Almost 3,000 deaths and over 360,000 new infections in one day, over 200,000 deaths in total: The corona numbers in India are skyrocketing. There is much evidence to suggest that they are just the tip of the iceberg.
Because in reality, the effects of the angry virus are likely to be much more extreme. Research by Indian newspapers based on the cremations showed that the actual number of deaths is likely to be twice to five times as high, which would correspond to up to a million deaths.
The official figures only show those people who die in the hospital. Many infected people succumb to the virus at home or even on the street. There is no sign of a trend towards a slowing down of the upward curve.
Emergency crematoria in parking lots
In hospitals, for example in Ahmedabad, corpses are piled up in the hospital. Relatives regularly pick them up and transport them to cremation or burial. Pyres are burning around the clock everywhere to cremate the dead. Human corpses are also cremated in animal crematoriums and specially constructed emergency crematoriums in parks, parking lots and in the countryside.
There is a lack of medical oxygen, hospital beds and antiviral drugs. Sick people are turned away from hospitals and sometimes suffocate.
Tens of thousands of pounds to escape
The wave has been associated with great carelessness in the past few weeks and with the virus mutant B.1.617. In addition, less than ten percent of the people in India have so far received at least one vaccine dose – even though India is actually known as the “pharmacy of the world” and produces large quantities of vaccines.
Particularly rich people are now leaving India. Some of them are paying tens of thousands of pounds to charter private jets and flee to the UK, according to the Times of London. In the past week alone, at least eight private planes are said to have made their way to London.
Celebrities also made off in the Maldives, while the poor in their country are running out of oxygen. Fans have turned to “insensitive” Bollywood stars on social media and sharply criticized them for their carefree holiday photos. (gf)