Chapter 3: A Nation on Edge
With cases rising exponentially, the government scrambles to contain the outbreak. The media dubs it "The Crimson Plague," owing to the blood clotting and hemorrhagic effects seen in patients. A national emergency is declared, and the Prime Minister addresses the nation, urging calm. "We are facing a health crisis unlike any before," he announces. "Our scientists and doctors are working tirelessly, and we will overcome this."
The public, however, is far from reassured. Rumors spread on social media, misinformation fuels paranoia, and people rush to pharmacies, hoarding essential medicines. Hospitals reach capacity, forcing authorities to set up makeshift treatment centers in stadiums and schools. Meanwhile, researchers at Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh, investigate water sources in Mumbai, suspecting a contamination link. Their findings reveal that the virus has a high survival rate in water, meaning it could spread through sewage and improperly treated drinking water.
International health agencies intervene, but geopolitical tensions rise. Nations criticize India for delayed containment measures. The World Health Organization (WHO) declares it an ‘epidemic of concern.’
As thousands fall ill, virologists at NIV Pune work non-stop to develop diagnostic tests. But the challenges are immense—testing kits are in short supply, laboratories lack advanced sequencing infrastructure, and bureaucracy slows down emergency approvals.
In a small village near Nagpur, 26-year-old teacher Meenal Joshi watches helplessly as her father, a retired postmaster, succumbs to the disease. There are no ambulances to take him to the nearest hospital. The family performs his last rites alone, their neighbors too afraid to help.
India, a nation of 1.3 billion, stands on the precipice of disaster.
The news spread like wildfire.
By the time dawn broke over Mumbai, the city had transformed. Panic clung to the air, thick and suffocating. People flocked to pharmacies, desperate for masks, gloves, vitamins—anything that promised protection against the invisible enemy. Grocery stores were ransacked, shelves stripped bare of rice, lentils, and bottled water. The sight of armed police at railway stations sent a jolt of fear through the city’s veins.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) held an emergency press briefing in Delhi. Flanked by government officials and senior epidemiologists, Dr. Ramesh Iyer, the ICMR’s director, stepped up to the podium. His voice was calm but firm.
“We are dealing with an emerging viral outbreak,” he announced. “Our scientists are working around the clock to understand the pathogen. We urge citizens to remain calm and follow public health guidelines.”
The guidelines were simple: Stay indoors. Avoid crowded spaces. Seek medical attention if symptoms appeared.
But the message arrived too late.
The Discovery of the Virus
At the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, scientists pored over samples taken from the first victims. Dr. Aakash Banerjee and his team sequenced the viral genome and discovered something terrifying. The virus, now officially classified as CRV-24 (Crimson Viral 2024), bore similarities to enteroviruses but had undergone mutations that made it uniquely resilient.
Structure of CRV-24
Under an electron microscope, CRV-24 revealed itself as a single-stranded RNA virus encased in a lipid envelope. Its surface was adorned with spike-like glycoproteins, which gave it an eerily crown-like appearance, similar to coronaviruses but more structurally dense. These spikes, known as CRV-S1 proteins, had evolved to bind with human endothelial cells at an unprecedented efficiency rate.
Unlike previous hemorrhagic viruses that primarily affected specific organ systems, CRV-24 targeted the vascular endothelium—the thin layer of cells lining blood vessels. The key mechanism lay in its ability to bind with angiotensin-converting enzyme 3 (ACE3) receptors, a previously unrecognized cellular pathway that existed in high concentrations in the blood vessels, brain, and kidneys.
Viral Life Cycle
The life cycle of CRV-24 followed an aggressive pattern. The virus attached to ACE3 receptors on endothelial cells. Upon binding, it used a protease enzyme to cleave a section of the receptor, creating a pathway for the virus to fuse with the cell membrane. Once inside, CRV-24 released its RNA genome into the cytoplasm. The viral RNA hijacked the host's ribosomes, forcing them to produce viral proteins instead of normal cellular proteins. Using the host cell’s machinery, CRV-24 synthesized new viral particles at an exponential rate. The viral RNA replicated through a complex error-prone polymerase, allowing for rapid mutation and adaptation n.As the virus spread within the host cell, it disrupted cellular communication, forcing the infected cell to release inflammatory cytokines. This cytokine storm led to widespread blood clotting and tissue damage. The host cell, now overfilled with viral particles, ruptured. Thousands of viral copies were released into the bloodstream, accelerating systemic infection. Neighboring cells were quickly invaded, spreading the infection at an alarming rate. As the virus overwhelmed major organs, including the brain, lungs, and kidneys, the body’s own immune system caused widespread inflammation, leading to multiple organ failure.
How It Spreads
The virus spread through multiple pathways. Person-to-person transmission via bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, and poor hygiene. Waterborne transmission through sewage leaks and untreated water. Airborne particles from coughing and sneezing, though less effective than waterborne transmissionn.Animal reservoirs—early research suggested possible zoonotic origins, linking CRV-24 to strains found in bats and rodents.
Effects of the Virus
The symptoms of CRV-24 progressed in stages. Incubation (2-5 days) – No visible symptoms, but the infected individual could spread the viru s.Early Stage (Day 5-7) – High fever, chills, muscle pain, severe headaches, and nausea. Mid-Stage (Day 8-12) – Internal hemorrhaging, severe blood clotting, and disorientation due to reduced oxygen supply to the brain. Critical Stage (Day 12-15) – Multi-organ failure, seizures, and respiratory collapse. Fatality or Recovery – Fatality rate estimated at 40-60% without medical intervention.
At the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, Dr. Ananya Roy monitored transmission data from the field. Heat maps flashed on her laptop, showing glowing red clusters stretching across the subcontinent. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating before she ran another simulation.
She already knew the answer.
“This won’t stay in India,” she whispered.
Government Response & Social Unrest
New Delhi – Prime Minister’s Office
Inside the War Room of the Prime Minister’s Office, the mood was grim. Ministers, military officials, and top bureaucrats sat around a large conference table, their faces illuminated by the flickering screens displaying live updates. Maps of India were covered in red dots, each marking an outbreak zone.
Prime Minister Arvind Bansal turned to his Health Minister, Meera Shah. “How bad is it?”
Shah’s voice was steady, but the tension in her posture betrayed her unease. “We’ve confirmed 8,000 cases. The real number is likely higher.”
A silence fell over the room.
“What do we do?” asked Defense Minister General Kapoor. “Deploy the army? Shut down state borders?”
The Prime Minister sighed. He knew what had to be done. “We declare a national emergency.”
The decision was made. Within hours, the Home Ministry issued lockdown orders for major metropolitan cities. Checkpoints were set up on highways, airports, and railway stations. The government invoked the Disaster Management Act, granting sweeping powers to law enforcement to maintain order.
Curfews were imposed. Factories shuttered. Schools and colleges closed indefinitely. The stock market crashed, and businesses ground to a halt. The country braced for an economic freefall, but survival took precedence over financial stability.
Then, came the first riot.
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Mumbai – Dharavi
In the densely packed slums of Dharavi, fear gave way to anger. When rumors spread that government rations would be delayed, thousands of residents stormed the streets.
“The rich are hoarding everything!” a man shouted. “What about us?”
Shop shutters were ripped open. Supplies were looted. Police in riot gear arrived, wielding lathis to disperse the mob, but desperation turned to defiance. Tear gas filled the air. Rubber bullets followed. By the time the chaos settled, five people lay dead.
Similar clashes erupted in Delhi’s Seelampur, Kolkata’s Garden Reach, and parts of Hyderabad. The government scrambled to regain control. But with every new restriction, unrest grew.
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Kolkata – Beleghata Infectious Diseases Hospital
Dr. Ritu Basu adjusted her mask as she entered the isolation ward. The stench of antiseptic and decay made her stomach churn. Patients groaned from their beds, their bodies wracked with fever and tremors.
She reached the bed of Patient Zero in Kolkata, a 28-year-old marketing executive who had returned from a business trip to Mumbai. His condition had deteriorated overnight. His lips were cracked and bloody, his eyes sunken. He gripped her wrist with a strength that surprised her.
“Please,” he gasped. “Help me.”
She couldn’t.
With every breath, CRV-24 spread further. The nation teetered on the brink of collapse. Scientists raced against time. Leaders struggled to maintain control. The people of India waited, watching the world they knew unravel before their eyes.
And the virus continued its relentless march.
The battle had only just begun, and the virus was winning
SURBHI SINHA