[Video] "Bodies Keep Piling Up"... India's 'COVID Living Hell'

India Reports 340,000 New COVID-19 Cases in a Day... 10,000 Deaths Over Four Days

Crematorium in India [Source=CNN Broadcast]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies in India, the number of deaths is reportedly surging daily.

According to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the 25th, the daily new COVID-19 death toll was recorded at 2,767 as of the morning. The death toll has exceeded 2,000 for five consecutive days since the 21st. During this period, the cumulative death toll is approaching 10,000.

In New Delhi, the capital city which has recently become a COVID-19 hotspot in India, a record high of 357 people died from COVID-19 in a single day. India ranks second in the world for new daily deaths, following Brazil with 2,986 deaths.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The daily new confirmed cases were also recorded at 349,691 on the same day, continuing the streak of record highs. The cumulative number of confirmed cases has risen to 16,961,720.

With the surge in confirmed cases, a shortage of hospital beds and medical oxygen has occurred, leading to a rapid increase in deaths. Authorities have deployed trains and other means to support oxygen supply and have taken emergency measures such as converting some industrial oxygen for medical use.

However, due to the sudden spike in demand, many hospitals nationwide are still struggling with oxygen shortages. As the death toll rises, crematoriums in New Delhi and other areas have reached saturation.

Meanwhile, electric crematoriums are operating almost 24 hours a day, and open-air crematoriums are overloaded as they continuously handle the influx of bodies. Local media and foreign press have pointed out that based on the number of deaths at crematoriums and hospitals, the actual death toll appears to be much higher than the official figures released by the authorities.