As the world’s daily count of COVID-19 cases go down, India is witnessing its largest surge since 2020. In the last two weeks, more than 11 million new cases have been reported across the world with more than a third being recorded in India.

Many Indian states are struggling to cope with the rising numbers at the extent of a dwindling health care infrastructure as the severe second wave hits the cities.

3,417 people have succumbed to the deadly virus in the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 2,18,959. However, as per experts, the actual numbers could be much higher.

There is an unprecedented tsunami of heart-breaking news flowing from everywhere that came with the second wave. Thousands of people losing their lives, turning to mere statistics on government records every second throughout the country.

Data suggests that the second wave is proving to be more infectious and deadlier in some states as the healthcare system collapses like a castle of cards. Doctors say it hard for them to see light at the end of the tunnel this time.

India’s deadly COVID-19 second wave has devastated big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Pune. The chronic shortage of hospital beds, lack of enough oxygen supply and doctors have stood as major challenges in the nationwide battle against the virus.

The number of daily deaths has only been on a rise. Hospitals and crematoriums have run out of space. Skies have turned orange with little black lying ashes and smoke. Crematoriums are running day and night in several cities, exceeding the normal capacity, bodies being buried and burnt two feet apart non-stop. Car parking spaces and grounds have started to turn into funeral grounds.

The pandemic takes a turn as it reaches small cities, towns and villages where the devastation is largely going under- reported. Desperate cries for help on social media platforms have been a testimony to that.

Observing the second wave situation, the Hon’ble Supreme Court Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat advised the Central Government that no one shall be denied hospitalisation or essential drugs for lack of local residential proof or identity proof, and further asked the Centre to formulate a national policy on admissions to hospitals within two weeks, which should be followed by all states.

Several state governments say they are creating new facilities to fight with the virus but according to experts, it’s going to be hard to keep up with the pace of the rising number of infections. The only way out seems to be home, maintaining all COVID guidelines, masking up and physical distancing.