India's coronavirus crisis intensifies as nations pledge aid

In times of severe crisis, infections in the past 24 hours rose to 352,991, with overcrowded hospitals in India’s capital and elsewhere turning away patients after running out of supplies of oxygen and beds.

According to Indian Health Ministry, India reported a tally of 17.31 million infections and 195,123 deaths, following 2,812 deaths overnight.

The death count be far higher than this, said health experts.

India is currently in the midst of a lethal wave of the novel coronavirus, driven in part by a new variant discovered in the country, thought to be more contagious by experts. Oxygen has run low in most hospitals while ICU beds and ventilators are unavailable.

In footage posted again and again on social media, ambulances can be seen stretched out in lines outside health care facilities, waiting for an empty bed to offload their patients. Many victims are dying before receiving medical care.

Crematoriums and graveyards are fast running out of space, with some furnaces reportedly melting due to non-stop usage.

Earlier on Sunday, President of the United States Joe Biden said he would send raw materials for vaccines, medical equipment and protective gear to India.

Meanwhile, Germany also joined the list of countries pledging to send supplies to the country.

Indian politicians including Prime Minister Modi, have faced criticism for holding rallies that were attended by thousands of people, packed close together in stadiums and grounds, despite the second wave of deadly coronavirus.

Modi, however, seems impervious to criticism, as his party arranges four massive rallies in the coming days even as his country battles what healthcare experts have labelled, “a nightmare”.

To contain further spread of COVID-19 several cities have ordered immediate curfews, while police have been directed to enforce social distancing and mask-wearing in the cities with highest virus ratio.

India’s vaccination drive has managed to inoculate only a tiny fraction of its population. Although the Narendra Modi led government has announced that everyone over the age of 18 will be eligible for vaccination from May 1, experts fear that the country may not have enough shots.