COVID: India becomes world’s third country to record 0.5 mln deaths

New Delhi: India crossed the grim milestone of 5 lakh COVID-19 deaths— becoming the third country in the world to do so after United States (US) and Brazil.  

The country took 217 days to reach 5 lakh deaths from 4 lakh recorded on July 1 last year, the longest time taken to record 100 thousand fatalities.  

India was hit by a devastating second wave in April-May in 2021 and crossed three lakh-mark on May 23 and two lakh-mark on April 27. 

Furthermore, it was also a period when coronavirus vaccinations increased steadily in the nation, which helped protect lives and fight COVID. 

The death toll in the country currently stands at 5, 00,055, with 1, 42,859 new deaths on Friday (February 4).