Here is your ten-point cheat sheet on this big story:
This is the fourth straight day that India has recorded over 3,000 deaths due to Covid. Hospitals are overburdened and shortage of medical oxygen has emerged as one of the top challenges. The country's daily Covid cases passed the 1 lakh-mark for the first time about three weeks ago.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a meeting this morning to review the measures being taken amid the unprecedented Covid surge. Last month, in an address to nation, he had said the second Covid wave has hit India "like a storm".
In April, India recorded 66 lakh fresh cases, much higher than 10.25 lakh cases recorded in March, 3.5 lakh cases recorded in February and 4.79 lakh cases recorded in January.
Over 45,000 people died in April alone across the country due to Covid as compared to 5,417 deaths in March, 2,777 deaths in February and 5,536 deaths in January.
Today, counting is being held in Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala - and Puducherry, a union territory, where voting was held last month in India's biggest polling exercise since the start of the pandemic. Huge poll rallies have been linked to Covid surge.
Delhi witnessed another tragedy due to the shortage of medical oxygen when 12 people, including a doctor, died at Batra Hospital on Saturday after the facility ran out of medical oxygen - for the second time in the space of a week.
Lockdown to check the spread of cases has been extended by another week in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday.
India launched the third phase of the world's biggest inoculation drive, extending coverage to 18-44 age group. At least 20 states red-flagged vaccine shortage even as the government said "1 crore doses are still available with the states". Over 84,000 people took the Covid shot, as per official figures.
International aid is arriving from the United States and many other nations that have pledged sustained support to India as the country's healthcare system buckles under pressure of rising cases.
The United States, Australia and Israel have restricted flights from India.
New XEC Covid Variant Spreads To 27 Countries, Here's What We Know So Far Study Shows How Long Covid Is Debilitating Children's Health From FLiRT To FLuQE: What To Know About The Latest Covid Variants "Government Can't Take Over...": Big Supreme Court Order On Private Property Who Will Win US Election 2024? AI Makes Stunning Predictions "Can We Castigate...": An Objection To Chief Justice's Remark On Past Judge Iranian Satellites Among Dozens Launched On Board Russia's Soyuz Rocket Weight Loss Tips: These Winter Foods Can Help You Achieve Your Ideal Weight US Elections: How George Washington Became The First President Of America Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.