India’s coronavirus infections cross 18 million as gravediggers work round the clock

Healthcare workers place the body of a person, who died due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), on the ground for cremation at a crematorium ground in New Delhi, India, April 28, 2021. [Reuters]

India’s total Covid-19 cases passed 18 million on Thursday after another world record number of daily infections, as gravediggers worked around the clock to bury victims and hundreds more were cremated in makeshift pyres in parks and parking lots.

India reported 379,257 new infections and 3,645 new deaths on Thursday, health ministry data show for its highest number of deaths in a single day since the start of the pandemic.