India on Saturday broke a new record for the daily number of deaths from COVID-19 as the government struggles to try to provide oxygen to hospitals overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands of new cases.
The queues of COVID-19 patients and their worried relatives are stretching out in front of hospitals in the main cities of the country where nearly a million new cases have been identified in three days.
In the last 24 hours, 2,624 deaths linked to the disease have been recorded, a new record which brings the total number of officially recorded deaths since the start of the pandemic to nearly 190,000 in this 1.3 billion country. ‘inhabitants.
More than 340,000 new cases have also been identified in the last 24 hours, bringing the total of people with the coronavirus to 16.5 million in the country, placing it second after the United States, the most touched the planet.
But experts believe the numbers could actually be higher, and attribute the new wave to a “double mutation” of the virus and mass events, like the Hindu religious festival Khumb Mela which brought together millions of pilgrims.
Under fire from critics for its lack of preparation before this new wave of contamination, the central government has set up special trains to transport oxygen reserves to the most affected cities.
He also urged manufacturers to speed up the production of oxygen and drugs that are lacking.
An “oxygen express”, carrying 30,000 liters, arrived at dawn on Saturday in Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh (North) and armed guards escorted the trucks which delivered its precious cargo to the hospitals of the region.
Lucknow is one of the hardest hit towns and hospitals and crematoriums are overwhelmed.
The Indian Air Force has also been used to deliver oxygen and other supplies across the country.
Hospitals in New Delhi are issuing daily appeals for help due to depleted oxygen supplies. Many patients die in front of hospitals in the capital for lack of beds and oxygen.
A charity has even set up a crematorium in a parking lot, with makeshift funeral pyres to deal with the large number of deaths.