INDIA could be struck with an "inevitable" third wave of coronavirus as mutant variants wreak havoc in the country.

Health chiefs have warned that the battle is far from over as hospitals buckle under a “tsunami” of coronavirus infections and soaring death numbers.

India is suffering from the world's worth second wave of Covid and even though it shows no sign of slowing, there are fears a third wave is due to hit.

The country's top medical advisor has warned people to brace for a repeat of devastating scenes, with the crisis already overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums – where bodies are being burned en masse.

"Phase three is inevitable given the high levels of circulating virus," K. Vijay Raghavan said, reports the Mail.

"But it is not clear on what timescale this phase three will occur.

"We should prepare for new waves."

Just today, India has reported record-breaking figures, with a further 412,292 cases and 3,980 new deaths.

But while the country battles the Covid crisis, its biggest state has set up a dedicated helpline for cows.

Help desks are being created in all of Uttar Pradesh's district for people to call and report cattle needing aid, reports the Times of India.

Shelters for cows will receive medical equipment – such as oximeters and thermal scanners – for the animals

It comes after it was warned Covid mutant variants spawning from out of control outbreaks like in India and Brazil mean "no one is safe" unless vaccine rollouts are widened.

The People's Vaccine Alliance (PVA) – a global coalition of 50 organizations – told The Sun Online about the critical danger the new strains pose if more support isn't given to help vaccinate people worldwide.

It warned under current estimations many developing countries will not hit the necessary levels of vaccination to end the pandemic until 2024.

With a connected world, any new outbreaks or variants could spread to countries which have already vaccinated – and the new mutations may be able to dodge the antibodies given by the jabs.

"This failure puts us all at risk," Anna Marriott, health policy manager at Oxfam, told The Sun Online.

Meanwhile, Wednesday's G7 meeting in London was rocked by a Covid scare after two members of the Indian delegation tested positive.

The country's entire team is now self-isolating, but will still try to attend meetings of the group virtually.

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