New Delhi: India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 1,11,73,761 with 16,838 fresh cases reported in a day, while the number of patients who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 1,08,39,894, the Union health ministry said on Friday.

The death toll due to the viral disease has gone up to 1,57,548 in the country with 113 more fatalities, the ministry's data updated at 8 am showed.

The number of active COVID-19 cases has increased to 1,76,319, accounting for 1.58 per cent of the total caseload, according to the data.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has gone up to 1,08,39,894, which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.01 per cent, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.41 per cent.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, the 30-lakh mark on August 23, the 40-lakh mark on September 5 and the 50-lakh mark on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and the one-crore mark on December 19.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 21,99,40,742 samples have so far been tested for the viral disease in the country, including 7,61,834 on Thursday.

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Shimla (PTI): A student allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan in his rented accommodation in Annadale area in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla after failing in his Class 12 exams, police said on Tuesday.

The police said they received information regarding the incident on Monday after which a team reached the spot, recovered the body and sent it to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla for post-mortem.

The student's father told police that his son was under mental stress since the declaration of his Class 12 examination on Monday as he failed the exam.

He committed suicide after locking himself in the room. His body was spotted by one of his friends who immediately alerted the police.

Confirming the report, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shimla, Gaurav Singh said that a case has been registered and further investigation is underway.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)