Irregularities in reports showed a single phone number was used to register over 50 people and one antigen test kit was shown to have tested 700 samples.
According to a detailed probe, a private agency engaged by the Uttarakhand government to conduct COVID-19 tests during the Kumbh Mela issued at least 1 lakh fake reports, several media reports suggested.
After allegations were raised that fake COVID-19 test reports were issued by private laboratories tasked to conduct tests during the religious gathering, the Haridwar district administration recently ordered an investigation.
From 1 to 30 April, Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, was held in the state. The big religious congregation, amid Covid-19 concerns, saw gathering of lakhs of devotees.
Several irregularities were found in a probe conducted by a committee headed by Chief Development Officer Saurabh Gaharwar, Times Now reported. Irregularities in reports showed a single phone number was used to register over 50 people and one antigen test kit was shown to have tested 700 samples.
Around 200 sample collectors registered with the agency were found out to be students and data entry operators or residents of Rajasthan, who had never visited Haridwar. A sample collector is supposed to be physically available to collect samples.
After preliminary investigations revealed that many private labs roped in by the district health department issued fake COVID test reports in the name of random people on the basis of their identity cards and phone numbers, a detailed investigation was ordered by the administration.
Uttarakhand High Court, during the Kumbh, had set the daily testing quota of 50,000 tests, and the labs apparently issued fake reports to meet the numbers.
During the Kumbh Mela, the district health department had assigned the responsibility of conducting tests —RT-PCR and rapid antigen — to as many as 22 private labs and nine agencies.
Due to the ongoing investigation, payment to all labs hired for the purpose has been put on hold for the time being.
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