Photos: Lifesaving oxygen aid arrives in India as COVID-19 death toll hits new record

An Uzbekistan aircraft arrives with oxygen concentrators. | New Delhi: More emergency medical aid from foreign donors to alleviate a dire oxygen shortage arrived in India on Sunday, as Covid-19 deaths in the South Asian nation rose to a new record.

India is setting almost-daily records for new infections and deaths as the virus crisis engulfs overstretched hospitals in cities and spreads into rural regions.

Oxygen concentrators and cylinders arrive from Romania. | The country of 1.3 billion reported 3,689 deaths on Sunday - the highest single-day rise yet in the pandemic, to take the overall toll to more than 215,000.

Just under 400,000 infections were added, bringing the total number of cases past 19.5 million.

Bahrain's first batch of medical aid of liquid oxygen. | The latest figures came as medical equipment, including oxygen-generation plants, was flown into the capital New Delhi from France and Germany as part of a huge international effort.

A patient breathes with the help of oxygen under a tent installed along the roadside in Ghaziabad.

Medical supplies bound for India. | French ambassador Emmanuel Lenain said his country wanted to show solidarity with India. "The epidemic is still going on in one country. The world won't be safe until we are all safe. So it's a matter of urgency," he said early Sunday following the delivery of eight oxygen-generation plants and dozens of ventilators from France.

COVID-19 patients receive oxygen outside a Gurdwara, a Sikh house of worship, in New Delhi.

Oxygen tanks ready for delivery. | There are growing fears about the surge of the virus in rural regions where health infrastructure is already patchy and limited.

Family members of COVID-19 patients wait to collect cylinders containing medical oxygen after refilling. | Hospitals in Delhi have continued to issue SOS calls for oxygen on social media, with the latest appeal posted by a children's hospital on Twitter on Sunday. The plea came a day after up to a dozen patients died at a Delhi hospital amid an oxygen shortage, local media reported.

Cryogenic oxygen containers from Singapore. | India on Saturday opened up its inoculation drive to all adults, but supplies are running low and only online enrolments are allowed for those aged under 45.

A COVID-19 patient takes oxygen in the van while waiting to get a bed in the hospital.

Ground staff unloads oxygen concentrators and other COVID-19 relief supplies from Belgium. | Experts have called on the government to allow more flexibility in the vaccine rollout, particularly in poorer rural areas where there is lower internet penetration.

COVID-19 patients breathe with the help of oxygen provided by a Gurdwara, a place of worship for Sikhs, under a tent installed along the roadside.