New Delhi: With the coronavirus cases surging in the country, scientist as trying to understand the role coronavirus variants including a new one dubbed as the double mutant are playing. Although much knowledge has not been gained about the mutant, scientists are saying that this variant is more contagious than the original version and has spread rapidly through parts of the country including the financial capital Mumbai.

Public health experts say the wave of infections appears to be driven by many of the same causes that have led to rising cases. India’s recent rate of increasing cases has been far faster than in the country’s previous wave, and swifter than the more gradual increases widely seen elsewhere. In the U.S, for example, the last big wave built up over three months, starting in September and hit a peak of 295, 215 daily cases on Jan 8.

Scientist argue that the surge in cases in India is a result of people dropping mask wearing and other precautions along with the government allowing huge political rallies and religious festivals.