Maharashtra records highest daily rise in Covid cases with 25,833 fresh infections

During the same period, 58 deaths have taken place in the state.

With a sharp rise in both the number of cases and fatalities, Maharashtra is becoming the epicentre of the second wave of the virus in the country.

On Wednesday, the Union Home Ministry said Maharashtra alone accounts for 61.8% of the daily new cases.

The country too recorded a whopping 35,871 new cases of COVID-19 between Wednesday and Thursday morning, pushing India's caseload to 1,14,74,605, while the death toll soared to 1,59,216 with 172 more fatalities making it the highest splurge in cases after 100 days.

On Wednesday during a virtual meeting with chief ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described this as an 'emerging second peak' and urged the heads of the states to increase testing and strictly monitor mask-wearing. "We need to take quick, decisive steps," he had said.

Earlier on Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked the Centre to ease the age restriction for Covid-19 vaccination and allow everyone above 18 to get inoculated. He also claimed his government could vaccinate entire Delhi within three months, if allowed.

He said if the Centre allows walk-in vaccination for everybody along with sufficient supply of the doses, his government can vaccinate all of Delhi in three months.