NAGPUR: The city recorded an overall nearly 40% jump in the number of deaths registered with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) birth and death registration department in 2021 as compared to 2019, the pre-pandemic year.
There were 40,479 deaths in 2021, probably the highest-ever registered in a year in the city limits, as per an official from the department said. The year 2020 had recorded 31,651 deaths, mainly due to the high number of fatalities during the first covid wave in September and October.
The highest number of death certificates were issued in April and May 2021 when the second wave peaked in the district. As per district health office data, 2,389 Covid deaths took place in April 2021 and 1,514 in May.
As per NMC data, 15,383 deaths due to various factors were registered in April and May 2021 put together. This is around 75% more than the official covid toll for these two months.
Till date, 10,319 persons, including 6,028 from Nagpur city, have succumbed to Covid-19 in Nagpur district.
Between 2016 and 2020, an average 28,815 deaths took place every year in the city. The monthly average death registrations due to all causes have been around 2,500 for all months, excluding April and May 2021.
There were about 3,900 fatalities due to Covid-19 in April and May, 2021, and there could be 2,500 routine deaths in each of the two months. The total fatalities might include persons from other Nagpur rural, other districts and states who died during treatment in the city and cremated here. Yet, around 6,400 deaths in NMC limits remain unexplained.
The NMC official said that data from 2016 is handy as it is being uploaded on Central government portal. “Records prior to 2016 show the city’s annual death rate at 50% of the birth rate. So, mostly probably 2021 had the highest-ever deaths,” the official said.
The official added that many deceased may not necessarily be city residents but died here during Covid. “For the Rs50,000 aid being given to family of Covid victims, we are getting applications where home deaths are mentioned, but they have RT-PCR positive report,” the official said.
The official explained that claims having Covid death mentioned on death certificate but lacking RT-PCR report are rejected.
“The cause of death is valid only when it is certified by a hospital or if supported by documentary evidence. Cause mentioned on ghat copy is not acceptable as it is based on oral submission. Also, there is no provision to mention cause of death on death certificate. So, it is difficult to say how many of the 6,400 deaths are due to Covid,” the official said.
NMC death data 2021
Month ——Male—— Female—– Total
Jan ——-1,575——963————2,538
Feb ——1,406—— 898——– 2,304
Mar —–—1,753—— 1,114——–2,867
April —-—4,700—— 2,855——-7,555
May ——-4,869—— 2,959——7,828
June —-—1,803—–— 1,140——-2,943
July——-1,350——– 925——- 2,275
Aug———1,362—— 916————2,278
Sept——-1,298——-1.125——–2,423
Oct ——-1,355——1,041——-2,396
Nov——-1,448——987——–2,435
Dec ——-1,595—— 1,041——-2637
Total ——24,514—— 15,964——-40,479
Toll rising
Year | Deaths
2016 | 26,927
2017 | 27,112
2018 | 28,962
2019 | 29,426
2020 | 31,651
2021 | 40,479
There were 40,479 deaths in 2021, probably the highest-ever registered in a year in the city limits, as per an official from the department said. The year 2020 had recorded 31,651 deaths, mainly due to the high number of fatalities during the first covid wave in September and October.
The highest number of death certificates were issued in April and May 2021 when the second wave peaked in the district. As per district health office data, 2,389 Covid deaths took place in April 2021 and 1,514 in May.
As per NMC data, 15,383 deaths due to various factors were registered in April and May 2021 put together. This is around 75% more than the official covid toll for these two months.
Till date, 10,319 persons, including 6,028 from Nagpur city, have succumbed to Covid-19 in Nagpur district.
Between 2016 and 2020, an average 28,815 deaths took place every year in the city. The monthly average death registrations due to all causes have been around 2,500 for all months, excluding April and May 2021.
There were about 3,900 fatalities due to Covid-19 in April and May, 2021, and there could be 2,500 routine deaths in each of the two months. The total fatalities might include persons from other Nagpur rural, other districts and states who died during treatment in the city and cremated here. Yet, around 6,400 deaths in NMC limits remain unexplained.
The NMC official said that data from 2016 is handy as it is being uploaded on Central government portal. “Records prior to 2016 show the city’s annual death rate at 50% of the birth rate. So, mostly probably 2021 had the highest-ever deaths,” the official said.
The official added that many deceased may not necessarily be city residents but died here during Covid. “For the Rs50,000 aid being given to family of Covid victims, we are getting applications where home deaths are mentioned, but they have RT-PCR positive report,” the official said.
The official explained that claims having Covid death mentioned on death certificate but lacking RT-PCR report are rejected.
“The cause of death is valid only when it is certified by a hospital or if supported by documentary evidence. Cause mentioned on ghat copy is not acceptable as it is based on oral submission. Also, there is no provision to mention cause of death on death certificate. So, it is difficult to say how many of the 6,400 deaths are due to Covid,” the official said.
NMC death data 2021
Month ——Male—— Female—– Total
Jan ——-1,575——963————2,538
Feb ——1,406—— 898——– 2,304
Mar —–—1,753—— 1,114——–2,867
April —-—4,700—— 2,855——-7,555
May ——-4,869—— 2,959——7,828
June —-—1,803—–— 1,140——-2,943
July——-1,350——– 925——- 2,275
Aug———1,362—— 916————2,278
Sept——-1,298——-1.125——–2,423
Oct ——-1,355——1,041——-2,396
Nov——-1,448——987——–2,435
Dec ——-1,595—— 1,041——-2637
Total ——24,514—— 15,964——-40,479
Toll rising
Year | Deaths
2016 | 26,927
2017 | 27,112
2018 | 28,962
2019 | 29,426
2020 | 31,651
2021 | 40,479
,