COVID-19 third wave likely to hit India by August-end; 1 lakh cases daily, says top ICMR scientist ICMR head of the division of epidemiology and communicable diseases Professor Samiran Panda said that the situation is unlikely to get as severe as the second wave "Looking at the present situation, one can assume that there will be a third wave," He India Today TV BusinessToday.In Updated Jul 17, 2021, 9:05 AM IST India is likely to see a third COVID-19 wave and may report around 1 lakh cases daily by the end of August. The situation could get worse if the virus mutates further, ICMR head of the division of epidemiology and communicable diseases Professor Samiran Panda said.