India is facing a catastrophic rise in the coronavirus cases across the country as 234,692 new Corona virus cases were recorded in one day.

The health ministry said the latest number is the eighth record high in the last nine days.

Total cases have gone past 14.5 million, second only to the United States.

India's deaths from COVID-19 rose by 1,341 to reach a total of 175,649.

The tightest lockdown enforced a year ago caused hundreds of deaths and destroyed the national economy; the Indian government is desperate to avoid a second stoppage.