Grim record! India reports 3.46 lakh COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, total count rises to 1.66 crore

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New Delhi: India recorded 3.46 lakh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours that took the country's total caseload to 1.66 crore, the data by the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday (April 24, 2021) morning.

India, the second-worst coronavirus-hit country in the world, reported 3,46,786 new infections. India's April 24 COVID-19 figures surpassed its previous highest single-day rise in the world - 3,32,730 cases - recorded on Friday.

There were also 2,624 new coronavirus-related fatalities and 2,19,838 recoveries in the last 24 hours. The country has so far witnessed a total of 1,66,10,481 COVID-19 infections, of which, 1,38,67,997 people have recovered, whereas, 1,89,544 have succumbed to the virus. India, going through the second wave of COVID-19, now has 25,52,940 active cases.

The grim record comes a day after World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented on the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in India and said that it is a 'devastating reminder' of what the virus can do.

Tedros also said that the WHO is 'deeply concerned' about the increasing number of coronavirus cases and deaths in India right now.

"We know that the situation is complex, and requires different responses in different parts of the country, and I welcome the steps the government has taken to reduce social mixing and boost vaccine production," he said during a media briefing on COVID-19.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "The situation in India is a devastating reminder of what this virus can do and why we must marshal every tool against it in a comprehensive and integrated approach: public health measures, vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics."

It is to be noted that the COVID-19 cases in India have reportedly tripled in the past two and a half weeks. 

(With inputs from agencies)