Record day of 401,993 cases in India as 18 die in fire on hospital coronavirus ward
SSMA NEWS – Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces a new vaccine drive starting today but some states say they do not have the resources.
India has seen another record daily rise in coronavirus infections, as 18 people died in a fire on a COVID-19 hospital ward.
A further 401,993 cases of coronavirus were reported in the country on Saturday, the first time the 400,000 mark has been surpassed.
And 3,523 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 211,853, according to health ministry data.
It comes as the country prepares to start a new COVID vaccination drive, despite some states warning they do not have enough doses to launch such an endeavour.
Sixteen patients and two healthcare workers died in the fire at the medical facility in Bharuch, Gujarat state, in the west of India, with reports stating at least another 30 patients were rescued.
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A police spokesman said the fire was put out within an hour and the cause was being investigated.
The blaze follows another fire in a Mumbai hospital just over a week ago which killed 13 patients.
