COVID-19: India records 10,064 new cases
New Delhi: India reported the lowest number of daily coronavirus infections in over seven months with 10,064 new cases, which took the caseload to 1,05,81,837, while recoveries have surged to 1,02,28,753, according to Union health ministry data updated on Tuesday.
The country's death toll increased to 1,52,556 as 137 fatalities, the lowest in around eight months, were recorded in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,02,28,753, pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 96.66 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent.
The COVID-19 active caseload remained below three lakh. There are 2,00,528 active COVID-19 cases in the country which comprise 1.90 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.
India's COVID-19 tally had crossed 20 lakh on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 18,78,02,827 samples have been tested up to January 18 with 7,09,791 samples being tested on Monday.
The 137 new fatalities include 35 from Maharashtra, 17 from Kerala, 10 from West Bengal, nine from Karnataka, and eight each from Delhi and Tamil Nadu.
A total of 1,52,556 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 50,473 from Maharashtra followed by 12,272 from Tamil Nadu, 12,175 from Karnataka, 10,754 from Delhi, 10,063 from West Bengal, 8,580 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,141 from Andhra Pradesh and 5,509 from Punjab.
The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.
"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.
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Karnataka: Shop owner killed after dispute over payment for cigarette
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): A dispute allegedly triggered by alcohol consumption turned fatal following an argument over payment for a cigarette, claiming the life of a shop owner in the district, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night, when four intoxicated youth allegedly assaulted a shop owner after he demanded payment for a cigarette, leading to his death, they added.
The deceased has been identified as Yallappa Durgappa Naik (48), the owner of a provision store.
According to police, the accused—residents of Kadoli village—had attended a fair and were returning in an inebriated state when they stopped at Naik’s shop to purchase a cigarette.
An argument reportedly broke out when Naik insisted on payment, following which the youth allegedly assaulted him.
He sustained severe injuries and succumbed while being shifted to a hospital, a senior police officer said.
Acting swiftly, Kakati police arrested all four accused within half an hour of the incident, the officer added.
The accused have been identified as Prajjwal Patil, Nikhil Chougale, Vivek Chougale and Shridhar Patil.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway, police said.
