"The Ganges, or Ganga, is the holiest of India’s rivers, and most Hindus believe that dipping their body in it will purify their soul. But when the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic hit this spring, the river also became Exhibit A for the Modi administration’s failures and deceptions."
This is what Om Gaur, editor of Dainik Bhaskar, wrote in an opinion piece in the New York Times dated today.
In his oped, titled "The Ganges Is Returning the Dead. It Does Not Lie", Gaur wrote about how Bhaskar sent 30 journalists to report on bodies found floating in and along the Ganga.
Also Read: 'Uncountable corpses on banks of Ganga': Dainik Bhaskar's front-page story on deaths in UP
"Our reporters counted 2,000 bodies on May 12 and 13 alone as they traveled 700 miles along the river," he said. "The bodies weren’t only floating in it: On some days, 65 or 70 were washing up on its shores. Yet by our calculations, based on official data, the state authorities claim that just 7,826 people died from Covid-19 between April 1 and May 13."
The tragedy might have never been discovered, he added, had it not been for rains in early May that swelled the river. "The rains also laid bare the government’s colossal failure to strengthen rural health care or ensure adequate vaccine supplies — or take responsibility for its shortcomings."
Gaur added that there's "good reason to fear a devastating third wave", noting that it was the Modi government's "callous disregard" that triggered the latest surge.
Bhaskar has aggressively spotlighted the ground realities of the second wave of Covid over the past few months and has been vocal in its criticism of the government's mishandling of the pandemic.
But what is driving Dainik Bhaskar's coverage of the pandemic, especially considering it wasn't always known for openly criticising the establishment? Read our report to find out.
Also Read: ‘We report what we see’: Why Dainik Bhaskar’s Covid coverage stands out
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