In Maharashtra’s rural hinterland, a struggle to secure COVID-19 vaccines

Locals are angered by people travelling from urban areas to take already scarce shots

Bhibhaji Vitthal Pokharkar, 64, a farmer in Narayangaon village in rural Pune, is anxiously waiting of his second dose of the Covishield vaccine. More than six weeks have since elapsed since he took his first dose on March 20. The acute vaccine crunch across Maharashtra has especially aggravated the pandemic crisis in Pune, the worst-hit district in India with nearly 1 lakh active cases and nearly 14,000 deaths, which has been witnessing a daily surge of 10,000 cases and 150 fatalities. The rising cases and deaths in rural areas have alarmed Mr. Pokharkar.