Pleas to Modi to act to stop virus chaos
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces increasing pressure to act, and his party has suffered losses in state elections, as his nation struggles against Covid19.
India yesterday reported more than 300,000 new Covid19 cases for a 12th straight day, taking its overall case total to just shy of 20 million, while deaths from the virus rose by 3417 to 218,959.
With 368,147 new cases in the 24 hours to yesterday, total infections stand at 19.93 million, while total fatalities are 218,959, health ministry data says.
Medical specialists say the true numbers may be five to 10 times higher than official figures.
Hospitals are full, medical oxygen supplies have run short and morgues and crematoriums have been swamped.
At least 11 states and territories have imposed restrictions to try to stem infections, but Modi’s government is reluctant to impose a national lockdown.
Modi has been criticised for not acting earlier to curb Covid19 and for letting millions of mostly unmasked people attend religious festivals and political rallies.
A forum of scientific advisers set up by the Government warned officials in early March of a new, more contagious virus variant in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum said.
Despite the warning, four of the scientists said the federal government did not seek to impose major restrictions.
A leading Indian industry body yesterday urged authorities to take the ‘‘strongest national steps’’ and to curtail economic activity to save lives.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) president Uday Kotak said a ‘‘maximal response measure at the highest level is called for to cut the transmission links’’.
‘‘At this critical juncture when toll of lives is rising, CII urges the strongest national steps including curtailing economic activity to reduce suffering.’’
Modi’s rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was defeated in West Bengal in state election results declared early yesterday. It also lost in two southern states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Leaders of 13 opposition parties yesterday signed a letter urging Modi to launch free national vaccination and prioritise oxygen supplies to hospitals.
Several hospital authorities sought court intervention at the weekend over oxygen supplies in New Delhi; the New Delhi High Court said it would start punishing government officials if supplies of oxygen allocated to hospitals were not delivered.
The United Kingdom yesterday announced it would send another 1000 ventilators to India.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to talk with Modi today. — Reuters/AP