Nagpur: No information available regarding the number of dead bodies found floating in the Ganges during the second wave of Covid-19, the central government said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The statement was made by union Jal Shakti minister Bishweswar Tudu in a reply to TMC leader Derek O’Brien’s question who sought information regarding the dumping of the Covid-19 bodies found floating in the Ganges.

Tudu in a written format replied, “information regarding the number of COVID-19 related dead bodies estimated to have been dumped in the river Ganga is not available.” The minister said that ‘unclaimed/unidentified, burnt/partially burnt’ bodies were found floating and on the banks of the river in districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The minister also said that National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Ministry of Jal Shakti had sought reports from the concerned state governments on the bodies which were found floating and action taken regarding the handling, management and the disposal of the bodies.

Last year, during the peak of the second wave of Covid-19, dead bodies floating down the Ganges Uttar Pradesh and Bihar made headlines, raising fingers at the state governments.