May 12, 2021 - World

India reports record COVID fatalities as death toll surges past 250,000

Rebecca Falconer

People watch unclaimed bodies burn on funeral pyres at a mass crematorium site on the banks of the Ganges river on May 05, 2021 in Allahabad, India. — People watch unclaimed bodies burn on funeral pyres at a mass crematorium site on the banks of the Ganges River in Allahabad, India, on May 5. Photo: Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images

India's health ministry reported Wednesday the country's highest-ever number of deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours.

By the numbers: The 4,205 virus fatalities confirmed in the past 24 hours take the official death toll past 250,000 since the pandemic began. The ministry reported 348,421 new cases as the official caseload surged past 23 million.

Yes but: Scientists and local health workers say the actual numbers are much higher. Crematoriums report they're inundated with bodies.

Of note: Officials in Bihar state, eastern India, told the Times of India Tuesday they had recovered 71 bodies of suspected coronavirus victims that had been found floating in the Ganges River in recent days.

Go deeper: On the ground in India

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India reports record COVID fatalities as death toll surges past 250,000

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