Delta variant stole 240,000 lives in India; 'similar episodes' can happen again: UN warning
United Nations, Jan 13: A United Nations report said on Thursday that the deadly wave of COVID-19 Delta variant stole 240,000 lives in India between April and June in 2021 and disrupted economic recovery, and warned that "similar episodes" could take place in the near term.
The flagship United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2022 report also said that with the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 unleashing new waves of infections, the human and economic toll of the pandemic are projected to increase again.
"In India, a deadly wave of infection with the Delta variant stole 240,000 lives between April and June and disrupted economic recovery. Similar episodes could take place in the near term, said the report.
"Without a coordinated and sustained global approach to contain COVID-19 that includes universal access to vaccines, the pandemic will continue to pose the greatest risk to an inclusive and sustainable recovery of the world economy, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin said.
As per the information by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 1,54,61,39,465 vaccinations have been administered so far.
The second wave of the COVID19 pandemic had wrecked havoc across India as the death toll increased exponentially and spike in infections burdened the healthcare infrastructure in the country. The country is now witnessing increasing number of cases of the Omicron variant that is soon overtaking the Delta variant of the coronavirus globally.
The report noted that South Asia faces major downside risks that can strengthen headwinds in achieving the 2030 Agenda.
"Relatively slow vaccination progress leaves the region vulnerable to new variants and recurrent outbreaks. Financial constraints and an inadequate global vaccine supply continue to drag down full recovery in some countries, it said.
As of early December 2021, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan had less than 26 per cent of their populations fully vaccinated. By contrast, the fully vaccinated population is above 64 per cent in Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, the report said.
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IAF's Exercise Vayu Shakti begins at Pokharan range; President Murmu, Rajnath in attendance
Jaisalmer (PTI): Indian Air Force's firepower demonstration -- Exercise Vayu Shakti -- began at the Pokharan range in Western Rajasthan near the India-Pakistan border on Friday in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, IAF chief Air Marshal A P Singh, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are also present at the event.
IAF fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters are participating in the day-dusk-night demonstration that involves synchronised operations aimed at validating operational preparedness, precision strike capability, and rapid response mechanisms.
'Vayu Shakti' aims to showcase the IAF's operational preparedness, precision strike capability and ability to undertake multi-domain operations.
