India reported a record daily tally of 168,912 COVID-19 infections on Monday, the world’s highest, while worries grew over a further spike, as hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered for a ritual bath in the Ganges river.
India now accounts for one in every six daily infections worldwide.
With the new cases reported on Monday, India has overtaken Brazil, for an overall tally of 13.53 million, data compiled by Reuters shows, placing it second after the United States, with 31.2 million.
A full opening of the economy after last year’s crippling lockdown, mass religious festivals and political rallies in states holding elections have worsened a second wave of infections, experts say.
In Uttarakhand’s Haridwar, nearly a million devotees thronged the banks of the Ganges to join in the months-long ‘Kumbh Mela’ or pitcher festival, risking a surge in infections.
“The crowd here is surging…the police are continuously appealing to people to maintain social distancing,” police official Sanjay Gunjyal told Reuters at the site.
Few wore masks as they jostled for a dip in the waters on a day considered auspicious in the Hindu calendar.
Authorities have made virus tests mandatory for those entering the area, where officials said they were battling to hold back crowds.
Elections are also due in four big states this month, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to travel to West Bengal to address rallies that will draw thousands.
“With 1.2 million active cases, and the daily number reaching 200,000, it’s bizarre to have poll rallies and a full Kumbh Mela,” political commentator Shekhar Gupta said in a Twitter post.
“This will take the virus deeper into villages and small towns. This is the calamity we dodged with a crippling lockdown in the first wave. Now we’re inviting it back.”
The number of fatalities of 904 overnight was the highest since October 18, taking the total figure to 170,179, data showed.
