Hundreds of bodies found buried along Indian riverbanks

Bodies of suspected Covid-19 victims buried in shallow graves on the banks of Ganges in Prayagraj in India (Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP)

Police are reaching out to villagers in northern India to investigate the recovery of bodies buried in shallow sand graves or washed up on the banks of the Ganges, prompting speculation on social media that they are the remains of Covid-19 victims.

Officers in jeeps and boats, and using loudspeakers with microphones, asked people not to dispose of bodies in rivers.