NEW DELHI: Hospitals in India continued to send distress messages for emergency oxygen supplies as the country’s coronavirus case count crossed 20 million on Tuesday.
India reported 3,57,229 new infections over the previous 24 hours, taking the number of people who have suffered an infection so far to 19.93 million, government data showed, the second-highest in the world.
The death toll increased to 2, 22,408 with 3,449 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.
The total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 2, 02,82,833. Registering a steady increase, the active cases have increased to34, 47,133 comprising 17 percent of the total infections.
While the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 81.91 percent, the data updated today at 8 am showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1, 66, 13,292, and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.10 percent, the data stated.Â
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a potshot at Narendra Modi-led government over the handling of the second wave of COVID-19 in India and subsequent shortage of medical oxygen supply in several hospitals across the country.
“The only solution to curb the spread of coronavirus is by imposing a complete lockdown in the country,” he also mentioned.Â
“The only way to stop the spread of Corona now is a full lockdown- with the protection of NYAY for the vulnerable sections. GOI’s inaction is killing many innocent people, ” the Congress leader tweeted.
GOI doesn’t get it.
The only way to stop the spread of Corona now is a full lockdown- with the protection of NYAY for the vulnerable sections.
GOI’s inaction is killing many innocent people.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 4, 2021
The spike in infections is India’s biggest crisis since Modi took office in 2014. He has been criticised for not taking steps earlier to curb the spread and for letting millions of largely unmasked people attend religious festivals and crowded political rallies in five states during March and April.
It remains to be seen how his handling of the crisis might affect Modi or his party politically. Modi’s party was defeated in India’s West Bengal state in results declared on Sunday, although it won in the neighbouring state of Assam.
READ MORE:Â India reports record 3,689 COVID-19 deaths in single day
Leaders of 13 opposition parties have signed a letter urging Modi to immediately launch free national vaccination and to prioritise oxygen supply to hospitals and health centres.
Several states have postponed widening a vaccination drive for adults that was to start on Saturday due to a lack of vaccines. The national health ministry said states have 10 million vaccines stockpiled and 2 million more coming in the next three days.
Despite being the world’s biggest producer of vaccines, India does not have enough for itself – undermining a plan to ramp up and widen inoculation. Only about 9% of its 1.4 billion people have had a dose.
India has struggled to increase capacity beyond 80 million doses a month due to lack of raw materials and a fire at the Serum Institute, which makes the AstraZeneca vaccine.
International aid has been pouring into India. Britain will send another 1,000 ventilators to India and  Prime minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to talk with Modi today (Tuesday).
