India on Thursday passed eight million coronavirus cases, with the world’s second-worst-hit country bracing for a possible second wave ahead of winter and a series of religious festivals.

There have now been 8,040,203 cases and 120,527 deaths across the country of 1.3 billion people, according to the latest government figures.

The United States has seen 8.8 million infections and 227,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

India has one of the world’s lowest death rates and ministers have highlighted the slowing number of new infections in recent weeks. 

But authorities are preparing for a new surge after Diwali, the country’s most important religious festival, which will take place on 14 November.

“All states need to be…