Hyderabad: Lack of database on Covid-19 deaths leads to confusion

HYDERABAD: The lack of a database connecting crematoria and burial grounds in the city and elsewhere in the state is leading to confusion over Covid-19 deaths. Proper records or registers are not being maintained.
Open data experts said that each crematorium or burial ground should have computerised data entry and it should be connected to a centralised database.The data should have particulars of persons who died and cause of death.
K Rajeshwar Rao of Satya Harischandra Foundation, which performs last rites of unknown bodies, said, “There are around 900 graveyards in Greater Hyderabad. We have asked the government to issue a circular for common database and records in all graveyards.” Some of the graveyards are maintaining manual records. Raj Kumar Vigg, working president of Amberpet graveyard, said, “We are maintaining manual register with particulars of dead persons including the address, date of death and place of death. We are making three receipts. One for the relatives of the victim, one for the graveyard and one for GHMC.”
Data security researcher Srinivas Kodali said, “Death classification is done in other states where a committee decides Covid-19 deaths. Telangana government has to be more transparent. In hospital deaths, cause of death is mentioned. When death happens outside hospital, as most of them are denied beds, deaths in home isolation go unreported. Only deaths inside hospitals are recorded due to which official figures look suspicious. Government should ask people to report Covid deaths proactively.”