India breaks daily death record amid strain on hospitals

India has confirmed 4205 more deaths, setting another daily record and taking its official COVID-19 toll past 250,000 as it battles a ferocious surge in infections.

Daily coronavirus cases rose by 348,421, pushing India's total past 23 million, according to the health ministry.

The figures are considered vast undercounts due to insufficient testing and records among other factors.

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On Tuesday, authorities warned that nearly 90 per cent of districts in the country are seeing a high positivity rate, sparking fears the virus is spreading fast into rural areas.

India's recent surge has been blamed on more contagious variants as well as government decisions to allow massive crowds to gather for religious festivals and political rallies.

Even though daily cases have shown very early signs of flattening, experts have cautioned authorities to not let down their guard.

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With nearly four million cases still active, health care systems remain strained with limited hospital beds, oxygen and medicine.

Many states have imposed their own restrictions to curb infections, and the southern state of Telangana became the latest to announce a 10-day lockdown on Tuesday.

Calls and pressure for a nationwide lockdown have been mounting.