"I can't believe we're in the capital of India. People aren't getting oxygen and they're dying like animal

In India, the devastating second wave of coronavirus overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums, and there was a general shortage of oxygen and medicines.

Few intensive care beds

The country’s intensive care unit has been short of space for a long time, and many patients’ families are forced to drive around in search of beds for their loved ones. In New Delhi-an area of about 20 million people-the hospital is full and is rejecting new patients.

Some streets outside the medical institution were already crowded with serious illnesses. When relatives asked the hospital authorities for a place in the hospital, they tried to arrange stretchers and oxygen supply for them.

"We have been roaming around for three days looking for a bed,"

There's a shortage of oxygen

Hospitals across India are also experiencing oxygen shortages, with some forced to put up signs warning of a lack of supplies.

The country now has the greatest demand for oxygen out of all other low, lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries, according to the PATH Oxygen Needs Tracker.

Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti, who works on a Covid ward of Delhi's Manipal Hospital, described watching people gasping for air in the street like "fish out of water".

"They are not getting oxygen and they are dying on the roads," he said.

Typically, healthcare facilities consume about 15% of oxygen supply in India, leaving the rest for industrial use.

But amid India's second wave, nearly 90% of the country's oxygen supply - 7,500 metric tonnes daily - is being diverted for medical use, according to Rajesh Bhushan, a senior health official.

Crematoriums are organising mass funeral pyres
Many people are being forced to turn to makeshift facilities for mass burials and cremations as India's funeral services become overwhelmed.

At least one facility in Delhi has resorted to building pyres in its car park in order to cope with the number of bodies.