TWO members of Bradford's British-Indian community - who both recently lost friends and family members in India to Covid-19 - have spoken of the "trauma" the country is going through as it continues its fight against the virus.

Dr Manoj Joshi DL and Baldev Singh Chaggar have both experienced "personal tragedy" as Covid continues to wreak havoc across India, with the country's healthcare system overwhelmed and in disarray.

Dr Joshi - the deputy lieutenant and past district governor for Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, chairman of governors at Bradford Academy and a well-known figure in Bradford's Hindu community - lost his wife's auntie and a close friend when they both died at hospitals in Gujarat.

Mr Chaggar, the director of Norwood House Nursing Home in Keighley and a prominent member of Bradford's Sikh community, also suffered loss when his uncle's daughter-in-law died in Punjab.

India has had over 20 million cases - the second-highest in the world, after the US - and accounted for nearly half of cases reported worldwide last week, and for one in four of the deaths, the World Health Organisation said.

There have been reports of people dying in the streets - with a lack of beds available - as urgent calls for a national lockdown persist.

"My wife's auntie died in Rajkot, she was about 80, while my friend died in Ahmedabad - he was 70", 69-year-old Dr Joshi - who was born in Uganda, of Gujarati descent, and moved to the UK in 1972 - said.

"My friend's wife also got Covid, and is isolating in hospital. They were married for 50 years, but she couldn't see him before he died. It's very sad. Their children live in America, so they couldn't see him either, everything is done over Zoom, it's traumatic."

Speaking on the reasons behind India's surge in cases, Dr Joshi said it was "multi-factorial".

"There is a lack of supplies and equipment, hospitals can't cope and a lot of people haven't been following lockdown rules. It isn't a blame game, because everyone in India has to take responsibility for this", he said.

"The doctors and nurses are working hard, but are overwhelmed, and this is all affecting poor people the most. It's the same worldwide - those who have not, suffer the most.

"There are many UK organisations fundraising. As Rotarians, we have links with Rotary clubs in India, and we are in the process of sending money - 100 per cent of the donations will go towards helping people. People can get in touch if they would like more information."

Mr Chaggar, who is also a Rotarian, added that UK-based charities such as Khalsa Aid, as well as gurdwaras across the country, are also offering support.

"We are restricted in what we can do, but the Sikh community is helping financially, and donating ventilators", he said.

"I had a call from a relative saying a family member had died. In India, there is no national health service like here. The poor are more affected, medicine prices have rocketed and oxygen is in short supply. I have friends in Mumbai, Delhi and all over - when we speak, they say there's a shortage of hospital beds.

"But whenever there's a tragedy in the world, it affects all of humanity, so we must support wherever we can."