India's richest state suffers surge in Covid-19 cases

A health worker in personal protective equipment (PPE) collects a swab sample from a woman during a rapid antigen testing campaign for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), at a railway station platform in Mumbai, India

* Cases rise by 35,871, highest in over 3 months, to 11.47 million * Deaths rise by 172 to 159,216, health ministry data shows * Maharashtra accounts for 65% of new cases New coronavirus infections in India rose by the most in more than three months as a second wave of the epidemic gathered momentum, with Maharashtra, the country's richest state, accounting for two-thirds of the latest daily tally. Home to India's commercial capital Mumbai, the western state reported 35,871 new cases in the past 24 hours, and the fast spreading contagion in major industrial areas raised risks of companies' production being disrupted. India's total cases stood at 11.47 million, the highest after the United States and Brazil. Deaths rose by 172 to 159,216, according to health ministry data released on Thursday.