Modi slammed on social media amid deadly COVID-19 surge in India

India seeing more new COVID cases than any other country, with a seven-day average of almost 220,000 daily infections.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faced a backlash on social media over his response to surging coronavirus cases, with users criticising his decision to address tens of thousands of people at state election rallies and letting Hindu devotees congregate for a festival. India is currently recording more new cases of coronavirus than any other country. As of Sunday, the seven-day average for new daily infections was 219,000, according to Our World in Data. This week India is expected to rise above the high tide of the epidemic seen in the United States, when daily new cases peaked at nearly 300,000 in early January. India has recorded more than 15 million cases while deaths have risen to nearly 179,000.