India reported another record daily surge in coronavirus infections on Monday to overtake Brazil as the second-worst hit country. The 168,912 cases added in the past 24 hours pushed India’s total to 13.5 million, while Brazil has 13.4 million. It also reported 904 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking its total to 1,70,179, which is the fourth highest toll, behind the US, Brazil and Mexico.

The surge coincides with the shortage of vaccines in some of the worst affected states, the Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and rallies for the ongoing Assembly polls in West Bengal. Tens of thousands of Hindu devotees gathered by the Ganga river for special prayers on Monday, many of them flouting physical distancing practices. Critics say the festival has been allowed at a time when infections are skyrocketing because the government isn’t willing to anger Hindus, who are the BJP’s biggest supporters.