I am still struggling to understand why this was not a problem last year? Is this the same thing or a new variant?
Variant or no variant, Movement of people spreads the disease. Since most people who spread it are not aware that they are doing it, it quickly moves in populated areas. It hits extremely hard overwhelming healthcare systems. At this point they can do nothing except watch and wait while the dying goes on. This is the current situation in India. It will last three to four weeks.