NEW DELHI – India on Wednesday reported more coronavirus deaths in a singleday than any other country at any time during the pandemic that began inthe start of last year.

The South Asian country reported 4,529 deaths and 267,334 new COVID-19 casein a day, taking its tally to 25.5 million, the world’s second highestafter the United States with a death toll of 283,248.

The previous record for most daily deaths from the coronavirus was set onJan. 12 in the United States, when 4,475 people died, according to datafrom Johns Hopkins University.

Some Indian health experts say infections and deaths could be five to 10times higher.

There are fears that the new, highly infectious variant is out of controland that many cases are not being reported because of lack of testing,particularly in the vast countryside.

Hospitals have had to turn patients away while mortuaries and crematoriahave been unable to cope with bodies piling up. Over the last month,India’s COVID-19 fatalities have jumped six-fold.

Criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dealing with thesituation has been rising with every passing day.