COVID-19: India's death toll breaches the 3 Lakh mark

Health authorities on Monday said India's total death toll has reached 303,720 - after adding 50,000 deaths in just under two weeks.

The South Asian nation is the third, after US and Brazil, to hit the grim landmark of 300,000 deaths.

Experts believe the actual death toll to be almost two to three times higher, as the virus continues to spread in rural areas where record keeping is difficult and health facilities are not well equipped.

The latest wave of infections has led to a dire healthcare crisis, with critical shortages of oxygen and medicine. The surge has spread from India's densely populated cities to rural areas.