The Supreme Court of India has ordered states to pay 50,000 rupees ($672) as compensation for every death due to COVID-19, in order to help families of the deceased cope with the loss.

India has registered 449,260 deaths, which tally experts say seems to be a huge undercount. In major cities, including New Delhi, experts said that a large proportion of deaths went unreported.

Petitioners had appealed to the court to provide at least eight times the compensation, which amounts to 400,000 rupees, under the National Disaster Management Authority. In its affidavit, approved by the court, the government agreed to the minimum payable amount which will be disbursed by local authorities under the State Disaster Response Fund.

These funds would be in addition to those paid by federal and state authorities as part of other schemes. The Apex Court directed state administrative bodies to settle all claims within 30 days of submission.

Source: ET Healthworld