India’s crematoriums and burial grounds are being overwhelmed by the new surge of infections, depleting the supply of life-saving oxygen cylinders to critical levels.
The disaster has seen patients left to die, even as they wait in line to see doctors.
For the fourth consecutive day, India on Sunday set a global daily record for new Covid-19 infections, spurred by a variant that has emerged in the country.
On Sunday, the UK and Germany joined the US in pledging to send medical aid, including oxygen concentrators and ventilators, to support buckling health services.
The 349,691 confirmed cases over the past 24 hours took India’s total to more than 16.9 million, second only to the US.
The Health Ministry reported another 2,767 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking India’s Covid-19 toll to 192,311.
Experts say the real toll could be much higher, as suspected cases are not included and many deaths from the infection are being attributed to underlying conditions.
The crisis unfolding in India is most evident in its graveyards and crematoriums, and in heartbreaking images of gasping patients dying on their way to hospitals because of the lack of emergency oxygen.
Burial grounds in the capital New Delhi are running out of space and glowing funeral pyres light up the night sky in other badly hit cities.
At New Delhi's Bhadbhada Vishram Ghat crematorium, workers said they cremated the remains of more than 110 people on Saturday, even though government figures for the entire city of 1.8 million put the total number of virus deaths at 10.
“The virus is swallowing our city’s people like a monster,” said Mamtesh Sharma, an official at the site.
This number of bodies has forced the crematorium to stop individual ceremonies and rituals that Hindus believe release the soul from the cycle of rebirth.
“We are just burning bodies as they arrive,” Mr Sharma said. “It is as if we are in the middle of a war.”
Mohammad Shameem, head grave digger at New Delhi’s largest Muslim cemetery, where 1,000 people have been buried during the pandemic, said: “I fear we will run out of space very soon."
The situation is equally grim at hospitals, where desperate people are dying in queues, sometimes on the roads outside.
"The virus is swallowing our city's people like a monster," said Mamtesh Sharma, an official at a crematorium
Health officials are urgently trying to expand intensive care units and stock up on dwindling supplies of oxygen.
Hospitals and patients are struggling to procure scarce medical equipment that is being sold at a high mark-up price.
Early victory
The crisis is in contrast to government claims made on Saturday by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that “nobody in the country was left without oxygen".
The breakdown is a stark failure for a country whose prime minister in January declared victory over Covid-19, and which boasted of being the “world’s pharmacy” – a global producer of vaccines and a model for other developing nations.
Caught off-guard by the latest surge, the federal government has asked industrialists to increase the production of oxygen and life-saving drugs that are also in short supply.
But health experts say India had a year to prepare for the inevitable and failed to.
Dr Krutika Kuppalli, assistant professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the Medical University of South Carolina in the US, said the Indian government should have used the last year, when the virus was more under control, to plan for a surge.
It should have “stockpiled medication and developed public-private partnerships to help with manufacturing essential resources in the event of a situation like this”, Dr Kuppalli said.
"We were confident, our spirits were up after successfully tackling the first wave, but this storm has shaken the nation," Prime minister Narendra Modi said
Modi under fire
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is under increasing criticism for allowing Hindu festivals and attending huge election rallies that experts suspect accelerated the spread of infections.
With the death toll mounting, Mr Modi’s Hindu nationalist government is trying to quell critical voices.
On Sunday, he urged all citizens to be vaccinated and exercise caution, saying a "storm" of infections had shaken the country.
"We were confident, our spirits were up after successfully tackling the first wave, but this storm has shaken the nation," Mr Modi said in a radio address.
Local measures
Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of New Delhi, extended by a week lockdown that was due to end on Monday, to try and stem the transmission of the virus.
"A lockdown was the last weapon we had to deal with the coronavirus but with cases rising so quickly we had to use this weapon," Mr Kejriwal said.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said it directed all major ports to give the highest priority in berthing to ships with consignments of medical-grade oxygen, oxygen tanks and bottles, portable oxygen generators and oxygen concentrators.
International assistance
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday said the US was “deeply concerned” by the severe Covid-19 surge in India.
“We are working around the clock to deploy more supplies and support to our friends and partners in India as they bravely battle this pandemic,” Mr Sullivan tweeted.
Help and support also appeared to arrive from arch-rival Pakistan, with politicians, journalists and citizens in the neighbouring country expressing support for people in India.
Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it had offered to provide relief support including ventilators, oxygen supply kits, digital X-ray machines, personal protection equipment and related items.
It said authorities of both countries can work out strategies for a quick delivery of the items and explore possible ways of further co-operation to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in a tweet prayed for the “speedy recovery of the Indian people affected by the virus”.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
MATCH INFO
Day 1 at Mount Maunganui
England 241-4
Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28
New Zealand
Yet to bat
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier
Sunday's results:
- UAE beat Malaysia by eight wickets
- Nepal beat Singapore by four wickets
- Oman v Hong Kong, no result
Tuesday fixtures:
- Malaysia v Singapore
- UAE v Oman
- Nepal v Hong Kong
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
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Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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Company%20profile
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$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
