The year 2021 saw a 43 per cent rise in deaths among kids aged between 1 and 5 years as compared to 2020, as per data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. A total of 679 children in that age group died in 2021, up from 473 in 2020. However, there was a dip in fatalities as compared to 2019 when the city saw 791 deaths of kids.

Health experts said the rise in death could be the result of lifting of restrictions in 2021, which exposed both kids and adults to infections and diseases as compared to 2020 when people mostly had to stay at home due to the restrictions. Some also said that the curbs on movement led to delayed diagnosis of some diseases that develop slowly, which worsened the health of the kids.