True: Several dead bodies were recovered from the river Ganga in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Around 90 dead bodies were retrieved from the river Ganga in the Buxar district of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district.Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases in India, several unidentified bodies were found floating on the banks of river Ganga. It created panic among the residents of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Officials said that the bodies were badly decomposed and suspected that COVID-19 victims may have been dumped in the river. Local authorities in Buxar suspect that the bodies could have floated downstream from Uttar Pradesh and said they had retrieved 71 bodies. Some 25 bodies were also found in neighboring Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district. The samples from dead bodies have been taken to investigate the matter. It is believed that the bodies found were disposed of by some communities which follow the ritual of 'Jal Samadhi,' which means disposing of the bodies in the river. Others say that locals resorted to dumping the bodies because of the high cost of firewood. However, the actual reason for dumping these dead bodies in the holy river is not ascertained. The investigation into the matter and the cause of death of those people are underway. More information on the matter will be made available by the authorities after the authorities conclude the investigation. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.