Citing the academic journal Science, Congress leader P. Chidambaram on March 3 said the official number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the country is suspect. The journal estimates that the COVID-19 toll in India between "1-6-2020 and 1-7-2021 was 32,00,000 — eight times the official death toll of 4,00,000," Mr. Chidambaram said on Twitter.
"Of these deaths, 27,00,000 occurred in the months of April, May and June 2021," he added. The former Union Minister said India has 6,38,365 villages.