INDIA ZAPPED BY COVID AS DEATHS TOP 3,000 FOR 4TH DAY IN A ROW

India saw its deadliest day of the pandemic yet with 3,689 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, as the caseload surged to 19.5 million with 392,488 fresh infections, government data showed Sunday, May 2, 2021, Siddhartha Kumar reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

This is the fourth straight day India has recorded over 3,000 deaths as the second wave of the pandemic carries on unabated and keeps setting grim new records. Altogether, 215,542 people have died from COVID-19. India became the first country to cross 400,000 daily cases on Saturday.

It recorded 6.6 million infections and 45,000 deaths in April, compared to the slightly over 1.2 million cases and 5,417 deaths in March, broadcaster NDTV reported. Healthcare systems are overwhelmed, and a shortage of medical oxygen has emerged as the most serious challenge.

Thirty-four patients died for alleged want of oxygen in hospitals in the national capital, New Delhi, and the states of Andhra Pradesh and Haryana on Saturday, the Times of India reported.

Thirty-one more with COVID-19-like symptoms and "breathing difficulties" died in a hospital in Uttar Pradesh state, the report cited authorities as saying. The Delhi High Court has warned that it will start punishing officials if life-saving supplies of oxygen and medical supplies don't make it to hospitals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a meeting with experts and officials to tide over the oxygen and drugs crisis. Indian Railways has converted 4,000 railway carriages into "isolation coaches" with 64,000 beds. As many as 213 coaches had been handed to various states for COVID-19 care, it said.

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