16 July,2021 05:29 AM IST | Varanasi | Agencies
Shallow graves of suspected COVID victims in the sand on the banks of Ganga in Unnao on May 13. Pics/AFP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised the Yogi Adiyanath-led government for the handling of COVID-19, saying the way Uttar Pradesh had controlled the second wave of the infection was "unprecedented".
Modi, who was on a one-day visit to Varanasi, said the state government's efforts in combating COVID-19 was "commendable". The population of UP is more than that of a dozen big countries combined, but the way "it has controlled the second wave and stopped the spread unprecedented".
The people of UP, the PM said, had seen an era when there were problems in tackling diseases such as encephalitis. "And this (COVID-19) is the biggest problem the world is facing in 100 years. It is the biggest pandemic, and hence efforts made by UP to tackle the corona are commendable."
His remarks came a day after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of UP government's decision to allow Kanwar Yatra amid the pandemic.
When the second COVID-19 wave was ravaging the country, thousands of shallow graves were spotted along river Ganga in UP, including in Unnao and Allahabad, in May and June. Corpses were also seen floating in the river. Later, senior state government official had confirmed that most of these bodies were of COVID-19 victims, and added that they were thrown into the river or on the banks due to poverty or fear of the further spread of the disease, Reuters reported in May.
The national tally rose to 3,09,87,880 with 41,806 new cases recorded, according to the govt data updated on Thursday morning. The death toll climbed to 4,11,989 with 581 fresh fatalities.
At least 450 intern doct-ors of three civil hospitals run by a state-run entity went on an indefinite strike on Thursday, saying they had not been paid the "COVID allowance" of R5,000 promised by the government. Health Minister Nitin Patel said, "They have to complete their internship even if we do not give any allowance, because it's a must to become a doctor."
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