NEW DELHI — India’s COVID-19 cases have soared 13-fold in barely two months, a vicious second wave propelled by open disregard for safety protocols in much of the vast country.
Election rallies led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other major figures, as well as crowded festivals and religious gatherings, have characterized the record resurgence of the new coronavirus.
After quelling the first surge late last year, India’s leaders let down their guard. Allowing or even encouraging dangerous behavior, they underestimated the virus, reopening the economy too fast and too broadly, experts say.
With daily infections hitting a record 1…
Keep on reading: Rallies, religious gatherings aggravate India’s worst COVID-19 surge