing in the state
was “very poor”.