A deadly third wave of COVID-19 can be avoided if adequate measures are taken, the Indian government's top scientific adviser said Friday, after warning the country to brace for the fresh wave two days ago.

"If we take strong measures, the third wave may not happen in all the places or indeed anywhere at all. It depends much on how effectively the guidance is implemented at the local level, in the states, in districts and in the cities everywhere," Dr K VijayRaghavan said.

Vijayan had said that the current wave is due to the double mutant Indian variant of coronavirus while the spread of the UK variant has slowed, IBNS said. .

He had also emphasised on the need for updating the vaccines to neutralise the new variants that are causing the virus to spread faster.

On Friday, India registered a record rise in coronavirus cases, 4,14,188, and 3,915 related deaths. Currently, there are 36 lakh active cases in India.