India on Tuesday confirmed more than 20 million coronavirus infections in the official total, though the figure is believed to be a vast undercount.
A vicious surge in COVID-19 cases has left the country’s healthcare system at breaking point, with hospitals running out of oxygen and nearly all hospital beds occupied.
The country has witnessed scenes of people dying outside overwhelmed hospitals and funeral pyres lighting up the night sky.
Here are the latest updates:
11 mins ago (08:27 GMT)
Indian Premier League cricket suspended
The Indian Premier League was suspended indefinitely after players or staff at three clubs tested positive for COVID-19.
Hospitals in India continued to send distress messages for emergency oxygen supplies and a top vaccine-maker warned a vaccine shortfall could last for several months, as the country’s coronavirus case count approached 20 million on Monday.
India reported 368,147 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.
India, in the grip of a devastating second wave, has logged more than 300,000 cases every day for more than 10 days. The overall death toll reached 218,959, with 3,417 more deaths reported.
Experts have said the numbers may be an underestimate, due to low testing rates and the number of people dying at home, particularly in rural areas.