Railways' nod sought for girder work of Coimbatore's Avinashi Road flyover at night

COIMBATORE: The ambitious Avinashi Road elevated flyover project in Coimbatore has hit a major roadblock near Hopes Junction, as the Southern Railways has granted limited working hours for the construction activity in the area. With the 10.1-kilometre-long flyover nearing completion, the last major hurdle involves installing eight massive iron girder beams over the railway lines at Hopes - a task that now hangs in the balance due to time constraints and traffic congestion concerns. The Rs 1,621.30-crore flyover project, which began in December 2020, is being executed by the Special Projects Wing of the State Highways Department to ease traffic congestion on the busy Avinashi Road stretch between Uppilipalayam and Chinniyampalayam. The four-lane elevated corridor is 17.25-metre wide and includes 10.5-metre-wide service roads on both sides, along with stormwater drains and footpaths. Officials said 95% of the work has been completed, and the project was earlier slated for completion by July 30. However, the critical phase of installing girder beams over the railway track near Hopes Junction remains pending. Due to the presence of the existing railway bridge, columns cannot be erected at that stretch. To bridge the 52-metre gap, officials have planned to use eight iron girders, which have arrived from Hyderabad in parts and are currently being assembled at the Government Polytechnic College Ground. Six of the eight girders have already been assembled. Speaking to TNIE, a senior official from the Special Projects Wing of the Highways Department stated, We have permission from the railways to carry out work between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM only, citing the need to avoid disrupting train movement. However, this window coincides with the peak traffic hours on Avinashi Road, which sees heavy flow from colleges, IT parks, and commercial establishments. Diverting traffic at this time is practically impossible. Given these logistical challenges, Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar has taken the matter into his hands. He has held discussions with the General Manager of Southern Railways and urged the Railway Board to allow work to be carried out during night hours instead. However, due to nighttime train traffic on the route, the Railways is hesitant to provide the nod. Installing a single girder requires at least 1.5 hours. At this rate, it will take eight days to complete all installations. But if we get even 3 to 4 hours during the night, we can finish the task in just four days. We are planning to start the work by next week, the highways official added. With public anticipation high and traffic snarls worsening daily, officials say that unless the Railways revise their approval, the flyover may not be ready for public use by the end of July as initially promised.

Salty drinking water worries students at ADW hostel in Chinna Thadagam in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Owing to the lack of safe drinking water facilities, students residing in the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare department hostel in Chinna Thadagam, on the outskirts of Coimbatore, are being forced to use the salty borewell water for drinking and other sanitary needs. Even as medical professionals have warned against consuming untreated borewell water, the students are helpless, and are forced to drink the same. Aravind (name changed), a Class 10 student from Kallakurichi and a resident of the hostel, expressed concerns as the water available at the hostel is difficult to drink due to its salty taste and unusual odour. We have repeatedly requested clean drinking water, but no action has been taken. Students are worried as the situation has persisted since the hostels opening 10 years ago. Dr T Anuradha, designated officer of FSSAI, explained that the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in drinking water should ideally be maintained between 75-500 mg/l. Untreated water should have a TDS level below 1,000 mg/L, which is acceptable according to FSSAI standards. It is not advisable to drink borewell water without adequate purification, as it may contain chemical and mineral contaminants that pose health risks. High levels of dissolved salts and minerals can lead to serious health issues, such as kidney stones, she warned. The World Health Organization (WHO) also advises against the direct consumption of untreated borewell water due to various health risks. The two-storey hostel building commenced operations in June 2015, during the AIADMK regime, and lacks adequate drinking water provisions or security measures such as compound walls. V Pushpanandham, an advocate who runs a forum to assist all people of all communities, highlighted the lack of safety for students. Typically, the warden leaves the hostel in the evening. Due to the absence of warden and a watchman, the students are left to manage their own safety. The area around the hostel often witnesses the movements of wild animals, particularly elephants, in the evenings. Villagers from Thadagam are too afraid to access the area at odd hours. Despite these risks, students remain at the hostel without any safety measures and staff supervision, he said. Pushpanandham has repeatedly petitioned the officials of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare department and Coimbatore district administration regarding drinking water and safety measures for the hostel. They have failed to install at least an RO unit in the hostel. Frustrated with their lack of response, I have written to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, he added. Warden V Mythily, who hails from Vellalore, approximately 27 kilometers away from the hostel, said she leaves in the evening due to safety concerns. The number of students in the hostel is declining and currently, only eight students are staying here. The department allocates Rs 1,400 for each student, which includes the cost of food. Therefore, we cannot afford to purchase packaged drinking water daily. We have sought assistance from the local village panchayat and residents to install an RO plant, but no one is willing to help as this hostel caters to SC/ST students. Though the drinking water main line goes in front of the hostel, we are unable to get it, she said. After being informed of the situation, District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar assured action to install an RO unit at the hostel, and direct the concerned officials to inspect the safety measures for the students.

Masked gang waylays Kerala jeweller on Coimbatore highway, robs him of 1.25 kg of gold bars

COIMBATORE: In a daring daylight robbery, a five-member masked gang robbed 1.25 kilogram of gold bars along with cash by waylaying a Thrissur-based jeweller at Ettimadai on the national highway stretch in Coimbatore on Saturday morning. The gangsters targeted J Jaison Jacob (55) of Palakkal village in Thrissur district where he owns a jewellery shop along with a goldsmithery unit, said the KG Chavadi police in Coimbatore. Jaison and his employee S Vishnu (20) were returning to his native place in Jaison's car from the Coimbatore railway station when the incident occurred. Earlier, they had arrived in the city by train from Chennai after buying gold bars weighing 1.25 kg from a few shops in Chennai. While the duo reached near a petroleum bunk on the Palakkad-bound national highway, a lorry waylaid the car. Subsequently, the five-member gang who were hiding nearby asked Jaison to open the door. When he resisted, one of the gang members damaged the car window using an iron rod. Fearing an attack, Jaison opened the door, and subsequently the gang got into the car. The gang also shifted Jaison, who was driving the car, to the backseat, and one of the members drove the car on the same highway. After spraying pepper spray, the gang stole the gold bars which were kept under the seat at knifepoint, and left Jaison and Vishnu on the roadside. Subsequently, the gang travelled in the same car towards the Velanthavalam route on another route, said a police officer of the KG Chavadi police station. After help from fellow motorists, Jaison filed a complaint at the KG Chavadi police station. Coimbatore SP K Karthikeyan visited the spot. As the gang spoke in Malayalam, we suspect the suspects were from Kerala. The gang travelled for two kilometres after taking the car at 6.45am and assaulting Jaison and Vishnu. The gang also took Rs 60,000 cash that Jaison had kept in the car. We will arrest them soon by deploying a special team, the SP said. We are coordinating with the Kerala Police to nab the culprits, he added. [At the current market price of about Rs 9,320 per sovereign for 22 carat gold in Chennai, 1.25 kg or 156 sovereigns of gold costs approximately Rs 14,539,20. (1 kg = 1,000 g = 125 sovereigns.)]

Puducherry police arrest kingpin in Rs 100-crore multi-state crypto fraud case

PUDUCHERRY: In a major breakthrough in a multi-state cryptocurrency fraud case, the Puducherry Cybercrime Police have arrested Imran Basha (37), a resident of Saibaba Colony in Coimbatore, from Bengaluru. Basha is the main accused in a massive scam involving a fake cryptocurrency called Hashpe, which defrauded investors of over Rs 100 crore across India. He was wanted in six states and is linked to 22 criminal cases. A special team from the Puducherry Cyber Crime Special Cell arrested Basha. They have been pursuing him since last year for allegedly luring people by promising to triple their investment in two months through the fictitious Hashpe platform. The case surfaced when Asokan, a resident of Lawspet in Puducherry, lost Rs 93 lakh to the fraudulent scheme. Following his complaint, eight more investors from the Union Territory came forward, reporting combined losses of Rs 2.5 crore. A formal probe was launched under Senior Superintendent of Police Narra Chaitanya and Superintendent of Police S Baskarane. On May 17, another key figure, Syed Usman alias Babu, Managing Director of Hashpe, was arrested in Coimbatore after evading authorities for six months. Earlier, five others including Damodaran, Hitesh Jain, and Aravind Kumar, also from Coimbatore, were arrested. Police have seized several high-end vehicles, including one valued at Rs 1.5 crore. Investigations revealed that the accused promoted Hashpe using celebrities Tamannaah and Kajal Aggarwal to gain public trust, then artificially inflated the coins value before rendering it worthless overnight. Police believe more than five suspects remain at large.

Super cop of Kanniyakumari

KANNIYAKUMARI: Five months ago, when a 2020-batch IPS officer took charge as the Superintendent of Police in Kanniyakumari district, none of the residents expected anything beyond the ordinary. Unlike Kollywood, where sturdy police officers enthral the masses with action-packed entrances, the SP office in Nagercoil remained calm on January 3 this year, welcoming its new captain, in line with all the usual protocols. Fast forward to June, SP R Stalin is now a household name among the residents. A native of Arpakkam village in Kancheepuram, this 31-year-old officer, who regularly meets police personnel to address their grievances, has so far devised at least five initiatives Public Feedback Centre, Village Monitoring Scheme, Nimir (The Rising Team), Manam Thiranthu (Mind Opens), and Vettri Pathai (Path to Success) for the general public as well as police personnel. Spotting the rise in crimes against children and women in the district, the SP, who had earlier served as the deputy commissioner in Coimbatore (North), began prioritising the safety of women and children. This led to the birth of Nimir, an intensive Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act awareness team comprising trained women police personnel. The team visits villages and interior areas to spread awareness among women and children, and helps them access victims compensation and other benefits. The team, so far, has prevented three child marriages within the span of a few months. My father Ramakrishnan, a farmer, was the one who motivated me to become an IPS officer and serve the society. He used to frequently visit book fairs and purchase books for me, recollects Stalin. In a bid to ensure public grievances are addressed appropriately, the SP, who never fails to receive petitions at his office, created a public feedback centre in the District Police Petition unit manned by police personnel. The centre dials each and every petitioner and asks for feedback regarding their petitions or inquires. If a petitioner is not satisfied, then the petition will be assigned to a different inquiry officer. The SP has received over 4,500 petitions directly within five months, said a police officer. For educationalist Rani S Martin, who had submitted two complaints with the SP in person and via mail, the public feedback centre has been beneficial in learning the progress of her complaints. After lodging the complaints, officers reached out to me and enquired about whether I was satisfied with the action taken by officials concerned with regard to my petitions, she said. Stalin also spearheads a teaching venture offering free training for sub-inspector examination for youth at the Kanniyakumari District Armed Forces Community Welfare Centre. The goal is simple: create honest officers who can maintain the goodwill between police and the public. He also provides funds to buy books to SI aspirants. The free coaching, offered by experts and experienced police officers, has helped me a lot to prepare for the SI exam. It has been a motivation for many youths, said M Muhammad Tahseen, who joined the coaching sessions after completing PG. Without sticking to the ranking protocols, the SP meets with the officers and police personnel of his office daily (in the morning) to discuss ideas for improving police-public relations. For instance, a medical camp organised for the police personnel found that several of the officers, particularly traffic cops, suffered from varicose veins. Learning about this, the SP took steps to arrange facilities for the traffic police personnel to remain seated, while on duty, during less traffic hours. Besides, umbrella barricades were set up and stockings were provided to the most-affected personnel. The SP also launched Village Monitoring Scheme across the district, under which a constable has been appointed for each village in Kanniyakumari. Police personnel will visit their assigned villages thrice a week to conduct community events and build amicable relations with villagers under their jurisdiction. In addition to these initiatives under his official capacity, sources said Stalin also supports elderly homes and shelters for children, with his personal funds, and promotes sports activities in the locality. Stalin is a boon for the people of Kanniyakumari as he is not only maintaining law and order, but pushing his boundaries for serving the people more, said advocate O Homer Lal, a social activist. (Edited by Arya A J)

Narasampathi Lake in Coimbatore is on the brink of season's first overflow

COIMBATORE: Narasampathi Lake, one of Coimbatore's relatively pristine urban water bodies, is poised to reach its full storage capacity for the first time this year, buoyed by recent heavy rains. Located on the western edge of the Coimbatore city in the Noyyal River basin, this lake spans approximately 122 acres and holds around 9.5 million cubic feet (mcft) of water at full capacity. Over the past few days, relentless monsoon showers have gradually filled Narasampathi Lake. As of the latest data, water levels have surged quickly. Authorities anticipate that continued rainfall will soon trigger its first overflow of the season, an encouraging sign for both urban water management and downstream agriculture. To prevent wastage and optimise resource use, the civic body recently constructed a surplus pier. This structure will channel excess water into irrigation canals, eventually feeding into the Noyyal River near Perur. Local farmers, who depend on the intricate web of tanks and canals in the Noyyal system, are set to benefit from this timely inflow. Narasampathi is known as one of the cleaner lakes in Coimbatore's network of urban tanks, comprising roughly eight lakes, including Periyakulam, Valankulam, Singanallur, and Krishnampathi. Unlike other lakes plagued by industrial effluents or urban waste, Narasampathi has managed to remain relatively less polluted, reflecting successful conservation and limited sewage intrusion. Environmental experts caution, however, that maintaining water quality will require ongoing efforts. They recommend periodic desilting of feeder channels, preventing encroachments, and ensuring efficient sewage treatment all measures that have proved effective in rejuvenating other Coimbatore wetlands. As rains fill the lake and relief spreads across downstream fields, municipal engineers and environmentalists alike are optimistic. With the surplus pier operational and feeder structures cleared, the spillover can now enrich the agricultural belts while conserving one of the city's most vital urban ecosystems.

Coimbatore corporation yet to get licence for new bus stand at Ukkadam

Coimbatore- based jewellery shop owner robbed of gold worth 1.3crore, luxury car

Coimbatore hosts queer art exhibition

Kerala jeweller, aide carjacked on Salem Kochi highway near Coimbatore; robbed of 1.25 kg gold

Bullet found in woman's bag at Coimbatore airport

Coimbatore City Police plan to renovate select traffic signals

Rotary Club honours three organisations in Coimbatore

Nodal officers appointed to track higher education enrolment of Government school students in Coimbatore

The nodal officers, appointed under the Kalloori Kanavu initiative of the T.N. Government, visited each school to assess the enrolment status of students who appeared for the board examinations

Father-son killed in road accident near Saravanampatti

COIMBATORE: A 36-year-old man and his nine-year-old son were run over by a speeding tipper truck near Saravanampatti in Coimbatore city on Friday morning. The traffic investigation wing police said the man was taking his son to a skating class when the accident occurred. The deceased were identified as Rajesh and his son R Vinith, residents of Thudiyalur Road. Rajesh, a native of Andhra Pradesh, was working as a manager at an IT firm in Keeranatham and lived with his wife and two sons. His elder son, Vinith, was practising skating at a private academy in Kalapatti. Around 5 am on Friday, Rajesh and Vinith were headed to the academy when they were hit by the tipper truck. They fell on the road and were run over by the truck and died on the spot. The bodies were sent to the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital for autopsy. The truck driver, R Manoharan (52), from Tiruppur district was detained.

Four new roundabouts to streamline traffic in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: As part of improving road safety and streamline traffic, four more new roundabouts are set to come up in Coimbatore city. Also, 18 conventional traffic signals will be replaced with LED-based signal lighting to improve visibility. Among four U-turns planned by the city traffic police, two are planned at Edayarpalayam junction on the Thadagam road and Saravanampatti-Thudiyalur road junction and the other two at Sundarapuram and Aavin Milk Company junction on Thadagam road. The official team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Traffic S Ashok Kumar on Friday inspected the Edayarpalayam junction where the trial run is underway. Officials from the police, road safety committee and the highways department were part of the inspection. A trial run is on at Edayarpalayam and Saravanampatti. We have placed a temporary structure to study the traffic pattern. Based on the findings we modify the design. After that, we start work at Sundarapuram and Milk company junctions, said S Ashok Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police. The city police have been implementing 'U-turns' and 'Roundabouts' as alternatives to conventional traffic signals to improve traffic flow, particularly on arterial roads. U-turns and roundabouts were introduced in Coimbatore in early 2023 as part of a traffic management initiative. Their introduction was followed up with adjustments based on traffic patterns. This change has been met with mixed reactions, with some motorists praising the new system and others expressing concerns about pedestrian safety. In the last two years, the city police have replaced signals with U-turns at 28 junctions and with roundabouts at 14 major junctions. DCP Ashok Kumar also said 18 conventional traffic signals will be replaced with LED lamps. In an attempt to increase the visibility of the signals, we planned to renovate them with the support of the 'UYIR' - a Coimbatore-based NGO that works for road safety measures, he added. The 18 signals across city roads are at Kamarajapuram Junction on Mettupalayam Road, Milk Company Junction on Thadagam Road, Good Shed Road junction, Vincent road junction and NH Road junction on Big Bazaar Street, Ukkadam, Kattoor, Lakshmi Mill, Classic Tower junction on Tiruchi road, Mani School junction, Government polytechnic college for Women (WPT) junction, JM Bakery junction on Avinashi Road, Thudiyalur road junction, Saravanampatti junction, Surya junction, Athipalayam junction, Tamil Nadu bus stop and Water Tank junction on Sathyamangalam road.

ATS issues warrant of appearance to 1997 train blast case suspect

COIMBATORE: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) sleuths investigating the three bomb blast cases from 1997 have issued a proclamation order seeking the court appearance of a suspect who has been at large for around 27 years. The proclamation order in this regard was stuck at the Kallamedu area near Selvapuram where the suspect was residing before 1997. Police sources say one of the suspects, M Ayub alias Ashraf Ali, aged around 50, was from Kallamedu and was booked in three different bomb blast cases reported on December 6, 1997. The bombs exploded in trains stationed at railway stations in Erode, Tiruchy and Thrissur and claimed the lives of 10 people and left 72 injured. The case is being heard at Judicial Magistrate Court VI at Tiruchy. Ayub has been absconding since 1997. Despite a warrant being issued by the court, the suspect is still at large. The court has ordered the suspect to appear before the court on July 17, failing which he will be declared as a proclaimed offender. Based on the court order, a team of police from Madurai unit of the ATS issued a notice about the court order to his family residing in Selvapuram, on Thursday. A proclamation order is often referred to as a proclamation of appearance or a warrant of appearance. It is a formal public announcement issued by a court to force an individual to appear before it when the person is absconding or hiding to evade arrest or trial.

No sewage contamination in water, says CCMC amid alarm over foul smell

COIMBATORE: Panic gripped residents of Kandasamy Layout in Papanaickenpalayam after several families complained of a foul smell and discolouration in the drinking water supplied to their homes. Located in Ward 49 in the central zone of the city, the area is home to multiple apartment complexes and independent houses, where many residents suspected mixing of sewage in their drinking water. Following complaints, officials from the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation's (CCMC) water supply wing rushed to the spot and initiated water quality tests. Samples were taken on Thursday and sent to a certified lab for analysis. Speaking to TNIE, a senior official from the water supply wing said, The results that came in on Friday confirmed that there are no harmful chemicals or sewage contamination in the water. We also noticed that the chlorine content was low - just around 0.2 parts per million (PPM). To ensure accuracy, additional samples were collected again on Friday by both the Suez water management team and the Public Health Department. Meanwhile, manual inspections were carried out near the underground pipelines, despite the challenge posed by the presence of high-tension (HT) electricity lines near the water supply pipelines. We couldn't use earthmovers because of the underground HT lines. So we dug the road manually, checked the pipelines and cleaned them. The water supplied to this area was slightly discoloured due to the overflow of the Pillur Dam and the rains, the official added. However, some residents remain unconvinced. We have been getting water that smells foul and looks murky for the last few days. We were scared to even use it for bathing, said S Vasanthi, a resident of an apartment complex in the layout. The CCMC has urged all residents to clean their individual and common storage tanks and assured that water quality will continue to be monitored in the coming days.

Tamil Nadu: Stranded jumbo calf brought to ATR camp as bid to reunite with herd fails

COIMBATORE: A wild elephant calf which was found separated from its mother in Sirumugai forest range last month has been brought to the elephant camp at Kozhikamuthi in Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) on Friday. The forest department decided to bring the calf to the ATR camp as repeated attempts to reunite the 10-month-old male calf with its herd failed. K Manoj, the Range Officer of the Sirumugai Forest Range, said, As the attempts for reuniting the calf with its herd failed, we have shifted it temporarily to the Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp as per an order by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF). The department may take further attempts to reunite the calf with elephant herds in the ATR. It will be decided by the PCCF further. He also said the calfs health is normal. The baby elephant was found alone in the Koothamandi forest in the Sirumugai Range of the Coimbatore Forest Division on May 26. The mother elephant could not be traced despite extensive searches even with the help of drones by teams from the Sirumugai, Vilamundi, Kil Kotagiri and Mettupalayam forest ranges. The forest department staff usually trace the mother elephant within a few days after it gets separated from the calf. In this case, the mother elephant remained elusive so far though Sirumugai and nearby forest ranges are home to a sizeable population of elephants. The department officials said calf elephants stop suckling from its mother at the age of one-and-a-half to two years. But, this stranded calf unusually started chewing grass collected from the forest early.

Gaming authority questions TNPL over surrogate ads of betting apps

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) has sought explanation from the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) regarding advertisement of offshore betting apps at its tournament being held in Coimbatore. The TNPL is an eight-team, franchise-based cricket competition organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) where international and popular IPL cricketers from Tamil Nadu like R Ashwin, Sai Kishore, Shahrukh Khan, and T Natarajan are participating. It is telecast on TV and live-streaming apps. A senior TNOGA official said that they had a meeting with the TNPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Prasanna Shankar at their office in MRC Nagar in Chennai on Wednesday (June 11). This was a few days after TNOGA sought an explanation after receiving multiple grievance emails from residents of Tamil Nadu, pointing out that TNPL teams have enlisted multiple betting apps like dafabet, 1xBet, MELBET, Cricadda, Pin-up Cricket and JSK1 as main sponsors. These apps are promoted through surrogate advertising like dafanews, MELBAT, Cricadda news, and JSK1 news, etc. TNIE had recently reported on the wide prevalence of surrogate advertising in TNPL. According to the official, the surrogate advertising of offshore betting apps by TNPL has been found to be prima facie objectionable. The TNOGA official stated that even surrogate advertisement of online betting apps is not allowed as per Section 8 of the TN Prohibition of Online Gaming and Regulation of Online Games Act, which bans the direct or indirect promotion of online gambling. Section 16(2) allows for a punishment of one year prison term or Rs 5 lakh fine for those violating Section 8. The TNOGA can also take action against these apps under the IT Rules, 2021, and write to the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) seeking their blocking under Section 69A of the Indian IT Act, 2000. This communication must be routed through the TN home department. Till date, the TNOGA has sent 62 proposals to the state home department seeking action against gambling and betting websites and apps. According to sources, a TNPL official told TNOGA that they were unaware of this and have requested for a few days to consult with their legal team and inform the authority of their decision. Attempts to reach TNPL for a comment on Friday failed. The TNOGA had recently sent notices to five social media influencers (two on Instagram and three on Youtube) over promotion of betting apps. All of them removed the ads and some even gave a written apology to the authority, sources said.

These areas of Coimbatore to face power cut on Monday

Two trains wont reach Coimbatore Junction on these two days

Man, son among three killed in two road accidents in Coimbatore

Garbage collection affected as contract workers continue protest in Coimbatore

Central Bus Stand at Gandhipuram in Coimbatore awaits technical sanction for redevelopment

Three including man, son die in accidents in Coimbatore

Father, son killed in road accident by speeding truck in Coimbatore; driver arrested

In a tragic incident near Saravanampatti, Coimbatore, a speeding tipper truck claimed the lives of a 36-year-old IT manager, Rajesh, and his nine-year-old son, R Vinith. The accident occurred early Friday morning as Rajesh was taking Vinith to his skating class when the truck struck their motorcycle while turning onto Kalapatti Road.

Elephant calf found separated from herd near Coimbatore shifted to Anamalai Tiger Reserve camp

Efforts by the Forest Department to unite the animal with an elephant herd did not yield any result

Schools to strengthen road safety awareness, circular soon: Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi

COIMBATORE: The School Education Department will send a circular to schools urging them to strengthen road safety awareness during morning prayer activities, said School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi here on Thursday. The public do not follow road safety norms despite the police department's efforts to raise road safety awareness, the minister bemoaned while speaking at a programme organised by the district administration and Uyir, a Coimbatore-based NGO, at Corporation Kalaiarangam. Anbil Mahesh urged people to cooperate with police efforts and follow road safety norms properly to ensure safe travel on roads. He released the 'Uyir Kutty Cops' Road Safety Curriculum workbook and faculty guide at the function. Uyir and the district administration jointly released road safety awareness books for school students. The initiative aims to educate children about road safety, the minister said. Students will learn about road safety if teachers explain signboards and road safety norms daily during morning prayer activities. This will create an impact on road safety awareness in their childhood. To execute this in schools, the School Education Department will send a circular soon, he said. We should drive vehicles responsibly and carefully, keeping in mind the safety of others. This way, we can avoid road accidents and reduce their occurrence, Anbil Mahesh further said. He noted that road safety clubs exist in schools, but they are not active as teachers fail to monitor them as they are focused on teaching At the function a minute of silence was observed in honour of the people killed in the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar, Coimbatore city police commissioner A Saravana Sundar and others were present.

B.Ed college admissions to be held online this academic year in Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE: The Directorate of Collegiate Education will conduct online admissions for B Ed colleges this academic year. It has decided to do away with the offline process that entailed travel to Chennai for counselling, inconveniencing several applicants from distant places. Top official sources say B Ed courses are offered at seven government colleges and 14 aided colleges across the state. Currently, admissions for B Ed courses in both government and aided colleges are conducted offline. Colleges issue the admission form directly to students, who will submit it after filling it out. The respective colleges will then release the rank list. Later, students must go to Lady Willingdon Institute of Advanced Study in Education in Chennai to attend the counselling and select their B Ed course and college. This offline mode poses practical difficulties as several applicants, especially females, find it inconvenient to travel all the way to Chennai for BEd admission. Considering these difficulties, DCE officers decided to conduct admissions online this academic year, similar to government arts and science colleges. This would make it easy for students to complete the admission process from home. Recently, DCE officers discussed the online B Ed admission process with college principals. The latter also suggested conducting admissions online. The work is underway, and an announcement will be released soon, sources added. An assistant professor from a government B Ed college, who welcomed this move, told TNIE that faculty had been urging the conversion of B Ed college admission process to an online format as the Higher Education Department already conducts online admissions for government arts and science colleges and engineering colleges successfully. If admissions were held online, students who belong to economically weaker sections from faraway districts need not visit the college and travel to Chennai for the counselling, thus saving money and time, he noted. Moreover, students can apply for admission directly, know the rank list, and attend counselling from their locations. He added that this would be much more convenient, and they need not get tense about admission.

Wont allow Tamil Nadu to be ruled from Delhi: CM Stalin

COIMBATORE: Tamils have self-respect and we will never allow Tamil Nadu to be ruled from Delhi, said Chief Minister MK Stalin during a government programme in Salem on Thursday. The chief minister released water from the Mettur Dam for irrigation in delta districts, and announced an increase in the procurement price of paddy to Rs 2,500 per quintal. Farmers will now get Rs 2,500 per quintal. Accordingly, the procurement price of paddy will be increased to Rs 131 for the normal variety and Rs 156 for the short variety. The normal variety will be purchased at Rs 2,500 and the short variety at Rs 2,545. Taking a dig at Union Home Minister Amit Shahs speech in Madurai, Stalin said, Some people cannot bear the functioning of the Dravidian model of governance. A few days ago, Amit Shah came to Madurai. He criticised the DMK government saying we only make announcements and do nothing. He claimed that the DMK government is reversing the schemes provided by the BJP-led government at the centre. The truth is that the state government is providing additional funds because these schemes cannot be implemented using the funds allocated by the union government. The state government is allocating over 50% of the funds for schemes that bear Prime Minister Narendra Modis name. Referring to a scene from the Rajinikanth-starrer film Padayappa, he said, There is a dialogue he is the groom, but the shirt he is wearing is mine. Similarly, the schemes may be launched by the union government, but we are providing the funds. The BJP government is the only government that has not provided any special scheme for Tamil Nadu, and the money allocated for the projects are not being released entirely, the chief minister charged. Has Amit Shah seen the condition of AIIMS Madurai, which the union government announced ten years ago? In four years of governance, we have completed a host of projects in Madurai region. This is the difference between the BJP model and the Dravidian model. Had adequate funds been allocated, the AIIMS project could have been completed in two years, Stalin added. Further, he said, Another union minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, has spoken like he is rejecting the antiquity of Madurai. He said the Keezhadi report, written on the basis of scientific research, should be revised. We were the first to publish the results on the antiquity of iron in Tamil Nadu after testing it in laboratories all over the world. Did they praise them then? They did not even acknowledge the results or say a word on the findings. The union government is constantly trying to downplay and destroy the antiquity of Tamils, he said, adding, The people of Tamil Nadu are ignoring, and will continue to ignore the BJP- AIADMK alliance as they are ignoring the state. In a veiled dig at Edappadi K Palaniswami, Stalin said he formed an alliance to save his position, and questioned the latter if he raised his voice when Tamil Nadus rights were taken away. The people are clear. They will not accept you again. Tamils have self-respect. We will never allow Tamil Nadu to be ruled from Delhi. Stalin participated in the government programme in Salem, distributed welfare assistance and inaugurated 507 scheme works and 225 completed projects worth Rs 1,649.18 crore for Salem district. Later, he also visited Periyar University and paid floral tributes to Periyar. Discharge from Mettur stepped up Water was released from the Mettur Dam for the 92nd year. In the first phase, 3,000 cubic feet of water was released and increased to 7,000 cubic feet at 4 pm. 17.10 lakh acres of land in delta districts will use this water for cultivation of kuruvai and samba crops CM Stalin to hold one-on-one interactions with DMK functionaries from June 13

Five sandalwood trees axed in Coimbatore

NGO rejuvenates Masaorambu stream near Coimbatore

Coimbatore MSMEs to get a technology centre soon

Five sandalwood trees felled at Red Fields in Coimbatore

South Africa's Sanlam sharpens India focus with Shriram wealth management JV

Shriram Wealth, a 50:50 a joint venture between the two groups, is already operating in nine cities, and aims to soon expand to Nagpur and Coimbatore as well, as the company eyes India's growing affluent and high net worth investor base.

Air India crash in Ahmedabad could be the worst involving a single aircraft in India

The crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad on Thursday could be the worst ever accident involving a single aircraft in India. There were 242 people on board the flight, while more casualties are likely on the ground as the plane crashed into a hostel for medical students. The only plane accident in India with more casualties was the mid-air collision of two aircraft over Charkhi Dadri in Haryana, around 100 km from Delhi, in 1996 in which 349 people died. That crash involved the collision of a Saudia flight from Delhi to Dhahran in Saudi Arabia and a Kazakhstan Airlines flight from Chimkent in Kazakhstan to Delhi. LIVE | Air India flight to London crashes near Ahmedabad airport during takeoff; all 242 passengers presumed dead The previous worst crash involving a single aircraft in India took place on New Year's Day in 1978 when an Air India flight crashed into the Arabian Sea just off the coast of Bombay less than two minutes after take-off. All 213 people on board that flight, which was headed to Dubai, died. The aircraft was a Boeing-747 named Emperor Ashoka. The worst ever crash involving an Air India plane was in 1985 when a flight from Canada to India was blown up over the Atlantic Ocean after a bomb was planted on board by Khalistani terrorists. All 329 people on board were killed. Here is a timeline of the major air accidents in India since 1990: August 7, 2020 Air India Express Flight IX-1344 Kozhikode In Keralas biggest plane accident, an Air India Express aircraft carrying 190 people on board, including crew, from Dubai to Calicut airport skidded off the table-top runway while landing in bad weather, fell 35 feet onto a road below and split into two. Operating under the Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate Indians stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boeing 737-800 aircraft was flying from Dubai to Kozhikode (Calicut). Such runways, which are located on hilltops, create the optical illusion of being at the same level as the plains below when a pilot comes in for a landing. The crash claimed 21 lives, including both pilots, and left more than 100 injured, some critically. May 22, 2010 Air India Express Flight IX-81 - Mangalore Air India Express Flight IX-812 crashed on May 22, 2010, at Mangalore International Airport, marking one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India. The flight, a Boeing 737-800, was operating from Dubai to Mangalore with 166 people onboard, including many Indian expatriates returning home. The 2-year-old aircraft had crashed outside Mangalore airport in Karnataka on May 22, killing 158 people when it burst into flames after overshooting a table-top runway and plunged into a nearby forest.The crash resulted in 158 fatalities, with only 8 survivors, most of whom were seated in the front section of the aircraft. The investigation found that the pilot overshot the table-top runway at Mangalore and tried to pull up the plane but it was too late. November 10, 2009 An ATR-72 passenger plane, operated by Kingfisher Airlines, was damaged when it skidded off the runway on landing at Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM), India. Flight IT4124 operated on a scheduled domestic flight from Bhavnagar Airport (BHU) to Mumbai. Maintenance on main runway 27 at Mumbai effected operations at the airport between certain times. October 29, 2008 King Air C-90 aircraft owned and operated by Govt of Punjab was operating Positioning flight from Chandigarh to Ludhiana on 29.10.08 with two cockpit crew on board. The flight en-route up to overhead Ludhiana was uneventful. The crew located the runway late due prevailing Low visibility. They were not comfortable with the approach and made a go around; a non-standard go-around due to low visibility. In the anxiety to not to loose the sight of the field they descended in three orbits in the vicinity of the airfield on the west side of R/w 12, perhaps to land after making the short circuit from the right. However they lost the control and impacted with the ground in the steep left bank. Aircraft got destroyed in the crash due to the impact and post impact fire. Both the occupant on board died due to fire and collapsing aircraft structure. Air India crash near Ahmedabad airport: What we know so far March 19, 2008 The Premier 1 corporate jet aircraft took off normally from Jodhpur (JDH), India. The flight en-route up to approach to land at Udaipur (UDR) was uneventful. After clearance to land at Udaipur the pilot selected the flaps-10; the flap didnt respond and Flaps-Fail message flashed. The pilot decided to go for a flap-less landing and carried out the check list for Flaps Up approach & landing. The approach speed of the aircraft was probably high and it could not be brought to the assigned limit for flap less landing. The pilot continued approach at high speed. From about 25 feet height, the aircraft had a sort of free fall and impacted the runway. It rolled for about 150 feet with heavy breaking on both the wheels; which caused heavy rubber deposits on the runway and subsequent tyre burst. The aircraft veered to right and hit the boundary wall before it stopped. September 8, 2007 Vulcanair P68C aircraft VT-JOY operated by M/s Joy Alukkas Traders (I)pvt Ltd, Cochin operating flight from Bangalore Airport to Cochin on 08.9.2007 after refueling at Bangalore. Its took-off from Bangalore airport runway 27 at approx 1514 Hrs normally. At about1520 Hrs IST the aircraft wanted to return back due technical. However it could not make it as it was losing the engine power very fast. Subsequently Radar contact with the aircraft was lost and the aircraft crashed onto the lakebed of Gawdanapalya Lake, about 5NM Southwest of Bangalore airport. All the persons onboard received fatal injuries. There was no evidence of fire. Aircraft was completely destroyed. July 1, 2007 ATR 72-212A aircraft VT -JCE operated by M/s Jet Airways was operating schedule flight sectors DelhiBhopalIndoreDelhi on 1.7.2007. The flight up-till approach to land at Indore was normal. On coming to the runway the aircraft touched down moderately hard and bounced high. The Pilots were perhaps determined to salvage the abnormal situation and added Power to the Engines with intention to cushion the sink-rate and settle the runway. On the contrary, aircraft came hard on the RWY and bounced once again. This got followed with a series of bounces in succession. While bouncing the aircraft migrated from the runway and finally came to full halt on right side close to airport boundary wall. There was no fire in the accident. March 11, 2006 Low-cost carrier Air Deccan's flight from Coimbatore was involved in a mishap when it skidded off the runway after landing at the Bangalore airport.The brand new ATR-72 plane with a compliment of 40 passengers and four crew members damaged its landing gear -- nose wheel and undercarriage-- and slipped out of the runway. April 17, 2004 The aircraft owned and operated by M/s Agni Aerosports Adventure Academy,Bangalore was scheduled for a flight from Jakkur airport to Nadirgul on 7.4.2004. The aircraft took off at about 1115 Hrs with four persons on board including pilot in command. Film actress Ms. Soundarya was also on board the aircraft. After attaining a height of about 150 ft after takes off, the aircraft took a steep left turn, stalled and hit the ground. A few minutes later, the aircraft caught fire and all the occupants received fatal injuries. The aircraft got destroyed due impact and post impact fire. Ahmedabad Air India plane crash: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani feared to be among passengers September 30, 2001 (Charter Flight) King Air C 90 aircraft VT-EFF owned by Birla Global Finance Ltd. and operated by M/s Jindal Strips Ltd., New Dehli took off from Delhi on 30.09.2001 at 1241 hrs with six passengers and two crewmembers on board. The aircraft was bound to Kanpur. En route it reported Aligarh as estimated. Short of next reporting point KADAS the aircraft was about 10 miles right of track for which the permission was obtained and the pilot requested for direct routing to Kanpur. Captain was advised by ATC Lucknow, to co-ordinate with Gwalior and Agra for traffic information. Thereafter, the aircraft lost the contact with the ATC and crashed. All the persons on board received fatal injuries. The aircraft got destroyed due fire. July 17, 2000 Boeing 737 aircraft VT-EGD, owned by Indian Airlines Ltd. and operated by Airlines Allied Services Ltd. took off from NSCBI Airport Kolkata at 0615 hrs on 17.07.2000 for Patna Lucknow - Delhi. The aircraft was under the command of Capt. Sohan Pal and there were 58 persons, including six crewmembers, on board. At approx 0713 hrs, the aircraft informed Patna ATC, estimated arrival time at Patna at 0736 hrs. The aircraft informed Patna ATC at 0732 hrs that it would like to do a 360-degree due to being high on approach. The ATC informed the aircraft to report final for R/W 25 after carrying out a 360-degree turn and the pilot acknowledged the same. This was the last communication recorded between the aircraft and the ATC. During the approach, for R/W 25 at Patna, the aircraft turned steeply to the left, losing height, and collided with the tree in the approach funnel and crashed in the GardaniBagh area near Patna Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed due impact with the ground and post impact fire. July 30, 1998 Indian Airlines DO-228 aircraft VT-EJW was involved in an accident at KochiAerodrome on 30-7-98. The aircraft was scheduled to operate from Kochi toThiruvananthapuram. Aircraft took off from runway 17 of Kochi Aerodrome. After attaining a height of about 400 ft. it was seen pitching up steeply to a near vertical attitude and thereafter appeared to perform a manoeuvre similar to a stall turn to the right and crashed on the roof top of the Component Repair Shop (CRS) building of the Naval Aircraft Yard, Kochi. After the impact the aircraft caught fire and was completely destroyed. All persons on board received fatal injuries. Three persons working in CRS also received fatal and six other persons received minor injuries. November 12, 1996 A Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 aircraft and Kazakhastna IL-76 aircraft collided in mid-air about 40 miles west of Delhi on 12th November, 1996. All the 312 occupants of Saudi Boeing 747 and 37 occupants of Kazakhstan IL-76 aircraft lost their lives. The Saudi Boeing 747 aircraft was on a scheduled passenger flight from Delhi to Dahran and the Kazakhastan aircraft was operating a non-scheduled flight from Chimkent, Kazakhastan to Delhi. After takeoff from Delhi, Delhi Approach had instructed the Saudi Boeing 747 aircraft to climb and maintain FL-140 (14,000 feet). The Kazakhastan aircraft had been instructed by Delhi Approach to descend and maintain FL-150 (15,000 feet). Suddenly at 1840 hours the blips of the two aircraft disappeared from the radar screen, as the two aircraft had collided. There was no casualty on the ground. The wreckage of Saudi Boeing 747 aircraft fell near village Dhani in Bhiwani District of Haryana and that of Kazakhastan IL-76 aircraft was lying near village Birohar in Rohtak District. Standing crops at the site of accident were damaged due to fire, impact and rescue operations. Ahmedabad airport resumes operations after brief shutdown following Air India flight crash July 11, 1996 Archana Airways L-410 aircraft VT-ETC was operating flight on Delhi-Shimla-Bhunter- Delhi sector on 11.07.96. The flight upto Shimla was unenventful. The aircraft took-off from Shimla with 9 persons including three flight crew members. At 0855 hrs. aircraft hit and crashed into a hill and caught fire near Kanda village. The Aircraft was totally destroyed and all the persons on board received fatal injuries and three persons on ground have also suffered injuries. May 18, 1996 Archana Airways L-410 aircraft VT-ETB was operating a scheduled flight from Delhi to Kanpur civil aerodrome on 18.05.96. The flight from Delhi to Kanpur was uneventful. The aircraft took-off from Delhi with 19 persons including three light crew. During landing, the aircraft touched down late and could not be stopped within the available runway length and went beyond the runway. The aircraft hit the boundary wall of the airport and came to halt. The aircraft sustained major damages. There was no fire and no injury to persons on board the aircraft. December 2, 1995 Indian Airlines B-737 aircraft VT-ECS was operating flight IC-492 of 2.12.95 under the command of Capt. Adil Mistry with co-pilot Sandeep Marwah and four cabin crew. The flight upto Jaipur was uneventful. Aircraft took-off from Jaipur with 98+4 passengers. Aircraft landed at Delhi at 1253 hrs. After landing the aircraft could not be stopped within the available runway length and went beyond the runway into kutcha. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There was minor fire. Six passengers received minor injuries. July 1, 1995 East West F-27 aircraft was engaged in a training flight at Baroda airport on 1.7.1995. The aircraft was under the command of an Examiner pilot with the trainee pilot on right hand seat. The first touch and go exercise was uneventful. During the second exercise, immediately on touchdown the left main landing gear failed at its shock strut outer cylinder and the inner cylinder with the main wheel assembly attached to it got liberated. The aircraft continued moving forward with the remaining portion of left shock strut contacting the runway followed by the left engine propellers and fuselage bottom and finally came to rest on the runway left side strip. There was no fire and no injury to persons on board the aircraft. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. December 17, 1994 Indian Airlines A-320 aircraft VT-EPM was operating a scheduled flight from Madras to Hyderabad on 17.12.1994. The aircraft was under the command of Capt. C.J. Bhoopal with Capt. Sree Nair as First Officer. In all there were 144 persons on board the aircraft. After reaching over Hyderabad airfield, the aircraft did normal descent and was cleared for VOR DME approach for Runway 09. Aftertouchdown when the aircraft was rolling, it was hit by an unauthorised outsider on moped, who was attempting to cross the runway. The aircraft continued rolling with normal braking. The moped rider died on the spot and his body was ragmented into pieces and scattered all over the runway. Aircraft sustained slight damage. November 15, 1993 Indian Airlines Airbus A-300 aircraft VT-EDV was operating scheduled flight IC-440 (Madras- Hyderabad sector) on 15.11.1993. There were a total of 262 persons were on board the aircraft including 247+3 passengers and 12 crew members. The aircraft could not land at Hyderabad due to low visibility and carried out a missed approach. After the missed approach, the aircraft reported Flap Problem and was holding overhead at Hyderabad during which the flight crew enquired visibility at nearby Air Force airfields which was also low. The aircraft then diverted to Madras. Due to flaps problem, the crew had to maintain low speed and low altitude as a result of which it experienced fuel shortage and sought permission from Madras control for landing at Tirupati. However, the aircraft could not reach even Tirupati airport and executed forced landing in an open paddy field about 14 nautical miles from Tirupati airport. The aircraft dragged on the soft paddy field before coming to final stop. There was no fire. Passenger evacuation was carried out by means of escape slides. All the persons on board escaped unhurt except four who received minor injuries. April 26, 1993 Indian Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft VT-ECQ was operating scheduled flight IC-491 from Delhi- Jaipur-Udaipur-Aurangabad-Bombay on 26.4.1993. The flight from Delhi to Aurangabad was uneventful. The aircraft took-off from Aurangabad with 118 persons on board. Aircraft lifted up almost at the end of runway and impacted heavily with a lorry carrying pressed cotton bales running from North to South on a highway at a distance of about 410 feet from the end of runway. The aircraft left main landing gear, left engine bottom cowling and thrust reverser impacted the left side of the truck at a height of nearly seven feet from the level of the road. Thereafter the aircraft hit the high tension electric wires nearly 3 kms North-East of the runway and hit the ground. In all 55 persons received fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed due to post impact fire. January 9, 1993 On 9th January, 1993 TU-154 aircraft No. 85533 wet leased by Indian Airlines from Uzbekistan Airways was operating flight IC-840 from Hyderabad to Delhi. The aircraft was being flown by Uzbeki operating crew and there were 165 persons on board including the crew. The aircraft touched down slightly outside the right edge of the runway, collided with some fixed installations on the ground, got airborne once again and finally touched down on kutcha ground on the right side of the runway. At this stage the right wing and the tail of the aircraft broke away and it came to rest in an inverted position. During the process, the aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. Most occupants of the aircraft escaped unhurt. Six persons suffered either limb fracture or other serious injuries while 45 persons suffered injuries of a minor nature. Boeing stock tumbles over 7% in pre-market following Air India crash September 4, 1992 Indian Airlines B-737 aircraft VT-EGJ was operating scheduled flight IC-493 (Udaipur-Bombay sector) on 4.9.92. During take-off roll, the aircraft hit an Aerodrome Attendant (Chowkidar) on the runway centerline, who received fatal injuries. The aircraft continued with the take-off roll, got airborne and subsequently landed uneventfully at its destination Bombay. January 10, 1992 Air Lanka B-737 aircraft was engaged in a Scheduled International Passenger flight from Colombo to Madras on 10.1.1992. During landing on Runway 07 at Madras airport, the right landing gear attachment failed and right engine bottom contacting runway surface immediately on touchdown. The aircraft started swerving towards the right of runway center line as it moved forward on its wheels with right engine cowling and bottom rubbing the runway surface. The aircraft finally came to stop with its nose wheel and failed right main landing gear entering the grassy side strip soon after crossing the Delta taxiway. The fire emanating from the right engine was extinguished by the Safety Services and the crew and passengers evacuated the aircraft through the left side exit doors by means of the slide chutes. August 16, 1991 Indian Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft VT-EFL while operating flight IC-257 (Calcutta-Imphal) on 16.8.91 crashed about 20 nautical miles from the Imphal airport. The aircraft had earlier taken off from Calcutta at 0615 hrs UTC and it lost contact with Imphal airport at 0716 hrs UTC at approximately 5000 feet on ILS. The aircraft was under the command of Capt. Shekhar Haldar with Capt. D.B. Roychoudhary as First Officer. There were a total of 68+1 persons on board the aircraft including crewmembers. All the 69 persons died in the accident. The aircraft was completely destroyed. May 7, 1990 Air India Boeing 747 aircraft VT-EBO was operating flight AI-132 (London-Delhi-Bombay). During landing at Delhi Airport, on 7.5.1990, its left outboard engine (No. 1 Engine) partially separated from its wing attachment and consequently left wing caught fire which was quickly extinguished by the Airport Safety Services. The passengers were safely evacuated through slide chutes. The left wing of the aircraft was substantially damaged. February 14, 1990 Indian Airlines Airbus A-320 aircraft VT-EPN was operating Bombay-Bangalore sector on 14.2.1990. The aircraft took off from Bombay at 11:58 hours. There were 146 persons on board which included the two cockpit crew, five cabin crew, and four infants. The flight from Bombay to Bangalore was uneventful. During the final approach to Runway 09 at Bangalore the aircraft first contacted ground within the boundary of the Karnataka Golf Association approximately 2300 ft. prior to the beginning of Runway 09. The aircraft went up into the air for a very short duration after which it again contacted the ground on all three gears and then hit an embankment at the boundary of the golf course. The aircraft finally came to rest outside the boundary wall of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed due to impact and fire. In all 92 persons on board including two pilots and two cabin crew died in the accident.

Seven booked for duping Coimbatore man of property

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore City Police booked seven persons for allegedly duping a man of his house on the pretext of helping him to avail Rs 3 lakh property loan in 2019. He came to know about the fraud only last October when the officers of a private finance company contacted him for an unpaid Rs 1.7-crore loan and warned of seizure of his house. The complainant S Seshatri (55) of Veerakeralam, filed a complaint with Vadavalli Police alleging that the fraud happened in 2019 when he was in desperate need of money for the treatment of his father, Subramaniyam, who was in coma then. At that time, the suspects in the case identified as Raja, Chitambari, Prabhakar, Samuvel, Priya, Ayuip and Meenatchi Sundaram had promised Seshatri they would arrange Rs 3 lakh bank loan to meet his father's medical expenses. They took the complainant's father to the Thondamuthur Sub-Registrar Office in a private ambulance and got a thumb impression in a document, police said. But they did not give money. Subramaniyam died on December 11, 2019. Seshatri realised he was duped by the gang after the bank representatives met Seshatri on October 20, 2024. He was told the house was registered in the name of Prabhakar on December 5, 2019. It was also revealed the gang opened a bank account in the name of Seshatri's father and obtained Rs 25,50,000/- loan by pledging the house and transferred the loan money to the account of another suspect, Chitambari, who then was asked to return the amount by the other accused. The document was pledged again in a finance company to borrow Rs 1.7 crore. Based on a complaint by Seshatri in April, Vadavalli Police registered a case against the seven persons on Tuesday. Further investigation is on.

Garbage piles up as sanitary workers' stir continues in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: As the sanitary workers' protest entered its third consecutive day on Wednesday, Coimbatore city has been overwhelmed by mounds of uncollected garbage, triggering serious concerns over public hygiene and sanitation. Over 3,000 sanitary workers, including contract labourers, have boycotted work demanding wage hikes, regularisation of employment, and implementation of welfare measures like ESI and PF. Their absence has brought door-to-door waste collection across the city to a grinding halt, forcing residents to dump garbage on roadsides and open spaces. More than 1,200 tonnes of waste daily is generated across the 100 wards of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC). With garbage left unattended for three days, trash piles are now visible across key residential and commercial areas. Speaking to reporters, protesting workers accused private contractors of underpaying them. According to the official wage structure, we are entitled to Rs 770 per day. But the contractor pays us only Rs 540, a protester said. As per court guidelines and labour welfare laws, contract workers must be paid the minimum wage recommended by the government. Neither the district collector nor the CCMC Commissioner has been taking necessary action to sort out this issue. Despite mounting pressure and the worsening state of sanitation, CCMC officials have yet to initiate talks with the workers or address their demands. The silence from the administration has only added to the frustration among workers, who now warn of intensifying the agitation in the coming days. Residents and social activists have voiced their support for the workers while urging the civic body to find an immediate resolution. The protest highlights a deep-rooted issue in how essential workers are treated, said S Thangavelu, a resident of Vysial Street. It's time the city's administration recognises their importance and ensures fair treatment and sorts out this issue immediately, as the city's streets are getting filled with garbage piles at a rapid pace. If left unresolved, the ongoing deadlock could deepen the city's sanitation woes and spark wider health concerns.

Patients affected as Coimbatore Medical College Hospital sewage system sees little progress

COIMBATORE: The renovation of the underground drainage (UGD) and sewage systems at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) is progressing at a snail's pace, causing inconvenience to patients and visitors alike. The road on the eastern side, from Amma Unavagam, is completely closed for construction, forcing all traffic to rely on a single access route from the super speciality block. Officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), who are managing the project, said that the delay is due to difficulties in identifying the existing underground electrical cables and pipeline network. They further said that they aim to complete the project in three months. The construction of sewage systems, storm water drains, and roads was initiated in response to increasing sewage overflow issues on hospital premises. Following the Chief Minister's announcement, a government order was issued on July 16, 2024 for renovation work, at a cost of Rs 9.65 crore. After long delays, work began in April 2025. However, staff at the hospital complain that progress has been slow, with less than 20% being complete. Covering an area of 19.4 acres, CMCH has around 20 buildings, totalling 3.10 lakh square feet. In addition to inpatient services, the hospital serves more than 4,000 outpatients daily. Currently, sewage from all buildings is partially treated before being discharged into Valankulam Lake. Most of the existing UGD and sewage connections are several decades old, leading to frequent blockages and sewage choking at various points. During monsoon, the campus experiences water stagnation, which in turn, causes mosquito breeding. To tackle this, the hospital administration has come up with a comprehensive renovation plan for UGD channels, based on which, work have already begun, an official from PWD said. He added, The Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) on the premises, currently treats around 200 kilolitres each day from the new block. The STP has a total capacity of 1,000 kilolitres, and there are plans to expand it to serve other blocks of the hospital. Currently, a portion of the treated water is being reused within the hospital campus. Once we repair and construct sewage channels, we will operate the STP at full capacity, the official said. Since the hospital remains operational, the official added that they would implement the project in a phased manner. We are replacing the old sewage lines with new structures, while the premises remain operational. After completing work on the eastern side, we will construct channels on the western side, all of which will connect to the STP. Once complete, we will begin laying roads for around 1.2 km, the official added.

Securing more seats is as important as defeating AIADMK-BJP combine: CPM

CHENNAI: Hinting at the partys resolve to seek more seats in the DMK alliance in the 2026 Assembly election, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam on Wednesday said securing more seats for the party is as important as fighting the communal AIADMK-BJP alliance in the Assembly election. Launching the CPMs state-wide Peoples Meeting Campaign on Wednesday, Shanmugam said, Under the current political circumstances, the DMK-led alliance remains the most viable platform to counter this communal threat. Reiterating the need to electorally defeat the AIAMDK-BJP combine, the CPM leader, however, said the partys foremost political objective in Tamil Nadu will be to defeat the BJP alliance. But we also aim to contest and win more seats in the upcoming elections to strengthen the partys presence in the state Assembly, Shanmugam said. He acknowledged that all alliance partners naturally seek more seats and expressed confidence that the DMK leadership would make reasonable decisions during negotiations. Responding to criticism over the partys vote share in the last election, Shanmugam said such assessments are misleading when based solely on the limited number of constituencies the party had contested. He pointed to regions like Kanniyakumari, Coimbatore, and Tiruppur -- where the party did not field candidates despite its strong base and past electoral victories as evidence of the CPMs wider presence in the state. The campaign, condemning the Union governments anti-people policies, will run from June 11 to 20. Campaign launched The CPM launced its state-wide Peoples Meeting Campaign on Wednesday. The campaign, condeming the Union government for its anti-people policies, will run from June 11 to June 20, partys state secretary P Shanmugam said.

Allow authorities to issue no caste, no religion certificate, Madras HC tells TN government

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to pass a government order (G.O.) to enable issuance of a no caste, no religion certificate to those who file applications with revenue authorities seeking the same. A bench of Justices MS Ramesh and N Senthilkumar made the suggestion while allowing an appeal filed by H Santhosh of Tirupattur district against a single judges order refusing to direct the local tahsildar to issue no caste, no religion certificate to his family members. Setting aside the single judges order, the bench directed the authorities to entertain the appellants applications and issue a no caste, no religion certificate within a month. While the Constitution of India prohibits caste-based discrimination, caste and religion still play a significant role in social life, politics, education and employment through reservation policies, the bench said. Describing the appellants efforts to have himself and his family members certified by the government of not belonging to any caste or religion laudable, the bench opined that this would promote prohibition of caste-based discrimination in the long run and be an eye-opener for like-minded citizens. Accordingly, we call upon the Government of Tamil Nadu to pass necessary orders, with a specific instruction to the authorities of the revenue department, to positively entertain applications seeking for grant of certificate of no caste, no religion, the division bench said in the order passed on Tuesday. Article 25 of the Constitution recognises freedom of conscience of an individual: HC Calling the arguments of the revenue department that tahsildars are not empowered through any GO to issue such certificate as paradoxical, the bench noted that such certificates have been issued in some cases by the tahsildars in Tirupattur, Coimbatore, and Ambattur in recent years. Even otherwise, when there is a constitutional mandate under Article 25, the revenue authorities cannot wriggle out of this constitutional obligation by quoting the absence of any particular rule or order, the bench remarked.It held that the single judge appeared to have been misguided by the submissions of the government pleader and the order was passed without reference to the mandate of Article 25 of the Constitution. The bench said though Article 25 guarantees freedom of religion, it also provides for the state to make laws for social welfare and reform, even if they interfere with religious practices like abolition of untouchability and animal sacrifice. Thus, the state would be under a constitutional obligation to implement the intention and object of Article 25 in general and for the purpose of this case, recognise the freedom of conscience of an individual to choose their own religious beliefs, the court said. Advocates SN Subramani and T Nixon appeared for the appellant.

Seven persons booked for cheating, forgery in Coimbatore

Man arrested for trying to murder retired forest officer and son near Coimbatore

Maximum UG seats filled in first-round counselling at Govt. Arts and Science college in Coimbatore

These areas of Coimbatore to face power cut on Thursday

Two women targeted in back-to-back chain snatching incidents in Coimbatore

Orange alert for Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu's ghat areas from Friday

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadus ghat areas is in for another intense wet spell as the regional meteorological centre has issued an orange alert with heavy to very heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, and other hilly districts. The alert, effective from June 13 to 16, warns of intense downpours, with extremely heavy rain expected at isolated spots in the Nilgiris on June 14 and 15. Residents in these areas have been advised to stay prepared for potential disruptions, including landslides and water logging, as gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph accompany the forecast. The seven-day forecast indicates a gradual escalation in rainfall intensity. Starting Tuesday, North Tamil Nadu, including Cuddalore and Ariyalur, will see increased precipitation, while the ghat areas of Coimbatore and the Nilgiris will face heavier showers from June 12. The peak is anticipated on June 14, with the Nilgiris under threat of extremely heavy rain exceeding 204.4 mm at one or two places, prompting heightened vigilance. Southern districts like Theni, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari are also likely to experience heavy rainfall throughout the week. In Chennai and its neighbourhood, the past 24 hours have already brought relief with substantial rainfall. Manali had received the highest rainfall of 80mm till 8.30am on Monday. During the day, several places in the city experienced moderate rainfall. By 7.30 pm, Nungambakkam recorded 15.6mm, while Jaya Engineering College and Good Will School Villivakkam in Tiruvallur logged 31.5mm each. Other areas like VIT Chennai (21.5mm) and Poonamallee (18.5mm) also saw decent showers, offering a welcome break from the recent heat, where maximum temperatures hovered around 38C. The local forecast predicts partly cloudy skies with continued light to moderate rain over the next two days.

Processing delay affects procurement of buses at Marudhamalai Hills

COIMBATORE: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department has been delaying the procurement of additional buses to operate on Marudhamalai Hills. HR&CE staff expressed concern that the officials are not prioritising the expansion of bus services, despite an announcement by Chief Minister MK Stalin in the Assembly a year ago. Currently, there are three buses in operation, of which one undergoes frequent maintenance and repairs. As a result, staff are left to manage large crowds during festival days with limited buses, and are often forced to hire private buses with the help of donors. If the department procures three additional buses that were already announced, it would benefit the public, said a staff requesting anonymity. Marudhamalai is known for its wild animal movement, and using the steps in the evening can pose serious risks to public safety. However, during festival days, many devotees use the steps even late in the evening, highlighting the urgent need for additional bus facilities. The temple authorities should take necessary steps to procure additional buses for Marudhamalai temple, the staff added. Increasing the number of buses would not only enhance safety but also boost revenue, especially since four-wheelers are prohibited on the hill road. Considering the crowd and space constraints, the HR&CE department restricts the entry of four-wheelers on Marudhamalai Hills during festival days and sometimes even limits bikes, forcing devotees to rely on the steps or the temple-run buses. The Marudhamalai Hills road spans 2.5 km and takes about five minutes to reach the top. With a seating capacity of 40, a single bus can transport around 65 people at a time. As the number of devotees visiting the temple continues to rise, around 80% of them require bus services. We can worship Lord Murugan within 30 minutes. However, due to the high demand for buses on peak days, what should take five minutes to travel often results in at least an hour of waiting, said N Velmurugan, who visits the temple from Singanallur every Tuesday for darshan. According to sources, the chief minister announced three additional buses for Marudhamalai Hills during the Assembly in June 2024. Subsequently, the temple management trust passed a resolution to approve this initiative in October 2024. However, no progress has been made since. As per government policy, a specific brand of buses (Ashok Leyland) is to be procured through the Government e Marketplace (GeM) based on approval from the HR&CE commissioner. This approval is given upon the resolution passed by the temple trust and the estimated costs quoted by temple authorities. After a process, the commissionerate will grant approval. In this case, the estimated cost for the three buses is around Rs 1.4 crore, and all necessary documents were submitted to the commissionerate several months ago. However, delays in follow-ups are holding up the procurement process, sources said. If officials work on this matter consistently, the buses can be acquired within a month, the sources added.

RTE funds from centre to states need not be linked to NEP: Madras HC

CHENNAI: In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has held that the centres obligation to disburse its share of funds to Tamil Nadu towards reimbursement of fees for students admitted in private schools under the Right to Education (RTE) Act is an independent responsibility and it need not be linked with the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP). The state government has the non-derogable obligation to reimburse the fee to private unaided schools, and non-receipt of funds from the centre cannot be cited as a reason to wriggle out of that statutory obligation, the court said. A division bench of Justices GR Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan issued the ruling while disposing of a PIL petition by Coimbatore-based activist V Eswaran praying for directions to the TN government to begin admissions under the RTE Act for 2025-26. The court observed that the obligation under the RTE Act is independent by itself. It referred to Section 7 of the Act that says that the central and state governments will have concurrent responsibility to provide funds for implementing the provisions of the Act. Section 7(3) also mandates that the centre provide the state government a specific percentage of expenditure referred under sub-section 2 as grant-in-aid from time-to-time in consultation with state governments, the bench noted. Therefore, funds payable to the state government, representing the central governments share, towards discharging the RTE Act obligations need not be linked to NEP-2020, the court said. Cant issue directions on RTE funds as TN govt has moved SC: Madras HC The bench, however, said it cannot issue binding directions since the TN government has already filed a suit in the Supreme Court regarding the non-disbursal of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. (The Tamil Nadu government recently moved the Supreme Court against the union government for non-disbursal of its share of Rs 2,152 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme over differences regarding signing of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding implementation of PM SHRI, another centrally-sponsored scheme, and three-language formula and other provisions of the NEP). Pointing out that the RTE component would be less than Rs 200 crore, the bench said there cannot be any difficulty in releasing this share by the central government. Therefore, we direct the centre to consider delinking the RTE component from the Samagra Shiksha Scheme and disburse the funds, the HC said. Further, the bench directed the state government to adhere to the timeline stated in the statute as the quantum of disbursement to schools cannot be arbitrary but it has to be as per section 12 (2) of the Act read with TN Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules. TN moves SC against Centre withholding funds over not implementing NEP; seeks release of 2291 crore

Revenue department in Coimbatore slashes pending land survey applications in 2 years

Woman dies by suicide in Coimbatore just five days after marriage

Fire causes cylinder explosion at house in Coimbatore; no causalty reported

Mammoth UGD charges upset Coimbatore residents

400 sanitary workers arrested for holding road blockade protest in Coimbatore

It was the second consecutive day of the protest. Garbage was not collected in many areas of the city in the last two days due to their protest.

Guest worker murdered near Coimbatore for denying homosexual advances

The Sulur police in Coimbatore district on Tuesday arrested M Mohammed Muktar, 31, of Kurhani village in Muzaffarpur district in Bihar on charges of murdering M Subhan Ansari, 50.

Police deny allegations of medical waste dumped at a quarry site in Coimbatore

Orange Alert For Tamil Nadu's Ghat Districts: Heavy Rainfall Forecast For Coimbatore, Nilgiris June 13-15 - MSN

Orange Alert For Tamil Nadu's Ghat Districts: Heavy Rainfall Forecast For Coimbatore, Nilgiris June 13-15 MSN

Fake currency racket busted near Sulur; kingpin on the run

COIMBATORE: A major fake currency racket operating from Sarathambal Nagar near Karumathampatti, on the outskirts of Sulur, was busted by the local police, leading to the arrest of one individual while four others, including the alleged mastermind, are on the run. According to police sources, Udayakumar, a resident of Sarathambal Nagar, was staying at a rented house along with his brothers Daya and Logu, a relative Senthilkumar, and a friend Ilavarasan. The group had reportedly lured a local man named Muthukumar with an enticing offer exchange Rs 50,000 for Rs 1 lakh in cash. Believing the deal to be genuine, Muthukumar visited their residence and handed over Rs 50,000 in cash. In return, the group gave him what appeared to be Rs 1 lakh in Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes. However, upon closer inspection, Muthukumar realised that only the top and bottom notes were real, while the rest were bundles of blank paper. Shocked and angered, Muthukumar confronted the group but managed to escape and lodged a complaint with the Karumathampatti police. As officers arrived at the scene, the suspects attempted to flee in a car. A swift chase ensued, during which Ilavarasan, a native of Dharmapuri, was apprehended. The others escaped on foot. A search of the vehicle revealed a suitcase filled with counterfeit currency. Further raids at their rented house uncovered four large bundles of fake notes, scanners, laptops, note-counting machines, and stacks of Aadhaar cards and documents linked to multiple states including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Preliminary investigations revealed that Udayakumar was the leader of the gang, which is suspected to have duped people across districts and states. Police have formed two special teams to track down the absconding suspects.

Ex-MLA Gunasekaran passes away

TIRUPPUR: Former Tiruppur South MLA S Gunasekaran (58) of the AIADMK passed away on Monday morning due to ill-health. He was admitted to a private hospital in Coimbatore for the past few days. Functionaries of various political parties and the public paid their last respects to him at his home at Rakkiyapalayam in Tiruppur. Former Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman, former ministers SP Velumani, P Thangamani, KA Sengottaiyan, MR Vijayabaskar, Udumalai K Radhakrishnan, MSM Anandan were among his party colleagues who paid tributes. Tiruppur Mayor N Dinesh Kumar and local functionaries paid tribute on behalf of DMK. Gunasekaran was serving as the Joint Secretary of Amma Peravai in AIADMK. He was a Councillor of Tiruppur Corporation from 2001 to 2006 and the Deputy Mayor of the Tiruppur City Municipal Corporation from 2011 to 2016. He represented the Tiruppur South Assembly constituency from 2016 to 2021. He was fondly called 'Makkal Nanban' by the people of Tiruppur. On Monday evening, his body was taken in a procession and cremated at the South Rotary Electric Crematorium in Tiruppur. Gunasekaran is survived by his wife and two children, said party sources.

Re-employment granted to HOD at Periyar University violating norms, allege professors

COIMBATORE: Breaking away from its Act and Statutes, the academic year for 2025-26 at Periyar University starts on June 30, instead of July 1. Professors from the university have alleged that this decision favours the head of the Department of Management Studies, for illegal re-employment for 2025-26. A syndicate meeting, chaired by former Vice-Chancellor (V-C) R Jagannathan, was held on March 3, 2025. According to the syndicate minutes, accessed by TNIE, the retirement age for university teachers is 60. According to the minutes of the meeting, V R Palanivelu, head of the Department of Management Studies will turn 60 on June 14, 2025, and therefore, will superannuate on June 30, 2025. The academic year runs from June 1 to March 31. Since his retirement falls within this academic year, he is eligible for re-employment until March 31, 2026. After the syndicate meeting, the university issued a vacation declaration on April 27, from May 2 to June 30. But the universitys Act and Statutes in Holidays and Vacations paragraph states that full-time teachers of the university shall be entitled to a summer vacation of two months, from May 1 to June 30 (both days inclusive). Besides, it noted that the higher education department secretary, on May 22, informed registrars that the reopening date would be July 1. An assistant professor, seeking anonymity, told TNIE that while the syndicate minutes cited the Act to state that the academic year runs from June 1 to March 31, this is totally wrong and contradictory. He stated that the academic year begins on July 1 and ends on April 30 or 31. Moreover, as Palanivelu attains 60, the university granted re-employment until June 30 during the syndicate meeting. Furthermore, the syndicate approved his re-employment to continue till March 2026, he claimed. Another assistant professor told TNIE that it is better to offer re-employment to staff who retires at the beginning, middle or the end of an academic year. This would help the professors complete the curriculum, and prevents any abrupt disruptions for the students. In Palanivelus case, the state government would lose around Rs 30 lakh in salary due to the re-employment, he alleged. He stated that a professor from the Mathematics department, who retired in June 2024, was not given re-employment citing the academic year. Former president of Association of University Teachers, P Thirunavukkarasu, urged the higher education secretary to cancel the re-employment through the syndicate and take legal action against those who approved Palanivelus re-employment. Palanivelu refused to comment about his re-employment. Higher Education Department secretary C Samayamoorthy told TNIE he would look into the matter.

Pollachi North BDO to file case against former panchayat president for embezzlement

COIMBATORE: Based on the District Collector G Giriyappanavar's direction to the Assistant Director (AD) of Panchayats to initiate criminal action against former Ramapattinam panchayat President R Ponnusamy for misappropriation of state government funds while executing schemes under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) during his tenure, officials are preparing to file a complaint in the local police station. Speaking to TNIE, Kamalakannan, AD of Panchayats, said that the Pollachi North Block Development Officer (BDO) who just joined duty on Monday after completing his 10-day leave, will file a complaint with the local police in the coming days. He has been instructed to follow up and report to the collector. Kamalakannan accepted that there was a delay in filing a complaint as the current BDO was on leave. Sources said the collector has given direction to initiate criminal action through the AD as he is unable to take action, since the panchayat president's tenure already ended. The collector has also directed the AD to collect Rs 6.53 lakh from the former panchayat president, as Ponnusamy did not carry out check dam construction works at the groves of two residents Nagaraj and Nithyananthan in the panchayat, sources added. Ponnusamy also released a daily wage of Rs 1.07 lakh to workers, while purchasing raw materials worth Rs 4.50 lakh by creating fake documents. The collector's order mentions that the amount was handed over to a vendor named Nataraj, but he has repaid Rs 2.09 lakh to the government. It is the duty of the panchayat president to get approval for work being carried out under the MGNREGS during gram sabha meetings and subsequently, get administrative sanction from the district collector. The president should also maintain a proper register related to workers' attendance and release of wages. However, the explanation given by Ponnusamy after misappropriation is not acceptable, said the collector's order further said.

CIBIL for crop loan: TN govt allays farmers fears

COIMBATORE: As farmers in many places in TN came out in protest on Monday, condemning the state governments alleged move to verify CIBIL scores before sanctioning of crop loans by cooperative societies, the government clarified later in the day that the order of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) issued on May 26 has been misread. Officials from the Cooperation department said that, contrary to the fears raised by the farmers, the order issued by the RCS regarding loans issued through Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was referring to CIBIL Statement and not CIBIL Score. CIBIL statement will be verified only to check whether the applicant has taken loans from any other bank under the scheme, sources said. The guidelines outlining the procedure for issuing loans under the KCC scheme clearly state that the maximum loan eligibility is Rs 3 lakh. Hence, cooperative banks are required to verify whether the applicant has existing KCC loans from other banks to ensure that the limit has not been exceeded, an official explained. The official clarified that the guidelines did not talk about checking the CIBIL score for eligibility. Earlier on Monday, farmers from many districts submitted petitions to their respective collectors, urging them to take the matter at once with CM Stalin for his intervention. Many farmers, who have taken agricultural capital loans, educational loans, loans for small and micro-enterprises related to agriculture from nationalised banks are unable to repay their dues due to lack of income from agriculture, and are already facing issues with their CIBIL report, said M Ganesan, state deputy secretary of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Pathukappu Sangam. Stating that cooperative societies were their only refuge, Ganesan said including crop loans from cooperative societies in the CIBIL reports will make it difficult for them to get crop or other loans from nationalised banks. (Inputs from Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchy)

Stronger policies needed for Tamil Nadu to meet 2030 EV goals, says report

CHENNAI: A new report by the State Planning Commission and Guidance Tamil Nadu has stressed the need for strong policy support, failing which the state may not meet the nations target to adopt Electric Vehicles (EVs) in over 20% commercial fleets by 2030. The study, titled Tamil Nadus Automotive Future, outlines a roadmap for transforming the state into a hub for clean mobility innovation. It calls for the creation of a high-level Mobility Innovation and Growth Council with representation from government, industry and academia, to coordinate cross-sector efforts. A proposed Mobility Data Commons would pool anonymised data from EVs, charging stations, and logistics platforms to inform real-time policy and urban planning. Tamil Nadu currently produces the majority of Indias electric two-wheelers and accounts for nearly half of all auto exports. However, EV sales remain modest, accounting for only 6.6% of total vehicle sales as of August 2024. This lags far behind countries such as China, where EVs make up around 40% of sales, and the US, where penetration has reached 12.5%. To close this gap, the report proposes a six-point strategy starting with a state-backed Mobility Innovation Fund to co-finance research into battery chemistry, hydrogen propulsion, AI-enabled systems, and lightweight materials. Dedicated research and development clusters in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Hosur, with testing tracks, shared labs, and certification facilities-would help scale innovation. The report says that despite multiple training schemes, there is a persistent shortage of workers trained in modern EV technologies. A proposed Mobility Skills 2030 programme would link education and industry through specialised courses, including upskilling for workers shifting from combustion engine servicing to EV maintenance. Higher labour costs and geographic concentration of manufacturing around Chennai pose risks, the report observed. The roadmap suggests scaling up public charging networks, enabling battery swapping through concessional land allocations, and enforcing EV-ready building codes. For commercial segments, the report calls for adaptive subsidies, fleet electrification guarantees, and incentives for localisation and employment generation. It urges TN to link EV investments to affordable housing and enterprise support, especially in under served districts and for women entrepreneurs

Missing Piravom teen found in Coimbatore, reunited with family

KOCHI: Police traced and reunited a teenager who had gone missing from Onakkoor near Piravom on June 2. Arjun, 17, son of Raghu, was located in Coimbatore and brought back with the help of police and relatives. According to officials, Arjun had left home due to anxiety over his Plus-I examination results. A bright student who had secured an A+ in his SSLC exams, Arjun was apprehensive that he may not be able to achieve good scores in Plus-I exams. During the investigation, police learnt that Arjun had travelled to Coimbatore. Kerala police had informed their Tamil Nadu counterpart and Railway Protection Force about the boy. Police had received information that some persons had spotted Arjun in Coimbatore. A search operation was under way in the Tamil Nadu state. On Saturday, Arjun contacted his parents using a local residents phone. The family immediately informed the police, who, along with relatives from Palakkad, went to Coimbatore and brought him back.

Electrolyte drinks not ORS substitutes, warn officials

COIMBATORE: Officials of the Drug Administration Department and Food Safety Department have instructed pharmacies not to recommend electrolyte drinks, such as ORSL, to patients, instead of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution). Many pharmacies often recommend electrolyte drinks such as ORSL instead of ORS for rehydration. However, officials said such drinks are not WHO-recommended, contain high levels of sugar and may actually worsen ones health. The two departments also held a meeting with pharmacy owners a few days ago in Coimbatore and gave several instructions on the sale of electrolyte drinks.These drinks can worsen dehydration during diarrhoea due to the presence of high sugar content, said Dr T Anuradha, Designated Food Safety Officer, Coimbatore. Though electrolyte drinks in tetra-packs have disclaimers such as not for medical use, they are often sold to customers as it is profitable for the sellers. S Marimuthu, Assistant Director of Drug Control, Coimbatore zone, said pharmacies should offer electrolyte drinks after asking the customer about the reason for consumption.

Four more U-turns to come up in Coimbatore city

Agri dept targeting 900 soil tests in Coimbatore district this year

Sanitary workers besiege Coimbatore district collectorate, demand wage hike

Alamaram startup incubator conducts its first demo day in Coimbatore

GPS-based smart police patrol system introduced in Coimbatore city

Contract conservancy workers and drivers protest in Coimbatore seeking wage hike and pending dues

Farmers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts demand withdrawal of CIBIL score requirement for crop loans

Traders at Anna Market in Coimbatore appeal to civic body to maintain current existing rent structure until completion of renovation work

Police on lookout for associates of man held with fake currencies in Coimbatore

Use of wet mix as interim measure on Coimbatore roads poses safety risks

Jade at Coimbatores Broadway mall reimagines Indian flavours for the modern palate

Solar & Storage Expo 2025 Tamil Nadu Concludes with Resounding Success in Coimbatore - SolarQuarter

Solar & Storage Expo 2025 Tamil Nadu Concludes with Resounding Success in Coimbatore SolarQuarter

Home alone widow stabbed during burglary dies in Namakkal

A 67-year-old woman who sustained injuries during a burglary attempt at her home in Namakkal district late on Saturday died of injuries on Sunday. Samiatthal, a widow, was living alone on a farmland near Paramathi Velur. Around 12 am, she was sleeping outside her home when she was woken up by an unknown intruder. The assailant demanded her to give up her possessions, including jewellery and money, and Samiatthal raised an alarm. The assailant panicked, stabbed Samiatthal in the face and fled, police said. Alerted by her screams, Samiatthals neighbours reached her home and took her to the Tiruchengode government hospital. Her relatives living in neighbouring villages were also informed about the attack. Samiatthal was later transferred to a private hospital in Coimbatore, where she succumbed to her injuries early on Sunday.

Heavy rains ahead for north, west Tamil Nadu this week

CHENNAI: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy rain at isolated places over Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tirupattur, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore districts in Tamil Nadu, as well as in Puducherry, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additionally, Villupuram is likely to receive heavy rain on Tuesday, while The Nilgiris, ghat areas of Coimbatore and Ariyalur may experience heavy showers on Wednesday. From Thursday to Saturday, heavy rain is likely at isolated places in The Nilgiris, Theni, Tenkasi and the ghat areas of Coimbatore. Tirunelveli, Dindigul, and Kanniyakumari may also receive heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday. This is due to an upper air cyclonic circulation over Southeast and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal as well as moderate westerlies/south westerlies prevailing over the region in the lower tropospheric levels. As far as Chennai is concerned, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain on Monday. Maximum temperature is expected to be around 38C while minimum temperature would be around 28-29C. In its general forecast, the RMC said light to moderate rainfall is likely at a few places across TN, Puducherry and Karaikal till June 14. Maximum temperatures are expected to remain 2-3C above normal at a few pockets, resulting in hot and uncomfortable weather on Monday. However, temperatures are likely to drop by 1-2C at some places on Tuesday, bringing some relief. Temperatures above normal at many places Over the past few days, maximum temperatures have been 2-4C above normal at several locations. On Sunday, Puducherry recorded a maximum of 40C, followed by 39.6C in Erode and Madurai Airport, 39.4C in Vellore, 39.2C in Palayamkottai and 39C in Karur Paramathi. The temperature in Karur Paramathi was 4.8C above normal, while it was 2.9C above normal in Palayamkottai. Parts of Tirupattur, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur received light showers, the RMC said.

Unable to trace mom, Coimbatore forest staff set to shift elephant calf

COIMBATORE: Forest officials are awaiting an official order to shift the calf, which was separated from its mother, from Sirumugai forest range to Kozhikamuthi in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) or Theppakkadu elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), as the search for the mother elephant enters the third week. The staff of Sirumugai range and neighbouring forest ranges have been trying to reunite the calf for the last 14 days , but could not trace the mother so far. The forest officials are prepared to transport the calf on a boat in the Bhavani River, if the state government issues an order to shift the animal. We have readied a wooden structure (kraal) which will be fixed after shifting the animal. The wooden structure will hold the animal tightly since chances of shaking are high during waves while travelling through the river. A few staff who are currently feeding the animal will also accompany, said an official of the Sirumugai forest range.

Motorists seek lasting fix for dilapidated Adis Street in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Motorists commuting through Adis Street in the city's central zone have raised concerns over the poor condition of the stretch, which has remained in a dilapidated state for weeks. With the closure of Avinashi Road at Uppilipalayam Junction due to ongoing flyover construction, all vehicular traffic has been diverted through Adis Street, worsening the already deteriorated road. Adis Street is a crucial stretch for commuters travelling from Nehru Stadium and Gandhipuram to Race Course, Railway Station, Avinashi Road and beyond. The road was dug up as part of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation's (CCMC) 24x7 Suez drinking water supply project, but after pipeline works, surface was only loosely filled with gravel and chip stones, turning the entire stretch into a dust bowl. It is like driving through a construction site every day. The dust is unbearable and road is damaging our vehicles, said S Srihari, a daily commuter and resident of Ram Nagar. I understand that development takes time, but leaving the road like this for long is unacceptable. Another commuter, V Radha, a daily commuter to her office near Anna Salai, said, There is no proper signage, no water sprayed to control dust, and potholes are everywhere. Loose gravel makes it dangerous, especially for two-wheelers. The stretch is now struggling to handle diverted traffic, resulting in gridlocks and an increased risk of accidents. Residents and commuters are urging civic authorities to take immediate action and repair the road surface. The road must immediately be made motorable, said a member of the local auto drivers' union. Thousands use this road every day - this neglect is inconvenient and unsafe. Motorists are hoping for swift intervention from CCMC to restore normalcy before monsoon worsens conditions further. When inquired, a CCMC official from the engineering wing said that the road will be relaid completely as soon as pipeline works are completed.

Census to identify persons with disabilities launched in Coimbatore district

Four youths held for placing boulders on railway track in Coimbatore

Guest worker from Bihar found murdered in Coimbatore

Private hospital in Coimbatore directed to pay 6.35 lakh to woman for medical negligence

Four arrested for placing stones on railway track in Coimbatore

Migrant worker found murdered at Arasur near Coimbatore

Pamba police recovers 102 mobile phones lost by Sabarimala devotees during Mandala Makaravilakku pilgrimage

PATHANAMTHITTA: Pamba police have successfully recovered 102 mobile phones lost by devotees during the last Mandala Makaravilakku pilgrimage at Sabarimala. The phones were recovered with the help of the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, which blocks lost phones and tracks their location. While looking into over 230 complaints, around 25 phones worth Rs 6.5 lakhs were recovered by the police. The police cyber help desk, set up to assist pilgrims, registered complaints from devotees and used the CEIR portal to block the phones. When the blocked phones were turned on, the network service provider portal sent information to the complainant and the police station, helping officials track and recover the phones. Most of the recovered phones were traced to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, with areas like Kambam, Theni, and Coimbatore being major hotspots. Currently, the Pathanamthitta police are planning to expand their investigation to these areas and are advising people to exercise caution when purchasing second-hand phones. The police cyber help desk has proven to be an effective tool in recovering lost phones and is likely to continue assisting pilgrims in the future.

TNCC president Selvaperunthagai slams centre over GST, delimitation and Murugan conference

COIMBATORE: Tamilnadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai strongly criticised the BJP-led Central government on Saturday, questioning its intent and fairness on multiple fronts, including GST allocation, parliamentary seat delimitation, and cultural politics. Speaking to reporters at the Coimbatore airport, Selvaperunthagai said, How can a government that failed to ensure fair GST distribution across states promise a just delimitation of parliamentary constituencies? He accused the Centre of deliberately ignoring Tamil Nadu's interests. Tamil Nadu is the third largest GST contributor in the country, yet we don't receive our rightful share. The BJP government continues to treat Tamil Nadu as less than an equal state, he said, calling the move a betrayal. Referring to the recent Lord Murugan conference organised by the Union government, the TN Congress leader questioned its motive. Our Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department had already held a Murugan conference. Why the need now for a second one by the Union government? If they truly believe in equality, they should hold such events in Gujarat or Uttar Pradesh too, he said, alleging an attempt to stir fear among people. Commenting on Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Tamil Nadu, he said the BJP was seeking to create chaos in the state. But the people of Tamil Nadu are politically aware. There is no space for the BJP or the RSS in this land, he added. On the proposed parliamentary delimitation, Selvaperunthagai warned that increasing the number of seats from 545 to 1,000 could dilute Tamil Nadu's voice in Parliament. Even today, Tamil Nadu struggles to get ten minutes of speaking time. With 1,000 MPs, it might be just two minutes. That's not justice, he said. He demanded that the Union government immediately conduct a caste-wise census and stop delaying it under flimsy pretexts.