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The AUV spotted the debris of the plane during its trial in the Bay of Bengal

A ROUTINE testing of a recently-acquired automatic underwater vehicle (AUV) by the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology stumbled upon a large debris that eventually solved the seven-year-old mystery of a missing transport plane of the Indian Air Force.

The AN-32 transport plane, with 29 people on board, was flying from Chennai to Port Blair on July 22, 2016 when it had gone missing.

COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 has spread to 15 states and Union territories with a total of 923 cases of the infection reported so far, according to the INSACOG. Data compiled by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) showed Karnataka has reported the highest number of cases at 214, followed by Maharashtra (170), Kerala (154), Andhra Pradesh (105), Gujarat (76) and Goa (66).

Telangana and Rajasthan have recorded 32 JN.1 cases each, Chhattisgarh has recorded 25, Tamil Nadu 22, Delhi 16, Haryana five, Odisha three, West Bengal two and Uttarakhand one.

Several parts of northwest and north India have been experiencing cold wave conditions over the past few days. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dense to very dense fog is likely to continue in the morning hours in isolated pockets of northwest India during the next five days.

"Dense to very dense fog conditions very likely to prevail for a few hours in the morning in some parts of Punjab and in isolated pockets over Haryana, Chandigarh during 11th-15th January," the IMD stated.

in a significant step that can reduce the incidence of cervical cancer — the second most common cancer in women in India — the government is set to roll out a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for girls in the 9-14 years age group.

The immunisation drive, planned in three phases over three years, is likely to start from the second quarter of this year, The Indian Express has learnt. According to sources, the campaign will begin once the government has a stock of 6.5-7 crore doses of the vaccine needed for the first phase.

Amid criticism from the BJP for declining the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony invitation, the Congress on Thursday launched a counter attack and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi what is the hurry to inaugurate the temple while it is still under construction.

Citing the reported refusal of the four Shankaracharyas to attend the consecration ceremony, Congress leader Alka Lamba said that the BJP is inaugurating the under-construction temple and politicising the event because elections are nearing.