How many deaths did Chernobyl cause?

Jim O'Shaughnessy discussed the impact of the Chernobyl disaster on a recent episode of Infinite Loops. He mentioned that the immediate catastrophe resulted in several dozen deaths. These included people directly affected by the explosion and radiation, and a few in a related helicopter incident during the cleanup operation. O'Shaughnessy highlights that the broader societal impact, shaped by perceptions and fears associated with nuclear power (referred to as "memes"), was far more extensive, potentially affecting millions 1.