India's COVID crisis: Nadella 'heartbroken', Pichai-led Google pledges Rs 135 crore

India is battling one of the worst and scariest waves of infection since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Various nations and national leaders have expressed concerns and are extending aid to the battered nation. 

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and his Google counterpart Sundar Pichai have taken to Twitter to express their concern about the devastation India is facing. "I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the US government is mobilizing to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices," the Indian-born Nadella tweeted in reference to the Joe Biden administration's decision to send raw materials to India for Covishield vaccine production.

Google, meanwhile, has pledged Rs 135 crore for India's COVID fight. "Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. Google & Googlers are providing Rs 135 crore in funding to @GiveIndia, @UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information," Pichai tweeted on Monday. 

"This (Rs 135 crore) includes two grants from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, totalling Rs 20 crore ($2.6 million). The first is to GiveIndia to provide cash assistance to families hit hardest by the crisis to help with their everyday expenses. The second will go to UNICEF to help get urgent medical supplies, including oxygen and testing equipment, to where it’s needed most in India. It also includes donations from our ongoing employee giving campaign—so far more than 900 Googlers have contributed Rs 3.7 crore ($500,000) for organisations supporting high-risk and marginalised communities," Sanjay Gupta, country head & VP, India, explained in a blogpost on Monday. 

This funding also includes increased Ad Grant support for public health information campaigns. Both Google and Microsoft employ thousands of employees from India. 

According to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday, more than 3.52 lakh people tested positive for the coronavirus infection within 24 hours, the highest so far. India's total tally of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 1,73,13,163 while active cases have crossed the 28-lakh mark.

The death toll increased to 1,95,123 with a record 2,812 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.