Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Uttarakhand orders probe into ‘fake Covid tests’ at April Kumbh Mela

Uttarakhand orders probe into ‘fake Covid tests’ at April Kumbh Mela

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand following media reports that private labs faked Covid-19 tests.

Private labs were hired by the Uttarakhand government to screen visitors for the virus ahead of the Kumbh mela Hindu festival.


The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of Uttarakhand was criticised for organising the festival that attracted millions of people, who went on to infect more people when they returned to their homes after the pilgrimage.

Unmasked visitors were seen at the large Kumbh gathering and days later several parts of India witnessed a peak of the second wave of the virus, with patients struggling to find oxygen cylinders and hospital beds.

'Fake names, mobile numbers, addresses used'

According to media reports, fake names, mobile numbers and addresses were used in more than 100,000 tests conducted during the Kumbh festival in the state in April.

GettyImages 1232261541 1 Naga Sadhus (Hindu holy men) take a holy dip in the waters of the Ganges River on the day of Shahi Snan (royal bath) at the  Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar on April 12, 2021. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)

Shahi Snan

At the time, officials insisted that every visitor was being screened for the disease and private labs in Haryana and Delhi were roped in to conduct a majority of the tests.

Last week, media reports claimed that the labs faked the reports to meet their quota of daily testing and that similar phone numbers and addresses were used in multiple Covid reports.

A spokesperson for the Uttarakhand government, Subodh Uniyal, told ANI news agency that orders have been filed to file a case against the labs that conducted testing at five places in Haridwar during Kumbh.

The Times of India newspaper conducted an investigation and reported on Thursday (17) that a private agency, contracted to carry out Covid testing for the Kumbh Mela, is now under the scanner for conducting 100,000 fake cases. It is alleged that the agency submitted fake office addresses to the Uttarakhand health department and listed phone numbers that are not in use.

Reports of fake Covid tests have also surfaced from Bihar state, where some primary healthcare centres have been accused of providing false data.

In Jamui, Sheikhpura and Patna, government hospitals listed phone numbers as ‘0000000000’ in Covid test reports. Officials have also been accused of taking bribe besides making fake Covid test reports.

In February, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar acknowledged the falsification of reports and said the health department would take action against those who were found guilty.

Separately, the Indian government on Wednesday (16) defended its action to increase the gap between two doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine up to 16 weeks even though three scientific advisers said there was no agreement over the step.

On Tuesday (15), Reuters reported that the government raised the gap in May without the approval of the scientific group.

The AstraZeneca jab, made locally and branded Covishield, accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the 263 million doses that have been administered in India so far. The opposition has criticised the BJP government asking whether the decision to increase the gap was prompted by a shortage of the vaccine.

More For You

TCS-Reuters

TCS has denied all allegations. (Photo: Reuters)

TCS denies age and nationality bias in UK redundancy case

A UK employment tribunal has heard claims that Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) unfairly targeted older, non-Indian nationals during a redundancy programme in 2023.

According to The Guardian, three former employees allege that TCS, a Mumbai-based IT outsourcing firm, discriminated against them on grounds of age and nationality as part of a restructuring process.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sadiq Khan

Khan will be given 'call-in' powers to review decisions by local councils that block late-night drinking licences in key nightlife areas. (Photo: Getty Images)

New powers for Sadiq Khan to support London's night-time economy

LONDON Sadiq Khan will receive new powers to help cut red tape affecting pubs, clubs and restaurants, the UK government announced on Friday.

Khan will be given “call-in” powers to review decisions by local councils that block late-night drinking licences in key nightlife areas.

Keep ReadingShow less
Russell brand

Sexual offences said to have taken place between 1999 and 2005

Getty

Russell Brand faces rape and sexual assault charges involving 4 women

Russell Brand has been formally charged with a series of sexual offences said to have taken place between 1999 and 2005. The comedian and actor faces allegations from four separate women, with the charges including rape, indecent assault, oral rape and further counts of sexual assault.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that Brand has been informed of the charges. A statement from the force said he is to be charged with one count of rape in the Bournemouth area in 1999, one count of indecent assault in Westminster in 2001, one count of oral rape and an additional sexual assault in Westminster in 2004, and a further count of sexual assault in Westminster between 2004 and 2005.

Keep ReadingShow less
indian-parliament

In the Rajya Sabha, 128 members voted in favour, and 95 opposed it. In the Lok Sabha, 288 MPs supported the bill, while 232 voted against it.

Gatty images

Indian parliament passes the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill

INDIAN parliament has passed a controversial bill seeking to change the way Muslim charitable properties, known as waqf, are managed.

The bill was cleared after hours of heated debate, with the government saying it would bring transparency and the opposition alleging that it targets the Muslim community.

Keep ReadingShow less
Blood donor recruitment event for South Asian community

FILE PHOTO: A nurse prepares a man for a blood donation in London, England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Blood donor recruitment event for South Asian community

THE NHS is holding a blood donor recruitment event at Shepherd's Bush blood donor centre on Saturday (5) to attract South Asian donors to help treat health conditions affecting their community.

South Asian donors are needed to treat thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder which affects people of Mediterranean, south Asian, southeast Asian and Middle Eastern origin. People with thalassemia produce too little or no haemoglobin, causing anaemia, fatigue, breathing issues and other symptoms.

Keep ReadingShow less