The Union health ministry on Thursday dismissed media reports based on a published research paper alleging that India’s Covid-19 mortality count is much higher than the official figure, which is “fallacious and completely inaccurate”.

“The reporting of deaths is regularly done in a transparent manner. All deaths are compiled by the Centre after being independently reported by states and UTs. To project that Covid deaths have been under-reported is without basis and devoid of justification,” the ministry said.