The number of new HIV cases in India, home to the second highest infections in the world, is far more than what official data shows and epidemics in some pockets were alarming, the UN AIDS chief said. These comments come ahead of the release of the UN annual global report on AIDS in New Delhi today.

India, which has 5.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS ? second only to South Africa ? announced earlier this year that new infections had fallen dramatically to 28,000 in 2004 from 520,000 in 2003, sparking disbelief among voluntary groups.

?India having only 28,000 new infections is plainly impossible? , told Peter Piot, the executive director of UNAIDS, on Saturday. He said some districts across the country with populations of several million had about four % or more adults infected and a 400 % fall in 2004 would be a ?miracle?.

?There are a number of states where reporting of cases is weak?, Piot said in Guwahati, the main city of India?s remote northeast. ?We don?t know exactly what is going on there?, said Piot. ?I don?t think there is a conspiracy to suppress information but it (surveillance) is not well-organised to say the least.?

India?s state-run National AIDS Control Organisation says 0.92 % of the country?s adult population is living with HIV and there are six states, and possibly a seventh, with a infection rate of more than one %. Piot said the AIDS picture in India, which has 29 states and more than a billion people, was complicated with new infections falling in some areas and rising in others.

The Indian government and voluntary groups needed to boost efforts and expand small but well-managed anti-AIDS projects, Piot said. ?A virus does not have feet. It is transported by people? , Piot said. ?I am disappointed the programmes are not reaching more people.?

Kamil ZAHEER