A second COVID-19 wave has hit Mumbai and Maharashtra hard. The city saw the highest single-day count of 2,877 new cases on Thursday, surpassing the October 7 peak of 2,848 fresh infections. Across Maharashtra, the figure zoomed to 25,833, the highest single-day number so far. 

As they scrambled to get a grip over the situation, city administrators blamed carelessness on the part of citizens over the past four months for the massive spike. They have appealed to Mumbaikars to not step out unless it is absolutely necessary.