India's coronavirus tally climbs to 7.65 million

Women wearing protective face masks commute in a suburban train after authorities resumed the train services for women passengers during non-peak hours, amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Mumbai, India, October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Niharika Kulkarni

India has recorded 54,044 new coronavirus infections, taking its tally to 7.65 million, health ministry data showed on Wednesday.

The world's second most populous nation also has the second highest caseload, after the United States, which has a total of 8.2 million.

India's death toll from the virus stood at 115,914, with 717 deaths in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.

Women wearing protective face mask commute in a suburban train after authorities resumed the train services for women passengers during non-peak hours, amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Mumbai, India, October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Niharika Kulkarni

Infections in India have been on the decline since a September peak, but experts have warned there could be a surge as the festival season approaches.

(Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps)

People wearing protective masks wait at a bus stop amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mumbai, India, October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

(Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)