1 lakh Covid-19 tests during Kumbh mela fake, finds govt probe

A probe by the Uttarakhand health department has found that at least 1 lakh Covid-19 test reports issued during the Kumbh Mela were fake. The Times of India, which has accessed the 1,600 page report, has reported that the test reports were forged by a private agency.

In one instance, a single phone number was used to register over 50 people while one antigen test kit, which is meant for single use, was shown to have tested 700 samples, the report said.

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Covid negative reports were issued under fictional names and addresses. Almost 530 samples were taken from ‘House Number 5’ in Haridwar, the TOI report has quoted an an official as saying.

Further, 200 sample collectors employed by the private agency turned out to be students in Rajasthan who never visited Haridwar during the period, the report added.
Officials have said that two labs are also under the scanner for the fraud.

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