The rate of increase in coronavirus cases in Maharashtra between February 14 to March 23 was three times that recorded in the previous four months, data shows.
After a steady decline since October, the new cases surged noticeably since February 14.
On March 20, Maharashtra reported over 30,000 new cases, the highest since the pandemic began.
Between February 14 and March 23, in the span of 37 days, 4,68,748 cases were added in the state, taking the caseload to 25,33,026.
On average, 12,668 cases were added daily.
In preceding months, it had taken 119 days for the addition of over 4.68 lakh cases.
Between October 18, 2020 and February 13, as many as 4,68,897 new cases were reported, at average daily rate of 3,940.
Maharashtra had gram panchayat elections in some 12,000 villages in January, followed by big political gatherings.
Some health experts blamed the later surge in cases on these events.
"People continued flouting safety norms and during the same period the virus started mutating and became more infectious," a senior health official said.
"The new strain is more infectious. We have to find out more about the strain and how it responds to the ongoing vaccination drive," he added.
The average daily fatality count, however, is lower since February 14 compared to the earlier period.
The COVID-19 death toll increased by 9,414 between October 18 to February 13, at daily average of 79.
It went up by 2,060 up to March 23, with daily average of 55, the data shows.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said on Wednesday the situation in Maharashtra and Punjab was of 'grave concern'.
'Top five districts' in Maharashtra where high number of cases are being reported are Pune, Nagpur, Mumbai, Thane and Nashik, he said.
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Maha reports 31,855 new COVID-19 cases, highest spike so far
Maharashtra reported as many as 31,855 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, its highest ever single-day spike since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, a health official said.
This took the state's overall caseload to 25,64,881.
Before this, the state's highest daily spike of 30,535 cases was recorded on March 21.
With 95 new deaths, the fatality count rose to 53,684, the official said.
As 15,098 patients were discharged during the day, the recovery count reached 22,62,593. The number of active COVID-19 cases now is 2,47,299, he said.
Mumbai city reported its highest single-day tally of 5,190 cases, which pushed its overall tally to 3,74,641.
As many as 11,610 people have died so far in the city. Mumbai's two neighbouring cities Navi Mumbai and Kalyan-Dombivli- reported 566 and 929 new cases respectively.
Pune city and its neighbouring industrial township of Pimpri Chinchwad reported 3,566 and 1,828 new cases respectively.
Aurangabad city reported 899 cases on Wednesday.
In Nagpur city of Vidarbha region 2,965 new cases were found.
In North Maharashtra region, Nashik city reported 859 cases, while Jalgaon district recorded 725 new cases.
With 1,40,844 tests conducted during the day, the state has so far carried out 1,87,25,307 tests.
Maharashtra's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases: 25,64,881, new cases: 31,855, death toll: 53,684, discharged: 22,62,593, active cases: 2,47,299, people tested so far: 1,87,25,307.
