Majority of 44 killed in Delhi riots aged 34 or younger, 2 were minors, GTB data shows

Among the 298 injured brought to GTB Hospital, 202 were aged below 39 years. Twenty-eight of these were minors.

File photo of smoke rising from buildings in Gokulpuri, one of the Northeast Delhi areas worst affected by communal riots in 2020 | Ananya Bhardwaj | ThePrint

New Delhi: Nearly 40 per cent of the people who died in the Northeast Delhi riots last week were aged between 20 and 29 years, while two were minors, according to data from GTB Hospital.

Most victims of the riots were brought to GTB Hospital, which is based in Delhi’s Dilshad Garden and is close to the areas affected by the riots. The hospital data, accessed by ThePrint, is based on the patients brought there and doesn’t factor in those taken to two other hospitals nearby.

As many as 44 victims of the riots were either brought dead to GTB Hospital or died there while under treatment for injuries sustained in the carnage. Around 298 others among the riot injured were treated at the hospital.

Statistics compiled by the hospital suggest that 18 of the 44 victims who died were aged between 20 and 29 years, eight between 30 and 34 years, three between 35 and 39 years, and five between 40 and 49 years. 

“Most of the people who died in the riots were youngsters — people who must have come out of their homes to either defend their families, or the ones who got stuck in the riot or the ones who participated in the riot,” a source in the hospital said.

“Four bodies were of those above 50 years of age… one of whom was 90. Two others were minors aged between 15 and 19 years,” the source added. The age of four others could not be determined. 

Of the 298 injured, the majority are within the 30-39-year age group. Over 28 are minors, according to the data.

“Among the 298 injured, 84 people are youngsters, between 20 and 29 years, and 90 people are between 30 and 39 years. They are recovering at the hospital,” the aforementioned source said.

Data also shows that 58 of these people were aged between 40 and 59 years while seven were between 60 and 70 years. Four persons were aged from 85 to 90 years, while the age of 27 others could not be determined.

Among the dead, most males 

The data further shows that 41 of the 44 dead were men, while one was a woman. Two bodies were charred beyond recognition.

“Most among the dead are males. We have not been able to identify the gender of two other bodies that are charred. We are trying to ascertain their identity,” the source said.

Among the 298 injured, 291 are men, the data shows. 

Thirteen of the 44 dead died of gunshot injuries, 24 died of assault and burn injuries, and three of stab injuries. One victim sustained stabbing as well as gunshot injuries, while the cause of death for three victims is yet to be determined.

“In the remaining three cases, we have not been able to ascertain the cause of death. That is because there are multiple injuries,” the source said.

Among the injured, most people have sustained “assault and burn injuries”, while 67 sustained gunshot injuries.

“Most patients admitted with injuries have sustained burns or have been brutally thrashed,” the source added. “They are being treated. While most people have sustained grievous injuries, only 30 people have been admitted with minor injuries,” the source said.