COVID-19: First batch of medical assistance departs from S Korea for India

The first batch of medical assistance from South Korea departed from the city of Incheon on Sunday to help India combat the COVID-19 pandemic that has put a strain on the medical infrastructure of the country.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed. India and ROK as special strategic partners are such friends to one another. The first consignment of oxygen cylinders, concentrators and negative pressure carriers departed Incheon to India today," the Indian Embassy in Seoul said in a tweet.

India is currently dealing with a second COVID-19 wave that has swept through the nation, straining the country's health infrastructure and overburdening frontline medical workers.

Several countries around the globe including the UK, Russia, and the US have extended support to India as it continues to struggle with the increase in its health infrastructure needs.

India reported 4,03,738 new COVID-19 cases and over 4000 related deaths in the last 24 hours. With this, the cumulative national tally of the infection went up to 2,22,96,414, the union health ministry informed on Sunday morning.

( With inputs from ANI )