India

New Delhi, Apr 23 (PTI) With a record single-day rise of 332,730 new coronavirus infections, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 16,263,695, while active cases crossed the 24-lakh (2.4 million) mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

The death toll increased to 186,920 with a record 2,263 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Virar (Maha), Apr 23 (PTI) Thirteen COVID-19 patients, including five women, died in a blaze at the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Palghar district of Maharashtra on Friday, police said.

There were 90 patients in the hospital, 18 of them in the ICU, when the fire broke out after a blast in the AC unit, an official said.

NEW DELHI (AP) — A fire killed 13 COVID-19 patients in a hospital in western India early Friday as an extreme surge in coronavirus infections leaves the nation short of medical care and oxygen.

India reported another global record in daily infections for a second straight day Friday, adding 332,730 new cases. The surge already has driven its fragile health systems to the breaking point with understaffed hospitals overflowing with patients and critically short of supplies.

Nagpur, Apr 21 (PTI) Police have registered a case against a doctor for allegedly molesting a nurse at an old age home in Maharashtra's Nagpur, an official said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, he said.

The accused, Dr Sanil Varghese (40), is a resident of Mangaldeep Nagar in the city.

"In her complaint, the 19-year-old victim told the police that she was appointed as a nurse by the accused at his healthcare centre-cum-old age home two days ago," the official said.

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 21 (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the Leftgovernment would provide the vaccine against COVID-19 free of cost for everyone in the State.

This statement comes on a day the Serum Institute of India announced a price of Rs 400 per dosefor its COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' for State governments and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals.

Allahabad, Apr 21 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has sought response from the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea seeking compensation for the victims of 1987 Meerut riots, also known as Maliana massacre case, in which members of a particular community were targeted.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Yadav and Justice Prakash Padia on Monday directed the state government to file counter-affidavit on the public interest litigation in which a plea is also made to reconstruct the court record of the case.

New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) The Yamuna Sports Complex started functioning as COVID centre on Wednesday amid spiralling coronavirus infections and huge shortage of beds in Delhi.

The centre has a total bed capacity of 880 beds, which includes 200 beds with oxygen supply. It will be monitored by Seemapuri Subdivisional Magistrate Shailendra Kumar Singh, according to a statement.

Mumbai, Apr 21 (PTI) The Maharashtra government on Wednesday imposed several new restrictions including a ban on inter-city and inter-district travel and curbs on office attendance in an attempt to bring the spiralling coronavirus infections under control.

Central, state and local governing body offices shall function with 15 per cent attendance. But emergency services dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic will be exempted from this rule.

Kanpur, Apr 21 (PTI) A case was registered against the administration, doctors and other staff members of a private medical college here on Wednesday for alleged negligence in dealing with a district judge who had tested positive for COVID-19, police said.

The case was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Kanpur Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Anil Mishra, who had accompanied the judge to the hospital, they said.

Prayagraj (UP), Apr 21 (PTI) Professor Rajeev Singh, the head of the electronics and communication department at the Allahabad University, has died of COVID-19, the university said on Wednesday.

Singh, who was also the director of the Administrative Computer Centre of the university, passed away on Tuesday night. He is survived by his wife and two sons.