Water woes hit wildlife in Coimbatore Forest Division as ponds, streams dry up
Coimbatore, Madukkarai and Periyanaickenpalayam are the worst affected forest ranges, and animals are fully dependent on water troughs maintained by the Forest Department
BAI to take up two projects in Coimbatore
Student found dead in private college hostel near Coimbatore
Coimbatore Corporation installs water tanks at 100 places in the city
Protect Girl Child: IMA Chief Advocates for Early Sex Detection and Intervention
Protect Girl Child: IMA Chief Advocates for Early Sex Detection and Intervention A ban on sex determination tests through a law may stop female foeticide but female infanticide will happen, Indian Medical Association chief Dr R V Asokan has said, arguing that a social evil cannot have a medical solution. In an interaction with PTI editors, Asokan said IMA is working on a document to revamp the existing Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, which prohibits pre-natal diagnostic techniques for determination of the sex of the foetus and holds doctors accountable. And one suggestion would be why not detect the sex of the foetus and then protect the girl child,'' he said. ''For a social evil you cannot have a medical solution. Is it workable or practical? Let us discuss that. What will happen is that if you don't correct the social evil, female foeticide will disappear, female infanticide will happen,'' he explained. In Asokans view, the PC-PNDT Act is completely warped, short sighted and NGO driven. ''We have a stake in preventing female foeticide but we dont agree with the methodology PC-PNDT Act has taken. The methodology has caused so much difficulty for doctors,'' Asokan, who is IMAs national president, said. ''If there is one law we want to be taken out of the statute that is PC-PNDT. It doesn't deserve its place,'' he said. The doctors body has been demanding re-envisioning of the PC-PNDT Act for quite some time. According to Asokan, there are no differences of opinion about saving the girl child. ''The common objective is one... presuming all the doctors to be culpable and anti-life is very wrong,'' he stressed. The IMA, Asokan added, is aggrieved over certain rules in the act and with doctors being pulled up for technical lapses and incorrect filling of forms. The regulations that have come up on the matter are very unfair, he said. For instance, the regulation states that machines cannot even be moved from one room to another room. Moreover, not filling up Form F is considered to be equal to female foeticide, he elaborated. Form F under the PC-PNDT Act records the medical history of a pregnant woman and why the ultrasound is being done. Under the present law, doctors not filling up Form F properly are given the same punishment as someone who does a sex determination test. ''An institution like the Honourable Supreme Court has said if you do not fill up Form F you are committing female foeticide. How is this acceptable?'' he asked. The IMA chief cited an instance from Coimbatore 15 days ago when a gynaecologist was convicted and sentenced for three years for not filling up Form F properly. ''The law is NGO driven, initiated by the Supreme Court of India. There is a layman perspective in the law... ''So we have been having brainstorming sessions and thinking why not detect the sex, detect the female child and then protect that child. It is possible... tag that child, see what happens to her, follow the mother and see that the girl child is delivered normally. Asokan lamented the fact that the entire medical profession is in the dock because of a few black sheep. ''Now I want the profession to be out of it. We are not saying that it (sex determination) should be allowed. If this is acceptable you accept it. Otherwise remove those harassment points. Asokan said the document they are working on will come up in the central working committee of the IMA and the idea is to provoke a discussion even in the Supreme Court'' if necessary.
The Election Commission of Indias standing counsel Niranjan Rajagopalan told the court that the electoral list had been released in January, but the petitioner had not raised any objection with respect to his name being missing
Tamil Nadu: 48 huts of SCs gutted in fire in Karamadai, no casualty
COIMBATORE: As many as 48 huts belonging to SC community people were destroyed in a fire at Thiruma Nagar at Senniveeranpalayam in Chikkarampalayam in Karamadai on Monday. No casualties or injuries were reported, though property worth lakhs of rupees were lost. Karamadai police and fire safety personnel from Mettupalayam doused the blaze in a two-hour long operation. Six fire tenders from Mettupalayam, Annur and Periyanaickenpalayam were pressed into service. The cause of the fire is being investigated. Police suspect that the fire started from a nearby forest area. No one was injured in the fire as most of the people had gone for work, which was also the reason why nobody noticed it. By the time people realised it, the fire destroyed around 30 houses. The locals, mostly women tried to douse the fire and prevent it from spreading further. According to sources, people belonging to the SC community from various villages in Mettupalayam and Karamadai moved to the vacant Panchami land spread around three acres a year ago. However, some non-Dalit people claimed ownership. A case regarding this is pending before the Madras High Court. Around 130 families in 125 houses are residing in the area. They did not build any permanent structures and lived in thatched huts covered with asbestos sheets, said revenue department sources. As many as 48 out of 125 huts were destroyed in the fire. Revenue officials inspected the area and shifted affected people to a government school temporarily. The officials also assured them to arrange for basic structure for their living. Home to 130 families Around 130 families are residing in the area in 125 houses. Since relocation, they have been living in thatched huts covered with asbestos sheets, said revenue department sources
Tamil Nadu: SIT summons four witnesses in Kodanad murder-cum-heist case
COIMBATORE: The special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CB-CID probing the Kodanad murder-cum-heist case has summoned four more witnesses to appear for inquiry on Tuesday. According to sources, Ramesh Babu and Devan worked in the Kodanad estate. The third witness, Abdul Kadhar, runs a car accessories shop in Coimbatore from where the suspects had purchased fake number plates for two cars. The fourth witness Joseph worked as a money exchange agent during demonetisation and he was contacted by the gang before the heist. Meanwhile, the hearing on the case was held at the Nilgiris District Session Court on Monday. Counsel for suspect Jithin Joy demanded a copy of the report submitted by the SIT after an inspection of the Kodanad premises held on March 7. In reply, counsel for CB-CID SIT said there was no tampering and disturbances found at the scene of the crime. The copy of the report is expected to be given to the suspect in the next hearing, sources said.
300 families evacuated after ammonia gas leak in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: Around 300 families were evacuated from Chenniveerampalayam village near Karamadai in Coimbatore district on Monday night after an ammonia gas leak was reported from a defunct chips manufacturing unit in the village. The place is situated two kilometres from where a huge fire destroyed 45 huts of SC families earlier day. The people were asked to stay at least 200 metres away from the village for safety. The safety staff of the private company were trying to fix the gas leakage at 12 am. Meanwhile, Coimbatore rural police deployed 30 personnel at the village. Some of the villagers complained of eye irritation and breathing problems, sources said. A chips manufacturing unit was functioning on Karamadai -Annur road at Chenniveerampalayam village around eight years ago. Chips and french fries were prepared at the unit, and they were exported to other countries. The company was closed four years ago and the unit was sold to Ashik Mohammed of Avinashi who had started the renovation work. There was a cold storage inside the unit for potatoes. Ammonia gas leaked from the cold storage tank, and it spread for around 800 metres radius from the company in the air. Rescue personnel rushed to the spot and shut the valve of the tank. By the time, ammonia dissipated in the air and the spread reduced to 100 metres radius around 11 pm on Monday. The people of the village were evacuated from the village and made to stay in a marriage hall as a precautionary measure. Vehicles were diverted to another route.
Kashi: A Date With The Present
First of a four-part series VARANASI: In the mind of India, Varanasi or Kashi is an ancient space suspended in an unbroken continuum, not a project under construction. Its life is in the cultural imagination, entwined with centuries-old personal socio-religious historiescycles of birth and deathembedded far more deep than Ayodhya. The locals breathe this air too. Real antiquity is a historical detour when you keep encountering the refrain: Paanch hazaar saal purana sheher. Navigating between those five thousand years and the five-year cycles of modern democracy is, then, the peculiar fortune of Kashi. Its 2024, and elections to the 18th Lok Sabha are approaching. A different kind of continuity unfolds here too, of coursea prime minister is going for his third win. A sense of assuredness spreads up from the ghats, as it were, which stand like watchful sentinels of a lived experience. Lifted up into the city proper, you are thrown headlong into a bustling desi lifescape in all its contemporary variety. Here, what you find is continuity in conversation with change at many talkative streetcorners. Antiquity aside, various modern ages seem to coexist here. Baba Vishwanaths temple has an expansive, spanking new, 21st century corridor. Its high walls, with stone cut in rectangular patterns, also strangely remind you of Soviet architecture. The Banaras Hindu University exudes a century old Indo-Gothic charm. The Gyanvapi mosques 17th century architecture, of course, is often the subject of front-page headlines. Negotiating its place under the scorching sun, caught between Hindutva and high-rises, Varanasi balances itself between an old-world raison dtre and a newfound VIP-ism, like a trapeze artist. Its an uneasy cohabitation. The new tourism boom has steadily encroached upon the old spiritual ambience, which is slowly fading away. Just like a lot of old India. In a 15-minute walk up from Dashaswamedh ghat alone, about 300 new guesthouses have come up to cater to the new rush of religious touristsa good number of young among themfrom Pune, Rajkot, Meerut, Coimbatore, even Seoul. Evening time, they settle on plastic chairs to witness a Ganga aarti through bulb-lit bamboo arches. This new spirituality is not quiet: mantras, bhajans and then the Maha Tandav Aarti ring out from modern music systems. Kashis bargain between the ancient and the modern Even the cool wind from the river seems to hold its breath till its over. At the Pappu ki Adi tea stall, where even PM Modi once stopped by for a sip of its famous lemon tea, the hoi polloi brushes shoulders with professors from BHU, the odd poet, or locally hand-crafted intellectuals. The politics of the day is inescapable, though the city seems slightly disengaged from all the hullah on TV channels. Things are strangely cool. Perhaps we catch the fever at its onsetVaranasi votes only on June 1, in the seventh phase. But theres no sign of a wave or a narrative to get that lemon tea boiling over. Politics seems cast in a repeating pattern of high rectangular stone: Aayega toh Modi hi. Nothing much is left to conjecturethe question, if any, is only about margins of victory. How many vote will Modi pull in. Will it be 10 lakh this time? Turnouts in the west of the state have been tepid. For the party, Varanasi must stand out. Amit Shah, on a recent stopover, did only worker connectin other words, orange alert. Nonetheless, the constituents do speculate about the margin. Will Ajai Raistate Congress chief, local toughie and veteran of many a Lok Sabha joustlose his deposit or put up a real challenge? Very few believe there could be a downward trend for Modi. Broad-spectrum development has been, and is being, delivered as never beforeroads, bridges, bypasses and yes, the imposing temple corridor (better caught with evening lighting). Only an odd voice, a young IT professional at that, laments: Yes, but at what cost? They say you can reach the airport in 20 minutes now. Whats the need to reach so fast? That speed has come at the cost of 3,000 trees. That denudation means a population breathing toxic air. Wont that ultimately prove costlier? Theres no serious Opposition to raise these vital questions. Most of Varanasi is thrilled with the boom, though. Says Samir Mathur, whose tourist bureau takes in both local and international traffic: The visa regime is still quite restrictive, so my foreign business is still down, not recovered from Covid. But look at the domestic flow! Modiji was right, apne desh ke taraf dekho (think local). The economy here is booming. He has little patience for other topics in circulation, like any rumoured revamp of the Constitution. Wasnt the first amendment done by Nehru? he counters. Retired bank officer R N Singh nods in agreement: Modi has done real development here. Better infrastructure is still coming up. Says one-time industrialist and culture aficionado Ashok Kapoor: Its the unofficial spiritual capital of India. Here faith has been successfully channelised to fuel a hospitality boom. At the popular Pahalwan lassi shop, a glorified kiosk really, not much has changed. The lassi and the rabri in earthen kulhars can be better enjoyed if you dont look downwards at the wet squalor. Business is brisk at this row of small eateries, even if traffic screeches past and autos and rickshaws threaten to run you down. This is no Singapore-style Little India or Kampong Glam, where the Oriental is preserved in full glory amidst workable modern aesthetics. At least not yet. Varanasi is still as screamingly chaoticcrying for civic attentionas the rest of desi India. Only, traditional Kashi has been replaced by a breathless bustle, from the ghats to the city. The drive to the calm of the cantonment, where everything from the roads to the trees are maintained as they should be, makes the contrast starker. A few complaints float gingerly in the air, like uncertain whispers. Too many tourists. Things becoming too expensive. The compensation for those relocated to make way for the corridor still not evenly distributed. But theres no challenge to Modi. The demographics makes Varanasi a safe seat for the BJP: 6.5 lakh savarna, 6 lakh OBC, 1 lakh Dalit. The latter two, not immune to the charms of Hindutva. Even if Rai corners the 3 lakh Muslim votes in entirety and a sprinkling of his own Bhumihar Brahmins, and despite talk of core vote subsidence, the odds are too long. No wonder Priyanka Gandhi never bothered to respond to Mamata Banerjees suggestion to contest from here. In fact, Rai himself was rumoured to be trying to switch camp to BJP, till the evening before his name was announced, making it all the more tricky for him. Even a former NSUI voice like Ratnakar Tripathi is modest in ambition: Modi will win, but 400 paar is a distant dream. Unemployment, price rise, Agniveer, electoral bonds and a non-consultative way of functioningthese are being talked about. Thoda mohbhang hua hai (theres a touch of disenchantment. Whether in praise or critique, no one talks about the BJP or CM Yogi Adityanath here. Its only Modi. Even though Yogi apparently monitors Varanasi through weekly visits. Amidst the boom, a silent sadness hovers around the dying art of the Banarasi saree. Powerlooms have come up and theres little support for our traditional weavers. As a country we care little for our heritageonly a few still have the skill to weave that legendary saree, says Abhishek Sharma, a policeman whose duty includes taking VIPs tourists around the temple. He can reel out everything about Varanasi, right up to the nuances of Aurangzebs deeds, as he manoeuvres through the quagmire of bylanes. Unsaid words also flow quietly past you in a city thats like a stream of consciousnessa city defined by a river like none else. A city where Bismillah Khans shehnai will never be heard in the fresh morning air again, but where Liaquat Ali still sells flowers that can be offered to Baba Vishwanath for his blessings.
Bharathiar varsity cuts two Tamil classes for Naan Mudhalvan course
COIMBATORE: Assistant professors have allegedly charged that Bharathiar University has reduced Tamil classes for second-year UG students from six to four hours a week to accommodate Naan Mudhalvan (skill training) classes. Further, they said despite appealing not to reduce the hours, officials have remained silent so far. G Boopal (name changed), an assistant professor who handles Tamil in a private arts and science college in the city told TNIE , As per higher education department direction, state-run universities introduced Tamil classes for second-year students this academic year. Bharathiar University has introduced Tamil for Computer Science B.Com students in the second year in its affiliated colleges. The higher education department had directed that the university should allocate six hours in a week for Tamil. But the university allocated only four hours with the approval of the Board of Studies. When we asked about it, the head of the Board of Studies for Tamil said the university has reduced two hours as colleges have to conduct classes of Naan Mudhalvan courses in the remaining two hours. The head of the Board of Studies said Bharathiar University would give two hours for Tamil in the next academic year. But we heard that only four hours would be given next year too, he said. Another faculty at a government college in Coimbatore told TNIE , Board of Studies meeting was held at university on April 2 and the members of the Board of Studies for Tamil subject said six hours should be ensured for Tamil classes. Officers of the Bharathiar University ignored it. He said that the joint action committee for Tamil professors has planned to protest in front of the University, seeking to allocate two more hours. Already, teaching faculties from other departments in private colleges are conducting their subjects using the Tamil period. If the situation continues, private colleges will not give importance to the Tamil department and there is a chance to wind up the department at college, she expressed concern. Bharathiar University Registrar (in-charge) Rupa Gunaseelan told TNIE that she would take steps to ensure the six hours for the Tamil subject in the second year. She said that she would send a circular to the colleges soon.
Around 40 houses, shacks damaged in fire near Karamadai in Coimbatore district
Coimbatore Corporation to launch Food Street near VOC Park by June
The construction includes platforms for vendors to operate their businesses, light fixtures, movable seating arrangements for visitors and a common handwash area
NGT takes suo motu cognisance of fire outbreak at Vellalore dumpyard in Coimbatore
Coimbatore's latest restobar, Mufasa, has live music, rooftop dining, and a relaxed vibe - The Hindu
Coimbatore's latest restobar, Mufasa, has live music, rooftop dining, and a relaxed vibe The Hindu
CHENNAI: Walking into the midst of artistes and photography enthusiasts, one gets the sense of a deeply passionate community, connected by the mutual love for capturing memories. This was the atmosphere created at the Chennai Photo Biennale Lighthouse on Saturday at the talk with Kirthana Devdas, a Chennai-based wedding and artistic photographer from Coimbatore. She received the Sahapedia grant in 2018 for her documentation of Thira, featuring a ritual dance tradition from the Malabar region of south India. Subsequently, she took up an artiste residency in the far flung, frigid location of Husavik in Northern Iceland, and has also had her work displayed at the Angkor Photo Festival in Cambodia. With such coveted experiences under her belt, it would be safe to assume Kirthana has found her ground in photography, and has established a distinct style to her work. However, she quickly dismissed this notion and said, I was in my twenties and everything I did back then felt like being done on a whim. I dont think I have a particular style of photography, that is something the viewer would probably have to identify. The conversation drifted to Kirthanas projects, beginning with her documentation of the thira ritual. Reflecting on her work, she shared, I started out with a documentary-style approach, and shifted to capture the energy of the place. I wanted to click what happened before and after the event as well, not just during the performance. The audience mused upon how the dark background of the images, thira being a nighttime performance, helped the streaks of light leaks standout in the artistes images, enhancing the mood of her art. Photos: Kirthana Devdas The talk then pivoted to a discussion of Kirthanas residency in Husavik, as she displayed snapshots from a project titled The Lost Glove is Happy. This title was inspired by the encounter of three gloves on a table. At that point when I saw those gloves, I kept wondering where the fourth glove was. And thats where the title came from. Believing that the fourth glove was lost, yet happy in the world. The audience was encouraged to share their thoughts on the pictures that depicted bleak white stretches expanding into the horizon, to which it was remarked that the photographs elicited an unsettling sense of nothingness. Considering the desolation of Husavik, Kirthana was asked how she managed to remain creatively active in a place that was almost devoid of life. She shared, The emptiness definitely felt unnerving and took some time getting used to, as it was foreign from anything I had experienced before. We were locked in due to a snowstorm for days so when I could finally go out, I went and got these shots alone at 1.00 am, which definitely felt freeing. Going out at that hour alone in India would be unthinkable for me but it didnt feel like that there. The discussion then shifted to her work in Cambodia, and later, the effect of the pandemic upon her art. The two experiences immensely contrast each other, as one is marked by the frenzied energy of living in a foreign place, and the other is shadowed by a secluded existence under lockdown. Yet in both situations, she kept herself afloat by clutching to her camera; snapping away in the animated beauty salons of Sok San Road in 2018, then capturing moments of stillness at home in 2022. As dusk fell, the talk meandered its way to an end, with Kirthana reviewing her journey thus far. She went back to her work on Thira and confessed, I dont think Ive closed the door on this project yet, its still at a nascent stage. Im still in the thick of it, its definitely not culminated. I think its a chapter of something much larger. Follow @chennaiphotobiennale on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on upcoming events.
People can suggest ways to protect elephant corridors in Tamil Nadu till May 7
COIMBATORE: The Tamil Nadu forest department has extended the deadline till the end of May first week for people to give suggestions on securing and better protecting the 42 elephant corridors that have been identified in the state in the last two years. Tamil Nadu constituted an Elephant Corridor Committee composed of officers of the forest department, experts, and conservation organisations. The committee is headed by Dr V Naganathan, additional principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife). Based on consultations and field investigation, the committee has identified 42 elephant corridors. The division-wise reports of the corridors are available at www.forests.tn.gov.in Forest department sources said the objective of the study was to document habitats, identify critical corridors and movement trails and highlight management needs of the elephant corridors.We received good response about the report in the last one month. We will wait for one more week, verify the genuineness of the suggestions and take decisions, a senior official said. As for Coimbatore forest division, the report suggested that mining should not be carried out within 1.5 km of the reserve forest and all brick kilns in Thadagam Valley should be closed. The report mentioned only Thadagam Valley, and similar restrictions will be imposed across the district. This report should be implemented without giving a chance for brick kiln owners to air their views. Mining should be stopped near water bodies and the state government should concentrate more on environment related issues. The forest department should follow the guidelines in this regard issued by National Green Tribunal, High Court, Supreme Court, S Ganesh Thadagam Valley Protection Committee. Tamil Nadu is rich in biodiversity, with over 20% of the state area (26,364 km2) covered with forests in 9 forest type groups, from tropical dry thorn forests to deciduous, semi- evergreen, wet evergreen, and montane shola forests and grasslands. Human-elephant conflict has been widespread across 20 forest divisions with varying degrees of intensity. Coimbatore, Gudalur, Sathyamangalam TR, and Hosur FD experienced intense human-elephant conflict among the total forest divisions, the report said. Elephants are distributed across 20 of the 26 forest divisions, covering 9217.13 sq. km in Tamil Nadu. The state has reported a healthy population of wild elephants with a male-to-female ratio of 1:2.17 in south India. The stable elephant population is mainly due to the state government's continuous conservation efforts and law enforcement during the past two decades. As per the synchronised census held in 2023, the total number of elephants is estimated to be 2,961 with a density of 0.34 individuals/ sq.km .
Dog days in interiors of north TN districts till May 1
CHENNAI: Heat wave-like conditions are likely to prevail in interior parts of northern Tamil Nadu till May 1, said the regional meteorological centre (RMC) in its forecast. The districts include Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Dharmapuri, Salem, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Tiruchy, Erode, and Namakkal. The RMC also said that light rain is expected in Kanniyakumari district till May 1. The rest of the state, Puducherry and Karaikal will experience dry weather. The maximum temperature would be 3-5C above normal in a few pockets in north interior parts and 2-3C above normal in a few pockets in the rest of the state during the next four days. The temperature is likely to be 39-43C in a few pockets over the plains in north interior districts, and 35-39C in a few pockets over the rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal till May 1. As far as Chennai is concerned, the maximum temperature likely to be 36-37C and minimum around 27-28C. On Sunday, Erode registered the highest temperature of 42C while Kodaikanal registered 22.1C. Ooty registered 29C with a temperature deviation of 5.4C. Seven districts in the state registered temperatures of more than 40C.
CCTV blackout caused by heat, not security breach: Nilgiris collector
COIMBATORE: A day after the CCTV cameras set up at a strong room for Nilgiris constituency in Government Polytechnic College in Ooty went blank for several minutes, district collector and returning officer M Aruna on Sunday clarified there was no security breach and that the CCTV cameras did not function due to technical glitch. Speaking to media, Aruna said a total of 173 CCTV cameras went off for 26 minutes due to short circuit (from 6.17 pm to 6.43 pm) following overheating and lack of ventilation in the strong room. The issues were addressed by the technical team, she added. We have set up air coolers and opened the place for ventilation. As per Election Commission of India norms, If candidates and party functionaries wanted to check the strong room, they would be taken inside in the presence of a returning officer, said Aruna. She also said that they have taken steps to prevent such incidents in future. Murugan demands safety Meanwhile, Union Minister and BJP candidate in Nilgiris constituency L Murugan on Sunday said the Election Commission should ensure the safety of strong room in his constituency with the support of latest technologies. Instead of making excuses, the Election Commission should ensure the monitoring of the strong rooms round the clock with the support of technologies. They should work without giving space for any doubts about their work, Murugan told reporters in Coimbatore on Sunday.
Woman alleges locals harassed her for feeding street dogs in Kovai
COIMBATORE: A 41-year-old woman who works as housemaid in Saravanampatti has complained to police that some residents had verbally abused and threatened her for feeding street dogs. Police conducted an inquiry with the woman, who was supported by an animal activist, and residents on Saturday night, but it ended without any decisions being taken on the issue. The incident happened in March, but police postponed the inquiry citing elections. According to R Celina, the founder-trustee of Helping Hands Animal Rights and Protection (HARP), S Jennifer of Periyar Nagar in Saravanampatti resides with her husband and a daughter. Her husband is a construction worker and her daughter is an undergraduate student. Jennifer works as housemaid for five families. She has been feeding around 25 dogs for the last four years in Alagu Nagar and Lakshmi Nagar in Saravanampatti. Every day after completing work, she used to collect chicken waste from meat shops and cooks it with rice, takes it on a bicycle to five streets in the locality and feeds dogs. Since November locals have been opposing her and a few male residents allegedly warned her not to feed the dogs saying they posed a threat. Jennifer said she then fed 19 street dogs in a place instead of visiting each street. On March 24, some residents allegedly pulled her down from the cycle when she had gone to feed dogs, around 10.30 pm, and verbally abused her. Jennifer and the residents approached Saravanampatti police . While she sought protection, the residents alleged that she encouraged the dogs to chase them. Police allegedly told her not to feed the dogs and asked both parties to come after the election. HARP came to know of the incident and extended support to Jennifer. On Saturday night, Saravanampatti Inspector Selvi held an inquiry with Jeniffer and some residents around 10.30 pm. The residents claimed they were chased by the dogs and two of them suffered dog bites. They said feeding was the reason for the incidents. We do not have rights to tell the woman not to feed dogs. I have asked them to wait until field inspection is done to observe what kind of food she is feeding to the dogs, she told I have been feeding stray dogs for over 15 years, for which I spend `5,000 a month. Four years ago, I moved to the place. Many times, male residents verbally abused me, threatening that I should not provide food. Following that I changed my time from midnight to 10 pm, Jennifer told TNIE. Celina said her foundation would treat the dogs if they showed abnormal behaviour.
Devotee dies on Velliangiri hills in Tamil Nadu
COIMBATORE: A 46-year-old devotee from the Thiruvallur district died after falling ill on the Velliangiri Hills while trekking the arduous path with his friends on Sunday. The deceased was identified as G Punniyakodi from Minjur in Thiruvallur. He developed breathlessness on the fourth hill. Punniyakodi and his nine friends started to climb the hills after praying at the Poondi temple in the foothills of Velliangiri Hills around 12 pm on Sunday. He felt uneasy and went to answer natures call while climbing the first hill. He then vomited and soon felt severe stomach pain. He was brought back to the foothills from. Though he was rushed to the Pooluvapatti government hospital, he was declared brought dead. Punniyakodis health reportedly worsened after he climbed a flight of 200 steps without a break on the first of the seven hills. His body was sent to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for postmortem. A probe is on. With Punniyakodis death, the total number of pilgrims who have died while trekking these hills during the ongoing pilgrimage season has risen to nine.
Will June 4 let a political phoenix rise from ashes in Tamil Nadu?
Tamil Nadu is a land of political phoenixes. History tells you that every election unfailingly punishes a party, leaving the leader in the dumps, but five years later, it breathes life into it with vengeance. The vanquished turns conqueror, and vice versa. With the Annamalai-led brigade hoping to dismantle the long-standing political duopoly and getting well entrenched for a long haul, the Lok Sabha elections have turned unpredictable yet exciting. A generous dash of rallies and roadshows has failed to stir up voter enthusiasm and turnout. Even the Coimbatore constituency, where tonnes of flowers showered on star campaigners, refused to be an aberration. Blame it on the ominous heat wave. Issues like the ceding of Katchatheevu and the installation of Sengol died an untimely death. EVMs got a final stamp of approval from the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, daydreams of gobar gas-powered aeroplanes crash-landed in the half-baked apologies submitted in the apex court. The Char-Sau-Paar campaign, parodied as choco-bar in Chennai, missed the bulls eye at least in southern states and raised concerns over the potential tampering of the constitution. Busy WhatsApp rumour mills successfully concocted panic that 2024 may be the last election before India slips into autocracy. Past assertions by some that India should shed its secular credentials and embrace Hindutva may have added fuel to the social media fire. Modi has hit back saying if anyone is trying to change the constitution, it is the INDIA bloc, his words drowning in the din. His promise to defend mangalsutra of every woman in India till his death has been a crude reminder of their most precious jewellery that is probably lying in mortgage at a local usurper or pawn shop, if not sold for daily ration. It has a direct connection with ones financial wellbeing in times of unemployment and inflation post-pandemic. Critics were quick to react: Whats the worth of a promise if you couldnt keep it while in power for 10 years? Will INDIA bloc snatch away reservations given to SC/ST to hand them over to the illegal migrants and infiltrators? Yes, says a confident Modi, consciously evading any reference to the minority community in the wake of the ECIs delayed questioning. There are takers for such unfounded fear mongering. For every phoenix, there is a wounded past. To rise like a phoenix one day, you should be ash first. The majestic ash-loving bird has the face of all the familiar politicians around us. So, whose turn is it to bite the dust this season so as to resurrect in the next? Wherever the polls have ended, political parties are back in their war rooms, now silently counting the votes polled in their favour and against. Most of them know the outcome by now but will continue to grin till the judgement day, say our reporters. At TNIE, we had a fabulous election season. Our huge network of reporters across the state was on the ground, bringing to the reader every twist and turn, and the nuances of the democratic process. Stalin, EPS, and many others graced our pages with interviews. We ran constituency watches, community roundups, campaign trails, and analyses, among others, to keep our readers hooked on the feast of democracy. As the election juggernaut enters the third phase, a debate on the core issues of unemployment, inflation, and economic growth is conspicuously missing. And so is a wave that suggests a clean sweep. It is a long, agonising wait as the election process stretches for another five weeks. Will June 4 throw up a surprise and a new phoenix? Lets wait and see. Anto T Joseph Resident Editor, Tamil Nadu anto@newindianexpress.com @AntoJoseph
Travel tips: Should one visit South India in summer? Know about the places that make you feel cool
There is different weather in different places of India in summer. In some places the temperature is humid and in other places the temperature is low. In such a situation, if you are planning to visit in the summer season, then collect information about the temperature there in advance. Actually, during the summer season, people like to roam in the valleys of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in search of cool places. But can we visit South India instead of North India in the summer? Summer is a great time to visit South India. The weather in South India in May and June is usually very hot and dry, but many places also receive adequate rainfall and pleasant weather during this time. You can visit these places in South India during the summer season. Coonoor, Tamil Nadu One of the best places to visit in South India is Coonoor, situated amidst greenery in the Nilgiri mountains. Couples can go on a romantic trip to this heavenly place. In summer, the weather of Coonoor is pleasant, and a cool breeze is felt. Along with many tourist places, there is an opportunity to indulge in thrilling activities like trekking. Coimbatore Airport is close to Coonoor and the nearest railway station is Mettupalayam. Wayanad, Kerala You can visit Wayanad in Kerala during summer. This city is one of the best tourist places in South India. The lush green paradise of Wayanad is nestled in the Western Ghats and is known for its beautiful culture and heritage. Ooty, Tamil Nadu You can visit Ooty in Tamil Nadu in May or June. This is one of the best tourist destinations in summer. Nestled amidst the Nilgiris, Ooty has picturesque hilly trails, gardens, tea plantations, and lakes, making it one of the most beautiful places in South India that people from all over the world come to visit. The calm and pleasant weather of these places is best to visit with family, children or friends. Munnar, Kerala Munnar is a famous place among the top summer destinations in South India to visit in June. With deep valleys, picturesque hills, and beautiful tea gardens, Munnar is no less than a dreamland. Anamudi Peak, the highest peak of South India, is located in Munnar. Coorg, Karnataka One of the most attractive summer holiday destinations in South India in June, Coorg is a hilly delight in Karnataka. Coorg is a wonderful package of cloudy mountain peaks and enchanting waterfalls mixed with stunning views and fantastic weather. Also, a tranquil destination for newlyweds, Coorg is one of the most beautiful places in South India for a honeymoon. Your Coorg trip would be incomplete without seeing the extraordinary spice and coffee plantations there. Andaman and Nicobar Andaman and Nicobar Islands are among the most beautiful islands of India. This island of South India is one of the most beautiful places to visit in summer which will surprise you. With lush green swaying palm trees, azure waters, and shimmering white sand, this is the island you should spend your summer holidays on. (PC: iStock)
Burglars take away 41 sovereigns jewellery, cash from Coimbatore house
Burglars take away 41 sovereigns jewellery, cash from Coimbatore house - The Hindu
Burglars take away 41 sovereigns jewellery, cash from Coimbatore house The Hindu
VB to Coimbatore to depart 55 mins late
Tiruppur garment producers to collaborate with Coimbatore engineering industry for machinery spares
Import of spares for the machinery is not only expensive but also challenging because of the shipment time, import levies, restrictions, and servicing time, says Joint Secretary of TEA Kumar Duraisamy
Doctor in Australia who came to vote moves HC after finding name missing from electoral rolls
CHENNAI: Alleging that his name was removed from the electoral rolls of Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency, an Indian doctor, currently serving in Australia, has filed a petition in the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India to restore his voting right before the counting of votes takes place on June 4. The petition was filed by R Suthanthira Kannan of Nanjundapuram in Coimbatore. He said he came down to India on April 13 to cast his vote in order to fulfil his fundamental duty. However, he was shocked to find that his name and his wifes name were missing from the voters list, but the name of his daughter, who shares the same address, was present. He said he filed a complaint to the Election Commission of India through its online portal and it was duly acknowledged. A number of persons living in his vicinity, who were casting votes in previous elections, have found their names left out in the electoral rolls, he alleged. Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai claims 1L names deleted from voter's list in Coimbatore It is not due to their fault but due to the arbitrary and inefficient way the rolls were prepared by the authorities for the Lok Sabha polls, he said. The names of thousands of voters were not found on the rolls when they went to the polling booth on April 19 to cast their votes, he stated in the petition. Kannan further said that he and his wife had lost their fundamental right to vote and choose their representative since their names were deleted. The deprivation of the voting right during this election amounts to infringement of the fundamental right as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution. We have a positive role to play in electing the MP of our constituency for another five years, he said. He urged the court to direct the ECI to provide the voters, who were left out, an opportunity to cast their votes by including their names on the rolls. He also sought a direction to postpone the counting of votes until these voters are allowed to cast their franchise.
Doctor working in Australia moves HC after name deleted from electoral rolls in Coimbatore
CHENNAI: Alleging that his name was removed from the electoral rolls of Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency, an Indian doctor, currently serving in Australia, has filed a petition in the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India to restore his voting right before the counting of votes takes place on June 4. The petition was filed by R Suthanthira Kannan of Nanjundapuram in Coimbatore. He said he came down to India on April 13 to cast his vote in order to fulfil his fundamental duty. However, he was shocked to find that his name and his wifes name were missing from the voters list, but the name of his daughter, who shares the same address, was present. He said he filed a complaint to the Election Commission of India through its online portal and it was duly acknowledged. A number of persons living in his vicinity, who were casting votes in previous elections, have found their names left out in the electoral rolls, he alleged. Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai claims 1L names deleted from voter's list in Coimbatore It is not due to their fault but due to the arbitrary and inefficient way the rolls were prepared by the authorities for the Lok Sabha polls, he said. The names of thousands of voters were not found on the rolls when they went to the polling booth on April 19 to cast their votes, he stated in the petition. Kannan further said that he and his wife had lost their fundamental right to vote and choose their representative since their names were deleted. The deprivation of the voting right during this election amounts to infringement of the fundamental right as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution. We have a positive role to play in electing the MP of our constituency for another five years, he said. He urged the court to direct the ECI to provide the voters, who were left out, an opportunity to cast their votes by including their names on the rolls. He also sought a direction to postpone the counting of votes until these voters are allowed to cast their franchise.
Try a chilly cheese paniyaram in Coimbatore from The Paniyaram Company
Try a chilly cheese paniyaram in Coimbatore from The Paniyaram Company - The Hindu
Try a chilly cheese paniyaram in Coimbatore from The Paniyaram Company The Hindu
NGT takes suo motu cognizance of matter related to fire at dump yard in Coimbatore
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter relating to the eruption of a fire at the open dump yard, near the vermicompost centre, located within Vellalore landfill premises in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item appearing in the daily newspaper dated []
The litigant, a doctor employed in Australia, said he had come to Coimbatore specifically to vote but had found his name missing; he alleged that hundreds of other names were also missing; he also asked for the Coimbatore results to not be declared until the special polling was completed
Unveiling the Truth about Varicose Veins: Expert Insights from Sri Ramakrishna Hospital's Vascular Specialists Dispelling misconceptions surrounding varicose veins, experts at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital delve into the condition's nuances, offering insights into symptoms, symptom management, and prevention strategies. Varicose veins, predominantly affecting the lower limbs, stem from weakened or damaged veins, disrupting blood flow to the heart. Contrary to common belief, they extend beyond cosmetic concerns, potentially leading to discomfort and health complications. Identifying Symptoms: Visible, enlarged veins in the legs Leg throbbing or cramping Leg pain or achiness Sensation of leg heaviness Leg swelling Skin color changes around affected veins Effective Management Tips: Engage in regular circulation - promoting exercises like walking or swimming. Elevate legs above heart level during rest to alleviate swelling and enhance circulation. Utilize compression stockings to enhance blood flow and alleviate symptoms. Maintain a balanced, nutrient-rich diet to support vascular health. Avoid prolonged periods of sitting or standing to prevent blood pooling in the legs. Preventive Measures: Maintain a healthy weight to reduce pressure on veins. Avoid tight clothing that impedes blood flow, particularly around the waist and legs. Stay hydrated to support circulation and vein health. Quit smoking to mitigate vascular issues. Schedule regular checkups with vascular specialists for proactive monitoring and timely intervention. Dispelling Myths: 1. Myth: Varicose veins are untreatable. Fact: Medical advancements offer effective treatments, rendering this myth obsolete. 2. Myth: Varicose veins are solely cosmetic concerns. Fact: Beyond aesthetics, varicose veins can impact overall health, emphasizing the need for prompt treatment. 3. Myth: Varicose veins exclusively affect women. Fact: While common in women, men are also susceptible to varicose veins. 4. Myth: Varicose veins only afflict the elderly. Fact: Varicose veins can develop at any age due to various factors, not just aging. While often asymptomatic, varicose veins warrant attention and care. Sri Ramakrishna Hospital offers advanced, outpatient treatments, ensuring comfort and accessibility for individuals seeking relief from symptoms and complications associated with varicose veins. About Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore Sri Ramakrishna Hospital has attained an iconic reputation since its inception in 1975. Situated in the heart of Coimbatore city, this hospital has in many ways become a part of medical history. In fact, it has been an integral part of the healthcare revolution of modern India. Established and run by the SNR Sons Trust, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital treats several lakhs of patients each year. From providing the most advanced medical procedures to treatments for everyday ailments, they bring relief to patients from all walks of life using state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge surgical and medical techniques to deliver outstanding results.
Poochamarathur Resort To Parisal Savaari, Places You Must Visit In Coimbatore
The tourists here are permitted to stay in Poochamarathur Eco Tourism Resort on Saturday and Sunday only by the forest officials.
2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Unbiased Coverage from Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore - Outlook India
2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Unbiased Coverage from Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore Outlook India
Insurer in Coimbatore told to pay Rs 7L to widow of Covid-19 patient
COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has ordered an insurance company to settle Rs 5 lakh claim to a petitioner whose 38-year-old husband died during Covid-19 treatment in a private hospital in Coimbatore in 2021. The petition was against the rejection of a medical insurance policy by a private insurer. The petitioner R Sathiya Devi is a resident of Ganapathy in Coimbatore. Her husband T Karthik was admitted to a private hospital after he fell ill due to Covid-19 on May 24, 2021. Karthik, who was a businessman, had purchased Corona Kavach Policy from the Star Health Insurance by paying a premium of Rs 12,955. The policy had a claim value up to Rs 5 lakh from April 21, 2021 to April 22, 2022. He was treated in the private hospital till June 7, 2021 and shifted to another private hospital on the same date for Covid-19 treatment. However, he died without responding to the treatment on June 29. His family had spent Rs 18.55 lakh for his treatment. Despite his wife Sathiya Devi sending all details to the Star Health Insurance seeking claim, the insurance firm refused to settle the sum Rs 5 lakh claiming that the patient was not eligible to claim the sum as he was admitted in hospital within 30 days from the availing of the policy. Thereafter, the petitioner approached the consumer court in Coimbatore. The court found fault on the part of the insurance company and ordered to settle the policy sum Rs 5 lakh to the petitioner. Also, it directed to pay Rs 2 lakh for the petitioners mental agony. K Parameshwari, a counsel of the petitioner said, It was the second case, the court has ordered in favour of the petitioner. In the first case, the petitioner Senthikumar from Punjai Puliampatti was denied a Rs 2 lakh claim by the Star Health Insurance for his Covid 19 treatment. After the litigation, the insurance company was ordered to settle the policy claim. If any person who was denied policy claims for Covid treatment still they have time to file a case against the insurance company.
Can speakers orders be challenged, asks Madras HC
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday questioned a petitioner seeking to revive the alleged 2001 flyover scam case whether the decision of the assembly speaker to withdraw the sanction granted for prosecuting the current CM MK Stalin be challenged in the court, that too, after a delay of about 15-20 years. The first bench of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice J Sathya Narayana Prasad raised the query when the PIL plea filed by a Coimbatore-based activist, Manickam Athappa Goundar, challenging the withdrawal of sanction for prosecution against Stalin and his cabinet colleague K Ponmudy, came up for hearing. The petition was taken up after the petitioner deposited Rs 1 lakh in the account of the courts registry as directed by the bench to test the bonafide intention behind filing the petition. You have to convince us on two aspects. One is whether you can challenge the order of the speaker and the second the delay of 15-20 years to file the petition, the bench told senior counsel MR Venkatesh, who appeared for the petitioner. Further, the bench wanted him to do some research to find any court judgments wherein the orders of the assembly speaker had been challenged. It also stated the merits of the petition will be tested before going into it. The bench adjourned the matter to June 7 for hearing. The petitioner had challenged the 2006 decision of the assembly speaker to withdraw the sanction for prosecution granted in 2005 against Stalin, his father and late CM M Karunanidhi, Ponmudy and another late leader Ko Si Mani, who was a former minister, in the alleged flyover scam.
Daughter of TN beedi worker beats the odds to clear civil services exam
TENKASI: In an inspiring tale of perseverance and triumph over adversity, the daughter of a single mother, a beedi worker, has cleared the prestigious Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The success story of S Inba, who got 851st rank in the all-India exam considered to be the toughest, is also a stellar example of how meaningful government interventions at the grassroots levels can produce exceptional outcomes. The public library at Shengottai became Inbas second home for two years and the free books and internet available in the library helped her come up trumps. My mother S Stella is a beedi roller. She also strings flowers at a nearby shop for additional money to run the family. The motivation given by my mother and her confidence in me made me clear the exam though I failed to crack the preliminary examination twice, said the Naan Mudhalvan Scheme beneficiary. Inba studied in Nadar Community Higher Secondary School, Vasudevanallur, in English medium till SSLC and pursued her higher secondary in MKVK Matriculation School, Tenkasi. In 2020, she completed her engineering degree in Computer Science at Coimbatore Institute of Technology. After my graduation, I joined Shankar IAS academy in Chennai for civil services exam coaching. However, due to Covid-19 lockdown, I could not continue there and had to take online classes. Over the next two-and-a-half-years, I prepared for the exam entirely from the government public library in Shengottai where librarian K Ramasamy and other staff made all arrangements for students preparing for different competitive examinations. I would attend online classes from the library from 8am to 8pm by accessing the free WiFi connection. The staff also arranged different newspapers, journals, books and magazines for me, she said. Inba said she later joined the All India Civil Service Institute, a free government coaching institute in Chennai, by clearing an entrance examination in December 2022. I was offered free food and accommodation there. No fee was collected. I also received financial assistance of Rs.25,000 from the hands of Chief Minister M K Stalin under the Naan Mudhalvan Scheme. The money helped me to purchase study materials for the Main examination and take printouts and photocopies. I also cleared the state governments scholarship exam and received Rs 7,500 financial assistance per month offered for those preparing for competitive exams. After clearing the Main examination, I attended UPSC interview in February 2024. Meanwhile, I also cleared the Staff Selection Commission exam and joined as a staff member of the Employee Provident Fund Organisation in March this year. I will soon join a central service post that I will get through UPSCs service allocation, she said. District Collector A K Kamal Kishore and Kadayanallur MLA C Krishnamurali met Inba and congratulated her on the achievements.
Anti-terror agency chargesheets another accused in Coimbatore blast case
Antiterror agency chargesheets another accused in Coimbatore blast case
NIA chargesheets 14th man in Coimbatore bomb case
Naseer and his associates had conspired to wage war against the government of India and also to kill Indians in order to destabilise the country and create communal disharmony, it said.
NIA chargesheets 14th accused in Coimbatore car bomb blast case
NIA chargesheets another accused in 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore blast case
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday chargesheeted Thaha Naseer, another accused in the 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case, an official statement said. Naseer and his associates had conspired to wage war against the government of India and also to kill Indians in order to destabilise the country and create communal Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Anti Terror Agency Files Chargesheet Against 14th Accused In Coimbatore Blast Case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday chargesheeted Thaha Naseer, another accused in the 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case, an official statement said.
NIA files chargesheet against another accused in 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case
NIA files chargesheet against another accused in 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday chargesheeted Thaha Naseer, another accused in the 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case, an official statement said. Naseer and his associates had conspired to wage war against the government of India and also to kill Indians in order to destabilise the country and create communal disharmony, it said. Naseer is the 14th accused to be chargesheeted in the case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. ''NIA on Friday filed its third supplementary chargesheet in the case relating to an explosion in front of the heritage Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil Temple at Eswaran Kovil Street in Ukkadam, Coimbatore,'' said the statement issued by the probe agency. The blast was triggered on October 23, 2022 by a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), driven by accused Jamesha Mubeen, who was killed in the blast. The explosion was aimed at avenging the alleged incarceration of Mohammed Azaruddin in prison, the NIA said. Azaruddin was arrested in 2019 for propagating the ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) ideology and had abetted his associates and hatched the conspiracy to target Kafirs (non-believers of Islam) while inside the prison, it added. The NIA investigations have revealed that Naseer was a close associate of Jamesha Mubeen and Umar Faaruq, the Amir or leader of the terror attack. Umar Faaruq had recruited like-minded individuals, including the deceased accused Jamesha Mubeen, along with Mohammed Thoufeek and Naseer, the statement said. He had gathered the recruits in a secluded region, Jalakumadavu alias Jothimadavu, in the core forest zone of Sathyamangalam Reserve Forest, Erode district, and planted an ISIS flag in the region and declared it as their ilaka/province, it added. The recruits were provided jungle training by Umar, who had also assigned roles to the accused persons for carrying out the blast, the NIA said. As per the NIA investigations, Mohammed Thoufeek and Naseer had visited the house of Jamesha Mubeen a week before the blast and had planned to use the explosives to carry out a series of terror attacks. ''The larger aim of the conspiracy was to wage war against the government of India by targeting its various branches, i.e., general administration, police, judiciary, etc. and also to target and kill Indians in order to destabilise the country and create communal disharmony,'' it said.
300-ft-wide wall art unveiled in Coimbatore
Coimbatore District Returning Officer orders probe into deletion of voters names
Four temple priests arrested for swindling devotee offerings near Mettupalayam in Coimbatore
NEW YORK: An Indian-origin female student studying at the prestigious Princeton University is among two students who have been arrested and barred from the campus for staging pro-Palestine protests on the campus. Achinthya Sivalingan, born in Coimbatore and raised in Columbus, has been barred from the campus and faces disciplinary action, said a university spokesperson. Protesters set up tents for a student-led pro-Palestine encampment in McCosh Courtyard at about 7 a.m. Thursday. After warnings from University officials, two Princeton students were arrested, and the remaining protesters packed away their camping gear and continued the demonstration as a sit-in, the Princeton Alumni Weekly said in a report. US student protesters dig in as Israel-Hamas war grinds on About 100 undergraduate and graduate students began a sit-in on McCosh Courtyard early Thursday morning, joining a wave of pro-Palestinian sit-ins nationwide. The protesting students are demanding that colleges cut their financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the deadly Gaza conflict. Some Jewish students say the protests have now become antisemitism and they are afraid to enter the campus. After student organisers first began to erect tents, Princeton Public Safety (PSAFE) issued its first warning to protesters. At least two student arrests have been made. After the initial arrests, students folded them away, the Daily Princetonian reported. Israel's Netanyahu says Gaza protests on US campuses 'horrific' The two students, Achinthya Sivalingam GS and Hassan Sayed GS were arrested within six minutes of the first tents being set up. The two graduate students have been immediately barred from campus, pending a disciplinary process,University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote to the Prince. No force was used by Public Safety officers when conducting the arrests, which occurred without resistance, Morrill added. Students face arrest and being barred from campus if they refuse to stop after a warning, according to a campus-wide message from Vice President for Campus Life W. Rochelle Calhoun on Wednesday morning. Urvi, a first-year PhD student, called the arrest 'violent' and said zip ties were put around their wrists. They've been evicted from their houses and were given under five minutes to get their stuff, Urvi said. US colleges seek police action to 'crackdown' pro-Palestinian protests ahead of graduation ceremonies
The Hindu Education Plus Career Counselling fair in Coimbatore on April 28
Industry experts and academic professionals will be delivering insightful sessions on various subjects such as engineering, medicine, arts and science, and management studies at the one-day event
Revise rates of boat rides at Ukkadam Big Tank in Coimbatore
'Inspector Rishi' rooted in Tamil Nadu culture: Director J S Nandhini
'Inspector Rishi' rooted in Tamil Nadu culture: Director J S Nandhini Writer-filmmaker J S Nandhini, who has earned praise for her new series ''Inspector Rishi'', says the idea was to tell a supernatural horror thriller that is relatable to people and is rooted in the culture of the place it is set in. The 10-episode Prime Video series, starring Naveen Chandra, Sunainaa, Kanna Ravi and SriKrishna Dayal, revolves around inspector Rishi Nandhan (Chandra) who is investigating a series of bizarre murders taking place in a small mountain village near Coimbatore. ''When I started researching about who the spirit could be, I wanted the story to be rooted in our culture. I wanted it to be something that people from the villages and from our local towns are familiar with, to go into those deeper spiritual beliefs and those superstitions of the villages,'' Nandhini told PTI in an interview. Chandra, who essayed the role of inspector Rishi, said he grew up listening to such stories from his grandmother. ''I belong to a place called Ballari (Karnataka), which is close to Humpi. So I heard all these stories that if you go out by evening, 7pm, there's a demon waiting for you. That will hurt you or kill you or do something. I don't believe in supernatural powers but I grew up on these stories,'' he said. Actor Ravi, who plays a sub-inspector in the series and helps Rishi in his investigation, said he found the script very appealing and could even visualise the scenes as he read it. ''The writing was so gripping and I could visualise what all she wrote. I thought it would be a nice series if I become a part of this and I would love to perform in this and to see these visuals. ''I felt like I haven't done anything like this before, so I will do horror. Apart from the horror, I liked the way she covered all the things together.'' Sunainaa, another cast member, said she generally doesn't like going through the scripts but the narration of ''Inspector Rishi '' made her curious to read everything, including for her part of a female guard. ''It was a collection of suspense, horror and thrill,'' she added. Dayal, who plays forest officer Sathya in the series, said Nandini's script was very visual in nature. ''When we read the text, the images start reflecting, those images are the captivating portion. When you actually see the series, it's so beautiful because all those takes have come out. The characters have just jumped out of that screen and they just coloured the entire space. It's so beautiful to see that.''
Plea to revive flyover construction scam case | Madras High Court adjourns hearing to June 7
A resident of Coimbatore has approached the court challenging the T.N. Legislative Assembly Speakers 2006 order withdrawing sanction to prosecute CM M.K. Stalin
New York: An Indian-origin female student studying at the prestigious Princeton University is among two students who have been arrested and barred from the campus for staging pro-Palestine protests on the campus. Achinthya Sivalingan, born in Coimbatore and raised in Columbus, has been barred from the campus and faces disciplinary action, said a university spokesperson. []
Indian-origin student arrested for anti-Israel protests
Achinthya Sivalingam, born in Coimbatore and raised in Columbus, has been barred from the campus and faces disciplinary action, said a university spokesperson.
Coimbatores Coffee Club has been meeting for coffee every morning since 1997
Their love for coffee and conversation has held them together for decades
Coimbatores Coffee Club has been meeting for coffee every morning since 1997 - The Hindu
Coimbatores Coffee Club has been meeting for coffee every morning since 1997 The Hindu
University Student Arrested and Barred for Participating in Campus Protests
University Student Arrested and Barred for Participating in Campus Protests An Indian-origin female student studying at the prestigious Princeton University is among two students who have been arrested and barred from the campus for staging pro-Palestine protests on the campus. Achinthya Sivalingan, born in Coimbatore and raised in Columbus, has been barred from the campus and faces disciplinary action, said a university spokesperson. Protesters set up tents for a student-led pro-Palestine encampment in McCosh Courtyard at about 7 a.m. Thursday. After warnings from University officials, two Princeton students were arrested, and the remaining protesters packed away their camping gear and continued the demonstration as a sit-in, the Princeton Alumni Weekly said in a report. About 100 undergraduate and graduate students began a sit-in on McCosh Courtyard early Thursday morning, joining a wave of pro-Palestinian sit-ins nationwide. The protesting students are demanding that colleges cut their financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the deadly Gaza conflict. Some Jewish students say the protests have now become antisemitism and they are afraid to enter the campus. After student organisers first began to erect tents, Princeton Public Safety (PSAFE) issued its first warning to protesters. At least two student arrests have been made. After the initial arrests, students folded them away, the Daily Princetonian reported. The two students, Achinthya Sivalingam GS and Hassan Sayed GS were arrested within six minutes of the first tents being set up. The two graduate students have been immediately barred from campus, pending a disciplinary process, University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote to the Prince. No force was used by Public Safety officers when conducting the arrests, which occurred without resistance, Morrill added. Students face arrest and being barred from campus if they refuse to stop after a warning, according to a campus-wide message from Vice President for Campus Life W. Rochelle Calhoun on Wednesday morning. Urvi, a first-year PhD student, called the arrest violent and said zip ties were put around their wrists. Theyve been evicted from their houses and were given under five minutes to get their stuff, Urvi said.
Pro-Palestine protests: Indian-origin student arrested in US
Achinthya Sivalingan and Hassan Sayed, students at Princeton, faced arrest for supporting Palestine. Achinthya, from Coimbatore, studied world politics at Ohio State University, emphasizing climate adaptation. Their involvement in a pro-Palestinian sit-in led to their detention.
In Wayanad, questions & answers emerge on Rahuls absence
Rahul Gandhi has a tummy ache. After Amethi 2019, there is no way he wants a headache in Wayanad, the constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha, where even his fanboys admit he is not visible often enough. In this green undulating expanse of coffee plantations and tea estates scalloping the mountainsides and the homes of wealthy landowners looking down upon verdant valleys, the population is predominantly Muslim and Christian. Rahul has sent sister Priyanka to campaign in his place, the day before the loudspeakers fall silent and the drums are put away. Kambalakkadu, a small marketplace with an even smaller public maidan is where Priyanka Gandhi will make her first stump speech on the last leg of her poll tour, a half hour or so helicopter hop from Karnataka. The vast majority of the crowd that has gathered to see and hear Priyanka comprises women, mostly with hijab or burqa to protect them either from sun or the BJPs glare. They crowd shop verandahs, a shaded long gallery of a street side building upon which Congress tricolor flags and buntings flutter in the wind. The lady is late, though. The sun is hot. The campaign platform is a purplish mobile van with an awning under which stands a tall lectern. In the background is dynasty art: brother and sister joyfully beaming at people. Is he going to win? With a larger majority, than before, says a young man. He will lose, declares BJPs formidable state president K Surendran who is contesting against Rahul. How did his majority happen? Its not the Congress vote bank that is responsible for his victory last time. This is a Muslim League stronghold. Congress minus the League is a big zero. The third candidate is Annie Raja, wife of the veteran communist D Raja. Many people in Wayanad are perplexed why she should be put up by the LDF against two formidable opponents. She is a gentle person, and it will be humiliating when she loses, observes a passerby, who had paused to watch. The crowd is being entertained by a local black-shirted IUML leader whose target seems to be the hapless Pinarayi Vijayan who is in hot water because of the corruption scandals raining on him and the ED expressing a keen interest in his Bangalore based daughter Veenas business against which a money laundering case has been registered. The IUML speechmaker is tenacious; he has to keep the waiting crowd interested until the star of the show arrives. Where is he hiding? Did he visit Wayanad when a young college boy was forced to commit suicide by RSS? Did he visit Wayanad when an elephant chased a man and trampled him to death, it was Rahul ji who helped the family. The human-animal conflict is a major crisis in the thickly forested district where 41 people were killed by elephants and seven in tiger attacks over the last decade. In 2022-23, 8,873 people were injured and 98 died, according to the Economic Review 2022-23. A few kilometers away, BJPs southern star K Annamalai is holding his road show in Wayanad. Annamalai, who quit the IPS to join the BJP, is trusted by Modi and the RSS to deliver Tamil Nadu to the saffron monolith. The Tamil Nadu BJP party president is in his customary white shirt, as punctual as any punctilious police officer who never keeps anyone waiting. Though Surendran plays the local card by calling Rahul an ally of the banned terror outfit PFI, Annamalai sticks to the national strategy adopted by all parties contesting for Kerala: a war for, or against Modi; Vocal for Local is on hold for now. Were not here to defeat Rahul Gandhi, but to save and serve this constituency, Annamalai, who is contesting from Coimbatore on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, declares. Rahuls nemesis Smriti Irani who had visited Wayanad in early April had questioned his loyalty to the people of any constituency he represents. Rahul Gandhi declared Wayanad as his family. What about his loyalty to Amethi? She had trounced him in Amethi, considered a Gandhi family pocket borough until 2019, by about 55,000 votes while Rahul won in Wayanad by 4.3 lakh votes: the current UDF target is to take that number to 5 lakh. The region has not been short of heavy hitters of all hues this election. On April 23, Mallikarjun Kharge held a road show. A senior Congressman looked uneasy when questioned why Rahul stood from Wayanad. He admitted that the Congress wasnt sure he would have won from Amethi last time, and even this time. You say Rahul will win by a bigger margin. What has he done for Wayanad? a local businessman is asked. What has he not done? He has done everything. How do you expect such an important man to come here all the time? He has people here who do what he instructs them. Drinking water connectivity is a boiling crisis across Kerala, particularly in hill areas like Wayanad. Surendran has scored points by getting bore wells dug and pumps installed at his own cost in some tribal areas. There is a feeling here that Rahul has neglected Wayanad by being absent, says Surendran. Wayanad has a strong minority vote bank. Wont that work for Rahul? The minority is not a single bloc. The Christians oppose whatever Muslims think or say. Youre underestimating Muslim women, they dont reveal their true intentions. Is the Ram Temple a factor in Wayanad? Of course, it is. There are a few temples here that are closely associated with Sri Ram. People here believe he passed through Wayanads forests during his exile, Surendran says. But this time, the veneration seems reserved more for Rahul. The dramatic arrival of Priyanka is heralded by drum beats and clouds of saffron, white, green and green confetti. Big sister is here with her brothers message. The lady herself is in a green salwar kameez and dupatta; cynics would gripe that she is playing to the Muslim gallery. She beams at the audience and waves. Priyanka has a presence, an undeniable aura as she mingles easily with the leaders and workers gathered on the stage. Her body language isnt arrogant, her face wears an unfaltering smile. She is the perfect political figure until she starts to speak. Her tone is monotonous, voice androgynous and words cliches. The BJP realises that despite all the infirmities in Congress, the Gandhi family is still a name to reckon with. Nazi propaganda genius Joseph Goebbels had a working maxim: Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth. The BJPs repetitive rhetoric that Rahul has done little for Wayanad may not be the total truth but the party certainly hopes reiteration will work in its favour. The general wisdom is that Rahul will win a second term comfortably, though the margin may be considerably narrow.
Protesters, with inked fingers, say many denied voting right in Tamil Nadu
COIMBATORE: Amid allegations that several eligible voters in Tamil Nadu couldnt vote in the April 19 Lok Sabha election, a protest was organised under the banner of People for Annamalai here. K Annamalai, the BJP candidate for the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat, had alleged on the election day the names of thousands of people were missing from the electoral rolls. The protesters, most of them with electoral stains on their fingers, raised slogans against the Election Commission. Holding placards they demanded voting rights and alleged their voting rights were denied in the recent LS polls and their names were intentionally removed from the voters list. Around 5% of total voters in the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency were intentionally denied voting rights in this election, they alleged. A participant who had voted held a placard stating why the vote was denied to him while he was alive. When asked, he said that he had cast his vote and he took part in the protest in support of others who were denied voting rights. Another elderly woman, named Hemalatha, claimed that many have cast double votes as the electoral ink was easily removable with chemicals.The protest was held in front of the South Taluk office in Coimbatore city on Thursday. It was organised by the People for Annamalai movement and right-wing-linked organisations. S Sudharshan, a convener of the movement, said officials deleted the names of a particular section of voters who would have voted for BJP candidate Annamalai. The count of missing voters is more than a lakh in Coimbatore constituency alone, he said. He said that they submitted a petition before the Coimbatore collector demanding an option for the people who were denied their voting rights to cast their votes. We dont want a re-poll but we demand an option to cast our votes. The district administration should find a solution for this issue. A person who had his name in the voters list released in January 2024 could not cast his vote as his name was intentionally removed from the list later. More than 800 voters were denied voting rights in the Kavundampalayam area alone, Sudharshan said. No objection was received on removal of voter names Coimbatore: Collector Kranthikumar Padi on Thursday said that no objection has been received from the recognised political parties regarding the removal of names from the voters list in the district. Earlier, the BJP has alleged that there has been a large number of deletions in the voter list. According to a release, Coimbatore District Draft Electoral Roll 2024 was released on October 27, 2023, in the presence of all recognized political party representatives. Accordingly, the total electorate in the district was 30,49,004. Two copies of the electoral roll were issued to all political parties. During the meeting held on November 24 after corrections, no objection was raised by parties regarding the names deleted from the draft voter list. This information is published on the notice boards of government offices and the website of the Election Commission for public view. Later, the final voter list for 2024 was released on January 22. Accordingly, the total number of voters in the Coimbatore district was 16,71,003. Out of this, 47,559 were new voters. The names of 28,364 voters were deleted.
Third platform getting ready at Coimbatore North railway station
The Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu on 19 April 2024, unfolded with a tranquil atmosphere across the state. Youngsters and first-time voters actively engaged in the electoral process, while The post Coimbatore Residents Protest Against Deletion Of Names From Voter List, Dravidianist Media Peddle Propaganda appeared first on The Commune .
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Heat wave prompts call for rest breaks for sanitation workers in Coimbatore - The Hindu
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EC notice to BJP chief Nadda on complaints against PM Modi's remarks
New Delhi: Taking cognisance for the first time of a model code violation complaint against a prime minister, the Election Commission on Thursday issued a notice to BJP president J P Nadda on Opposition charge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a divisive speech in Rajasthan's Banswara.Separately, the poll panel also issued a notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, asking him to respond to the complaints filed by the BJP against him and the main opposition party's senior leader Rahul Gandhi regarding their remarks. In the notice sent to Nadda, the Election Commission sought his response by Monday to the complaints filed by the Congress, CPI, CPI (ML) and civil society groups regarding the remarks made by Modi on April 21 in Banswara. These complaints had referred to Modi's allegations that the Congress wanted to redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims and that the opposition party won't even spare the 'mangalsutra' of women. The speech led to a major political slugfest with the Congress and other opposition parties accusing the prime minister of making false claims and the BJP alleging that the Congress was nursing an agenda of Muslim appeasement at the cost of weaker sections of the society. The EC also asked Nadda to bring to the notice of all star campaigners of the party to set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of model code of conduct in letter and spirit. The poll panel also said that campaign speeches made by those holding high positions have more serious consequences. Officials said it is the first time that the panel has taken cognisance of a complaint against any prime minister. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the EC had given a clean chit to Modi on complaints lodged by the opposition parties. Then election commissioner, Ashok Lavasa, gave a dissent note on some of the decisions taken by the EC on complaints against the prime minister. The EC has invoked provisions of the Representation of the People Act to hold party presidents as the first step to rein in star campaigners. According to the poll panel, it has taken a view that while individual star campaigners would continue to remain responsible for speeches made by them, the Commission will address party chiefs on a case-to-case basis. With this, the EC has ensured an added layer of responsibility on party heads, the functionaries explained. Recently, Kharge was asked to explain remarks made by two of his party leaders against women. The poll authority issued a similarly-worded notice separately to the Congress president with regard to allegations levelled by the BJP against him and Gandhi. The EC notices to the two-party presidents did not directly name either Modi, Gandhi or Kharge, but the representations received by it were attached to the respective letters and they contained details of allegations against the three leaders. The BJP, on the other hand, had written to the EC that Gandhi levelled malafide and utterly sinister allegations against Modi during a speech in Kottayam, Kerala where he alleged that the prime minister was pushing for one nation, one language, one religion. The BJP said that in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, Gandhi alleged that the prime minister was attacking our language, history and tradition. It also accused Kharge of violating the model code by claiming that he was not invited to the Ram temple consecration ceremony due to discrimination against SCs and STs.
EC seeks response on charges of poll code violation by PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: Taking cognisance for the first time of a model code violation allegation against a prime minister, the Election Commission on Thursday asked the BJP to respond to complaints filed by opposition parties wherein they have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of delivering a divisive and defamatory speech in Rajasthan's Banswara.At the same time, the poll panel also asked the Congress to respond to complaints filed by the BJP against the main opposition party's president Mallikarjun Kharge and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi regarding their respective remarks. In its letter addressed to BJP President J P Nadda, the Election Commission asked him to respond by Monday to complaints filed by the Congress, CPI and CPI (ML) regarding the remarks made by Modi on April 21 in Banswara. It also asked Nadda to bring to the notice of all star campaigners of the party to set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of model code of conduct in letter and spirit. Officials said it is the first time that the panel has taken cognisance of a complaint against any prime minister. The Election Commission has invoked provisions of the Representation of the People Act to hold party presidents as the first step to rein in star campaigners. It wrote a similarly-worded letter separately to the Congress president with regard to allegations levelled by the BJP against him and Gandhi. The letters from the EC to the two-party presidents did not directly name either Modi, Gandhi or Kharge, but the representations received by it were attached to the respective letters and they contained details of allegations against the three leaders. In its complaint to the EC, the Congress said that Modi in his speech had alleged that Congress wanted to redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims and that the opposition party won't even spare the 'mangalsutra' of women. The BJP, on the other hand, had written to EC that Gandhi levelled malafide and utterly sinister allegations against Modi during a speech in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It also accused Kharge of violating the model code by claiming that he was not invited to the Ram temple consecration ceremony due to discrimination against SCs and STs.
EC Seeks BJP's Response on Allegation of Model Code Violation by PM Modi
EC Seeks BJP's Response on Allegation of Model Code Violation by PM Modi Taking cognisance for the first time of a model code violation allegation against a prime minister, the Election Commission on Thursday asked the BJP to respond to complaints filed by opposition parties wherein they have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of delivering a divisive and defamatory speech in Rajasthan's Banswara. At the same time, the poll panel also asked the Congress to respond to complaints filed by the BJP against the main opposition party's president Mallikarjun Kharge and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi regarding their respective remarks. In its letter addressed to BJP President J P Nadda, the Election Commission asked him to respond by Monday to complaints filed by the Congress, CPI and CPI (ML) regarding the remarks made by Modi on April 21 in Banswara. It also asked Nadda to bring to the notice of all star campaigners of the party to ''set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of model code of conduct in letter and spirit''. Officials said it is the first time that the panel has taken cognisance of a complaint against any prime minister. The Election Commission has invoked provisions of the Representation of the People Act to hold party presidents as the first step to rein in star campaigners. It wrote a similarly-worded letter separately to the Congress president with regard to allegations levelled by the BJP against him and Gandhi. The letters from the EC to the two-party presidents did not directly name either Modi, Gandhi or Kharge, but the representations received by it were attached to the respective letters and they contained details of allegations against the three leaders. In its complaint to the EC, the Congress said that Modi in his speech had alleged that Congress wanted to redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims and that the opposition party won't even spare the 'mangalsutra' of women. The BJP, on the other hand, had written to EC that Gandhi levelled malafide and utterly sinister allegations against Modi during a speech in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It also accused Kharge of violating the model code by claiming that he was not invited to the Ram temple consecration ceremony due to discrimination against SCs and STs.
12 held in Chennai for selling IPL tickets in black
CHENNAI: Twelve people were arrested on charges of selling IPL tickets, for the Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants match that was held at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk on Tuesday, at exorbitant prices. The Triplicane police have seized 56 tickets worth Rs 1.4 lakh from them. A team led by inspector of D-1 Triplicane police station were monitoring Chepauk Cricket Ground and its surrounding areas - Pattabiram Gate, Wallajah Road, Bells Road, Wallaja Road Junction, Victoria Hostel Road Junction and Chepauk Railway Station - when they came across the illegal activity, stated a press release. The accused were identified as Elumalai (38) of Andhra Pradesh, Hayatbasha Noor Mohammad (38) of Triplicane, Shyam (20) of T Nagar, Kishore (27) of Velachery, Vinithkumar (25) of Kannikapuram, Kaleeswaran Murthy (24) of Coimbatore, Rajkumar (34) of Pudupet, Vignesh (32) of Nolambur, Suresh (47) of Salem, Venkatasubramanian (51) of Kanchipuram, Santhosh (19) of Kolathur and Sreejith (27) of Kolathur.
TN: Edu department refuses to send government school students for B.Ed practical exam
COIMBATORE: The faculty members of the Government College of Education For Women in Coimbatore have alleged that the district school education department refuses to send government school students to attend the practical examination of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) course students. They said that B.Ed students should showcase their teaching abilities to school students in front of an external examiner during the practical examination. A teaching staff told TNIE, Following Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University (TNTEU) announcement that practical examination would be conducted in March, we approached the Chief Educational Officer (CEO) R Balamurali seeking permission to send government school students to our college for the practical examination of second-year B.Ed students. However, the CEO said that he cannot send government school students to the college. Instead of this, the CEO suggested that the practical examination be conducted at the CCMA government higher secondary school (Woman) at Raja Street. Meanwhile, the practical examination was postponed by the TNTEU. However, the university is planning to conduct the practical examination for the students in July. But, as the CEO refuses to give permission, it will be a challenge to conduct the practical examination to B.Ed students, he said. CEO Balamurali told TNIE that considering student safety, they cannot send students outside and he said that practical exams can be conducted in the classroom at school. But another faculty member told TNIE that up until the previous year, approximately 30 students from CCMA School participated in the practical examination. He recalled that earlier they had provided transport facilities and students also came with their teachers to this examination. Practical examination should be conducted at the colleges only as per norm and it cannot be conducted at school as per the CEOs wish, the faculty member said. Therefore, the TNTEU should resolve this matter by issuing guidelines regarding student participation in practical exams through the school education department, he further urged.
Three class 12 government school students drown in check dam in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: Three class 12 students from a village in Coimbatore drowned while taking a bath in a check dam near Alandurai in the district on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as M Praveen (17), P Kavin (16) and V Dhakshan (17), who hailed from Perur Pachapalayam. They were accompanied by a friend, named Sanjay (21). The police said that the three deceased were studying in Class 12 at the Government Higher Secondary School at Theethipalayam. They, along with their friend, went to Perumal Kovil Pathy check dam near Alandurai on Wednesday around 4 pm. The four youths ventured into the check dam, which has more than ten feet of water, to take a bath. Police said Praveen, Kavin and Dhakshan did not know how to swim and drowned in the check dam. Sanjay alerted Fire and Rescue Services. Station Officer PN Anilkumar and Thondamuthur fire station launched a search for the drowned students. The fire brigades retrieved the bodies of the three students by 5.30 pm. The Alandurai police shifted the bodies of the deceased to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. Two kids drown in Tiruppur Two boys drowned while bathing in a pond at Uppalayam on Tuesday. The deceased were Gokul (8) and his classmate Aswhin (8). The families of both kids initiated a search and found their dresses and bicycles near a pond at East Uppalayam. A team of fire service personnel retrieved both the kids bodies from pond.
Visionary Nambisans voting device was a decade too early
KOCHI : In this election season, the electronic voting machine has been posing many questions. But for T V K Nambisan, in the 1970s, it was the answer to many of the problems plaguing the electoral system. His dreamt up his version in his late twenties, when technology was at a different level and the concept had not been conceived. Now 78, Nambisan remembers how he came up with the idea and how his device had the then Kerala Chief Minister C Achutha Menon in awe. It was 1972, and I was living in Palakkad with some friends. We had partnered to set up an electronics repair firm. During a discussion over tea, someone remarked how good it would be if there was a system to do away with paper ballots, something involving a machine that would enable declaration of results in a short time, Nambisan remembers. That got him thinking. It was as if a bulb went off in my head. And I decided to design such a machine. I thought of relying on the electro-mechanical method. In those days, electronics had advanced only to the level of transistors, he told TNIE . Nambisan thought up a blueprint in his mind and then set out to buy the necessary components. My design comprised of a mater unit and the counting unit along with other equipment. The components were sourced from the seconds market in Coimbatore, says Nambisan, who had dropped out of engineering college. And the cost incurred? Around Rs 300, I think. It was a long time ago and I do not recollect the exact amount. Nothing was easy, he says. I had to travel a lot for the components. Once the machine was made, it took even longer to bring it to the attention of authorities, adds Nambisan, who resorted to using his Thrissur connection to approach Achutha Menon. I sent him a letter. He invited me for a demonstration at Cliff House. This was followed by one before officials at the Secretariat, says Nambisan. After witnessing the machine at work, the CM issued a citation. Nambisan even received a promise from Minister for Local Administration K Avukader Kutty Naha that the machine could be tried out in the coming panchayat elections. But for its use in elections, we required the approval of the central Election Commission. So, I sent a letter to the commissioner with all the documents. But I didnt receive any response. Finally, after repeated missives, I received a cryptic message that said it is practically impossible to use the machine in elections, he adds. The only solace was an article in a magazine published by the National Research Development Corporation. I shelved my machine. Ten years later, in 1982, the EVM made its official entry onto the election scene, says Nambisan. Apart from some technological advancements the device was more or less similar to his invention. In rejecting my device, the election commission pointed to the possibility of losers raising objections and the lack of physical evidence, in case of legal proceedings, he said.
Permanent Lok Adalat slaps 20,000 fine on Chief Education Officer, Coimbatore
Three students drown in check dam near Coimbatore
No respite from heat in Coimbatore, residents asked to remain indoors in the afternoons
Gang-rape case accused, friend arrested for intimidating survivors family in Coimbatore
Gold smithery owner robbed of 350 grams of ornaments in Coimbatore
Coimbatores School of Excellence gets toilets
Before these improvements, the school had eight washrooms with urinals, which were poorly maintained and lacked running water throughout the day
Heatwave in Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore collector urges people to stay indoors - News9 LIVE
Heatwave in Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore collector urges people to stay indoors News9 LIVE
Water scarcity: 26 jumbos in Anamalai Tiger Reserve shifted to four camps
CHENNAI: Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) authorities in Coimbatore have decided to shift the 26 captive elephants in four different camps owing to shortage of water and natural fodder. As the summer is beating down and the district is facing 89% deficit rainfall, the water source at Kozhikamuthi elephant camp, which is one of the oldest in India, in Topslip has depleted, becoming a major cause of concern. Besides, construction work was going on at Kozhikamuthi where the state government was building eco-friendly houses for the mahouts. As a stop-gap arrangement, the elephants have been split into four batches and moved to temporary camps. Confirming the development with TNIE, Bhargava Teja, ATR deputy director (Pollachi) said, A total of 10 elephants are at Varagaliyar, six at Chinnar, five at Manambolly and remaining five housed slightly away from the Kozhikamuthi camp. The official said water scarcity was one reason and another reason was the ongoing construction work, which would disturb the elephants. Chinnar and Manambolly have good water sources and are a perfect habitat. So, temporary camps were set up here. The department also arranged food and accommodation for a few months. We hope the construction will be completed by July and expect to receive some rain to ease the water situation. There was a plan to open another temporary elephant camp at Navamalai, but the idea was later dropped. Theppakkadu camp in Mudumalai tiger reserve and Kozhikamuthi in ATR are some of the oldest elephant camps in India and have the best elephant caretakers. There are 91 elephant caretakers working at these two elephant camps. Chief Minister MK Stalin had announced a grant of `1 lakh each to all 91 mahouts and cavadis from the Chief Ministers Public Relief Fund after The Elephant Whisperers documentary based on them won an Oscar award. The chief minister had also announced financial assistance of `9.1 crore for construction of eco-friendly and culturally-compatible houses for all 91 elephant caretakers. Recently, Stalin had laid the foundation stone for improving Kozhikamuthi camp at a cost `5 crore, including construction of houses.
Tar reclaimed road for public use, Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation urged
COIMBATORE: The residents of Kamarajapuram and RS Puram have urged the civic body to pave a new road on the land that was retrieved from encroachers at the VCV layout in RS Puram on Sunday. The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) installed a notice board on the retrieved pathway on Tuesday and announced that people and motorists can use the road without any hindrances. The civic bodys 21 cents of land located on VCV layout in RS Puram was originally a 40-foot wide road. It was encroached by S Balasubramaniam, a businessman from the same area, for the past 35 years. Apart from encroaching on the CCMCs property, the encroacher had rented out a portion of the land to another person for Rs 95,000 a month. After the Madras High Courts order, the illegal encroachments were removed by the civic body on Sunday and the road was retrieved by the CCMCs town planning department officials. Balasubramaniam along with other encroachers filed an appeal in the Supreme Court about two weeks ago and submitted a petition against the removal of his properties on the disputed land by the civic body. The Supreme Court which ordered an investigation into the matter, rejected the encroachers appeal and dismissed the petition. In this situation, the CCMC installed a notice board on Tuesday, mentioning - Based on the Supreme Courts order and the Madras High Courts order, encroachments on the 40 ft road which belongs to the CCMC has been removed and brought to public use. There are no restrictions for the public or motorists to use the pathway. A couple of vehicles began using the road on Tuesday. People residing in the Kamarajapuram area near the 40 ft road burst crackers and celebrated the eviction and retrieval of public property. The residents have demanded the officials to tar the reclaimed road at the earliest before some other miscreant start encroaching on it.
Five over-head tanks to be built in Coimbatore to improve water supply
COIMBATORE: In a bid to tackle persistent water supply issues, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has planned to construct five Over-Head Tanks (OHTs) across strategic locations within the city. This move follows a surge in complaints regarding leakage and operational difficulties encountered while supplying borewell water directly from the pipelines to residents. The water levels in the Siruvani, Pillur and Aliyar dams have been dropping at a drastic rate in this summer season and as a result, people have turned towards borewells for the utilisation of water other than that for drinking purposes. With several borewells malfunctioning and needing repairs, pumping out water through them using motor pumps has worsened its condition further. In this situation, the decision to build OHTs stems from a comprehensive evaluation of the existing water distribution system and feedback from concerned citizens. With concerns mounting over the reliability and efficiency of the current setup, authorities have prioritised the establishment of these tanks to enhance the storage and distribution of borewell water. Sources in the CCMC said that five OHTs with each having a capacity of 30,000 litres will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. Construction of each OHT will cost around Rs 30 lakh and each of the five zones in the city will get one borewell OHT. Identifying five key locations for the installation of the OHTs, municipal officials are gearing up to commence the construction works. Locations will be carefully selected to ensure equitable access to water resources while addressing the specific needs of different neighbourhoods within the city. However, the implementation of this crucial infrastructure project will commence after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results. The introduction of OHTs marks a significant step towards mitigating water scarcity and improving the overall water management infrastructure in Coimbatore. By centralising the storage of borewell water, authorities aim to minimise leakages and optimise the supply chain, thereby enhancing the reliability of water distribution services. Speaking to TNIE, CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said, In a bid to tackle borewell repair issues and to prevent water wastage due to leakage problems, we have decided to construct five OHTs at five different locations in the city. The locations are yet to be identified. The works will begin only after the election results are announced as the Model Code of Conduct is in force. In addition to enhancing water storage capacity, the establishment of OHTs is expected to streamline maintenance efforts and facilitate prompt responses to any operational challenges that may arise in the future. As the construction of these OHTs unfolds, residents can anticipate tangible improvements in borewell water supply.
Tamil Nadu man injured while climbing down Velliangiri hills dies days later
COIMBATORE: A 31-year-old Tiruppur native who was injured last week after falling while descending the Velliangiri hills died on Monday evening. The deceased B Veera Kumar belonged to SV Colony in Tirupur district. He was injured at the seventh hill while returning to the foothill after visiting the hilltop Temple on Thursday evening. He was undergoing treatment at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for the last few days but died without responding to treatment. After sustaining injuries, Veera Kumar was taken to the Velliangiri foothill on a dolly and then taken to the Primary Health Centre at Poolvapatti. After first aid, he was shifted to CMCH for further treatment. He died at 3.15 pm on Monday. Eight devotees who took the arduous trek to the Velliangiri hills have died since February 25 due to various reasons, said sources. The number of devotees is expected to fall from this week as Sivarathiri festival was over earlier and Sitra Pournami was marked on Tuesday, an official said. More pilgrims visited this year compared to last year. It is estimated two lakh people had arrived last year and this year the number exceeded it. The number of deaths of devotees declined in the last one month as most of them aware about the terrain and several refrained from visiting the hill following awareness through media, said the official The forest department officials are also monitoring the devotees using drones in order to reduce chances of wildfire. Over 2 lakh devotees visited the hill An official said the number of pilgrims in Velliangiri has exceeded 2 lakh this time. The number of deaths of devotees declined in the last one month as most of them are aware about the terrain, he said
