India records over 400,000 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours; Ahmedabad hospital fire kills 16 Covid patients, two nurses

People stand around the Welfare Hospital after a deadly fire in Bharuch, western India, Saturday, May 1, 2021. The fire in a Covid-19 ward of the hospital killed multiple patients early Saturday, as the country grappling with the worst outbreak yet steps up a vaccination drive for all its adults even though some states say don't have enough jabs. - AP

New Delhi, May 1, 2021 (AFP): India recorded on Saturday over 400,000 new Covid cases in 24 hours for the first time, the first country to do so in the pandemic, official data showed.

According to the health ministry, 401,993 new infections were registered taking the total caseload to 19.1 million. There were 3,523 deaths, bringing the toll to 211,853.