India's record Covid-19 surge continues, vaccines run short

Protesters wearing protective suits and masks display placards laying on the street near the Election Commission office in Kolkata during a demonstration demanding the halt of the ongoing state legislative election and campaign rallies amidst the rising number of Covid-19 coronavirus cases.

* Infections surge as India grapples with second wave * Clamour over vaccine shortages grows across hardest-hit states * Govt denies vaccine shortages, blames states India reported a record 126,789 Covid-19 cases on Thursday as several states struggle to contain a second surge in infections, complaining of vaccine shortages and demanding inoculations be expanded to younger people. Daily infections, which surpassed 100,000 for the first time on Monday, have now exceeded that mark three times, the biggest daily rises in the world. The spike, much faster than last year's first wave, has caught the authorities by surprise. The government blames the resurgence mainly on crowding and a reluctance to wear masks as shops and offices have reopened.