Coimbatore records 13.3mm rainfall on Sunday

5 houses damaged as early monsoon rains lash Coimbatore - dtnext

5 houses damaged as early monsoon rains lash Coimbatore dtnext

Coimbatore residents seek better planning from Corporation amid repeated road excavations

Where compassion cuts through scepticism & silence

TIRUPPUR: Only the snips of scissors punctuated the silence as the man getting his hair cut, partly unaware of the happenings, finally seemed to develop a trust for the hairdresser and the group of volunteers who had expressed to help him out. Squatted by the roadside, the unhesitating barber parted the homeless mans strands of hair that had not seen a wash or a comb in years. Tufts of unkempt grays and blacks hit the ground one by one, and when the barber was done, the scissors had also snipped away at the stigma. The volunteers then assisted the man in getting a bath and provided him with a meal. Once or twice every month, mostly on Sundays, in Pothampalayam village along the border of Tiruppur district, the 45-year-old hairdresser, N Deivaraj, and the volunteers of New Deiva City Trust, one that he has been running since 2000, stick to the ritual offering a free haircut to destitute people and individuals struggling with mental health issues, neglected by their families and the society, living on the roadside. The volunteers of the trust, which still operates out of a building unfinished due to lack of funds, besides providing free haircuts to homeless people, have also rescued, over the two decades, nearly a total of 5,000 individuals and assisted them in getting a place at a shelter home. The founder of the organisation said he has so far given free haircuts and a meal to around 35,000 such individuals. Deivarajs family providing meals to the homeless In 2000, Deivaraj, who had taken up his grandfathers profession after being unable to pursue schooling post-Class 10, began the initiative by visiting homeless individuals on weekends and offering them free haircuts. Reflecting on the precursory actions, Deivaraj said, Initially, I extended help through my profession, occasionally giving free haircuts. It was only after settling down in Tiruppur I founded the trust, which was formally registered only in 2009. Years of coming across people living on the roadside, especially during his schooling at his native Kattaripatti in Karur district, and being unable to provide them with anything has developed the resolve to consistently carry out work over the decades, he said. After organising free monthly hairdressing camps, along with all the volunteers who have turned up, we started receiving requests from a lot of people, he said. Used to being neglected, homeless individuals often shrink from strangers, even when we reach out with compassion. Some speak a word or two after getting a haircut, while some open up only when they recognise your intentions. After some of them requested us to offer accommodation, we started helping them get admitted to orphanages and shelters, said Deivaraj. Though he managed to organise camps and rescue individuals, building a shelter for the homeless people turned out to be the will-o-the-wisp that Deivaraj has been chasing after for decades. Homeless shelters are reluctant to support individuals with physical disabilities, he said, and lack of funds and sponsors have made establishing one such shelter elusive. The organisation has an ambulance for rescue works and has even acted upon requests from outside the district. Besides, it is also engaged in performing the funeral rites for the orphaned dead. We have performed the last rites for about 2,000 deceased individuals. Sometimes, we get sponsors, and for the rest, we spend out of our pockets, said Deivaraj, who became a tea seller after moving from Aathupalayam to Pothampalayam. Sivagami, who married Deivaraj when she was 21, runs a petty shop in the village, and the two have five kids, including two children, whom they adopted after their father a friend of the couple passed away. Sivagami said, Once I understood my husbands intentions, I never hesitated to travel with him. The money could be spent towards the development of the family, however, it is not greater than the satisfaction we get from the service. From time to time, the trust building has sheltered surprising visitors. Recalling one such incident, Sivagami said one Marimuthu (55) from Pollachi in Coimbatore district, due to a disagreement with his family, lived alone in Tiruppur. After a stroke left him unable to tend to his needs, he developed lesions in his body. When the trust rescued him from the roadside, we admitted him to a government hospital. After his family refused to take care of him, Marimuthu stayed in the trust for six months, during which period we treated the lesions. In December last, he was reunited with his family, she said. The family has found a kindred spirit in R Parthasarathy (66), an orphan from Thoothukudi who lost his job at a knitwear firm after an accident three years ago had severely injured his arm and leg, forcing him to go homeless. I fought hard to overcome hunger. I did not know whom to turn to for help. In early 2024, the trust found out about me and rescued me. Till now, Im living with the Deivaraj family, who serve me the food they eat.

Met dept issues red alert for Nilgiris, Coimbatore ghat areas - PressReader

Met dept issues red alert for Nilgiris, Coimbatore ghat areas PressReader

TNPDCL forms 77 teams to address electricity issues during rains in Coimbatore region

COIMBATORE: As part of monsoon preparedness, Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) for the Coimbatore region has constituted 77 designated teams to attend to emergency situations and restore electricity supply in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, and Tiruppur districts. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for the Nilgiris and Ghat areas of Coimbatore on Sunday and Monday, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall. TNPDCL in the Coimbatore region has taken precautionary measures to restore electricity supply and prevent mishaps. The Coimbatore region consists of Coimbatore, Nilgiris, and Tiruppur districts, and has seven distribution circles, with each circle having seven divisions and sub-divisions. Each team consists of around 20 staff, including assistant engineers, foremen, line inspectors, and gangman staff. There are 77 sub-divisions in the Coimbatore region, and each sub-division has a special team to attend to emergencies. Around 2,300 employees are in ready status. Also, we have around 3,400 EB poles for restoration purposes, and poles will be used if found damaged. Other materials and safety gear have also been kept in adequate amounts, said Chief Engineer of TNPDCL, Coimbatore Region, K Kuppurani. Coimbatore district administration gears up to tackle monsoon as IMD warns of heavy rains She said they have given additional attention to hill stations in the Nilgiris and Valparai, where landslides and thunderstorm alerts have been issued. Additional manpower and equipment have been provided to the Nilgiris and Valparai to manage emergency situations. Meanwhile, Coimbatore city (Metro Circle), where the department faced major damage a few days ago due to strong winds and rain, has also been marked as a vulnerable location. Adequate staff and materials have been provided, according to Superintending Engineer of the Coimbatore Metro Circle, C Sathishkumar. Heavy rain likely in TN, mild showers in Chennai

Coimbatore district administration gears up to tackle monsoon as IMD warns of heavy rains

COIMBATORE: After the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of heavy rainfall in Coimbatore district between May 24 and 27, the district administration has initiated a series of precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impact of the southwest monsoon. On Saturday, District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar, along with Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran and District Monitoring Officer and Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation Managing Director Kranthi Kumar Pati, conducted a field inspection of flood-prone areas under the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation. The inspection covered key zones, including near Avinashi Flyover and Kaleeswara Mill Road in the Central Zone, where additional electric motors have been deployed and kept ready to ensure quick drainage of rainwater. The team also reviewed the functioning of the Integrated Command and Control Centre at RS Puram in the Western Zone, which plays a central role in real-time rain monitoring and emergency coordination. In the Eastern Zone, canal desilting work near Avinashi Road Fun Mall was examined. Addressing media persons, the collector said the district administration has implemented a slew of anticipatory measures. Meetings with officials from all key departments have been held over the past two days. The National Disaster Response Force has been deployed to Valparai and Topslip, which are expected to receive the heaviest rainfall. More than 40 relief camps have been set up across the district, including a temporary rescue shelter at the government college in Valparai, he said. Heavy rain likely in TN, mild showers in Chennai Emergency equipment including 43 generators, 100 earthmovers, 50 water tankers, and tree-cutting tools are on standby. Canal desilting work has reached 75% completion, and residents have been advised to avoid riverbanks, especially along Bhavani River, and to stay away from water bodies during this period. Zone-wise emergency helpline numbers have been issued for public assistance. The collector assured that there is no need for panic. Meanwhile, in view of the red alert issued to the Nilgiris district, the forest department has announced that the pine forest and Doddabetta peak will remain closed on May 25. Also, Avalanche in Ooty received 113 mm rainfall as on Saturday morning as incessant rains continue to lash the district.

Heavy rain likely in TN, mild showers in Chennai

CHENNAI: With the southwest monsoon officially setting in over Kerala early this year, and advancing into large parts of Tamil Nadu, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) on Saturday issued a seven-day rainfall forecast for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Chennai is likely to experience moderate rain, with temperatures ranging between 35 and 37C. Heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph, is likely in several districts, including the Nilgiris, Coimbatore (ghat areas), Theni, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, and Tiruppur, from May 25 to May 28. A low-pressure area is likely to form over west-central and adjoining North Bay of Bengal around May 27, said B Amudha, head of RMC. People residing in vulnerable districts told to remain alert Significant rainfall has already been reported in the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts, with Avalanche and Pandalur receiving 11 cm each, and Chinnakalar in Coimbatore recording 9 cm in 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Saturday. The Nilgiris and the ghat areas of Coimbatore may experience isolated extreme rainfall spells from May 25-26, as forecasted by the met office, which has issued a Red alert for the district administrations. Chennai is also expected to experience moderate rain and thunderstorms, with temperatures ranging between 35-37C. Isolated parts of the city, including Medavakkam and Kannagi Nagar, recorded 4-5 cm of rain as of Saturday morning. Officials urged residents in vulnerable districts to remain alert and follow local advisories, especially in hilly regions prone to landslides and waterlogging. With an active monsoon spell expected to continue, authorities are preparing for potential disruptions in travel and public services. To a query on how June is shaping, met officals said it will be updated by the month-end after the low pressure area develops in the Bay of Bengal.

Missing disabled youth murdered, buried by care home staff in Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE: The 24-year-old disabled youth who had been reported missing from a care home in Pollachi was beaten to death by the trustees and staff at the facility on May 12, Coimbatore district rural police revealed on Saturday. Police arrested four people in connection with the murder. Police exhumed the body of the young man, SR Varunkanth, from the farmland owned by the trust at S Nagoor near Nadupuni in Pollachi in the presence of the Pollachi sub-collector in-charge and the tahsildar and handed it over to his parents after postmortem on Saturday evening. Varunkanth hailed from Karavali Mathappur in Sulur Block. According to the FIR registered based on his parents complaint, he had Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). T Ravikumar and Banumathi had admitted their son at the Yuthira Charitable Trust (Special Children Care and Training Centre) at Rathinasabapathy Puram in Pollachi in February. They had approached the police after the home claimed that Varunkanth had gone missing during the homes outing to Aliyar Dam on May 15. Police on Saturday said that, in fact, the youth had been murdered and buried on May 12. The trustees refused to take Varunkanth to a theme park in Mettupalayam, claiming that he was not obeying them. They took the other inmates and left him alone at the home. This has caused the youth a lot of embarrassment and he apparently behaved aggressively. The trustees and staff at the home got angry and started beating him with cricket bats and plastic pipes. They continued assaulting the youth, till he fell unconscious and died, a senior police official said. The suspects then allegedly wrapped the body in a plastic cover and transported it by auto to the farmland. There they dug at least five pits before burying the body and planting a sapling over the site, police said. To mask any odours, they sprayed cow dung mixed with water after burying him, police added. To cover up the murder, the trustees and staff told Varunkanths parents that he had gone missing during a trip to Aliyar Dam on May 15. To cover up the murder, the trustees and staff told Varunkanths parents that he had gone missing during a trip to Aliyar Dam on May 15. Aliyar police, investigating the fathers missing person complaint, found no evidence that Varunkanth had gone to Aliyar and suspicion turned to the home instead. The four people arrested were identified as Giriram (36), a trustee and a native of Tiruvannamalai, Senthil Babu (54), father of another trustee from Pollachi, Nithish (26), staff at the home, and Ranganayaki (36), a cook at the home. We are also searching for the few others in connection with the murder, including Shaji and Dr Kavitha, trustees of the home, said a police officer. Sources said over 10 persons could have been involved in the murder and cover-up. Meanwhile, the district differently-abled welfare department investigated the functioning of the home and found they had collected excessive amounts as fees and donations. The department has begun a safety audit at all homes and schools where persons with disabilities reside and study in the district. According to sources, the parents of inmates at Yuthira were charged Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 per month and up to Rs 1 lakh as donations. The facility has been shut and inmates shifted out.

TN CM Stalin submits key demands to PM Modi in brief Delhi meet

CHENNAI: The memorandum of demands submitted by Chief Minister MK Stalin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their brief one-on-one meeting on Saturday in New Delhi included approval for key infrastructure projects, change in the nomenclature of certain castes to remove the implied disrespect in the names, inclusion of Dalit Christians in the list of Scheduled Castes and the safeguarding the interests of Tamil Nadu fishermen. The infrastructure projects in the memorandum included approval for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail Projects in a 50:50 cost-sharing model between the state and the centre, handing over of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Indian Railways to Chennai Metro Rail Limited, widening of NH-32 between Chengalpattu and Tindivanam into eight lanes, expansion of Coimbatore and Madurai airports, and establishment of a new AIIMS in Coimbatore. The release of funds withheld under Samagra Shiksha scheme, for which the state government has recently approached the Supreme Court, was also part of the demands. Importantly, in a demand made by many SC and ST communities for long, the CM appealed to the PM to enact necessary legislation to change the names of all those castes ending with -n or -a, which imply disrespect, and instead end the names with -r to ensure dignity. Referring to the frequent arrest of TN fishermen and seizure of their boats by the Sri Lankan Navy, the CM urged the centre to find a permanent solution to the issue. The CM later told the media that he was given five minutes to interact and submit the list of demands to the PM. Tamil Nadu CM presses for 50% share for states in central taxes at NITI Aayog meet Asked whether he was hopeful of getting the demands fulfilled, Stalin said when he thanked the PM for releasing the funds for CMRL Phase II, the PM said it was released after the CM met him in person to request the same. Similarly, I have made these requests now. I told the PM to fulfil these also. Let us be hopeful, he said. When asked about allegations of scams worth Rs 1,000 crore in Tasmac and Rs 5,000 crore in sand mining, the CM dismissed them as false propaganda with Assembly polls in mind. On AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami s claims that his (CMs) visit to Delhi is motivated by personal reasons, Stalin said, He (EPS) said I have come here with a white flag (to offer peace). I neither have a white flag nor a saffron flag that EPS has. Key demands Coimbatore Metro - 34.8 km Rs 10,740.49 cr Madurai Metro - 32 km Rs 11,368.35 cr Handover of MRTS in Chennai to CMRL Eight-laning of accident prone Chengalpattu-Tindivanam NH32 Expansion of Coimbatore and Madurai airports Establishment of AIIMS in Coimbatore Changing SC, ST caste names ending with -n / -a suffix with -r Including Dalit Christians in the list of SCs

Thrashed with sticks, plastic pipes: Rehab home staff beat Tamil Nadu youth with ADHD to death

In Coimbatore, police exhumed the body of Varunkanth, a 24-year-old with ADHD, revealing he was beaten to death at a rehabilitation center near Pollachi. Four individuals have been arrested, while trustees Shaji and Dr. Kavitha are on the run. The staff fabricated a story about Varunkanth's disappearance at Aliyar dam after his murder on May 12.

Coimbatore Corporation ropes in volunteers to remove waste from Kurichi lake banks

Heavy rain: NDRF team stationed in Valparai; more than 40 relief camps set up in Coimbatore district

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain in Coimbatore district until May 26.

1,238 candidates get employment through job fair in Coimbatore

Heavy rain expected in Coimbatore district till May 26

Torrential downpour lashes Nilgiris, Coimbatore districts

Police to exhume body of youth 'beaten' to death at rehabilitation home in Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district, police are set to exhume the body of SR Varunkanth, a 24-year-old with ADHD, allegedly beaten to death by staff at a care facility near Pollachi. Following a missing person report filed by the victim's father, an investigation revealed the man's death and secret burial, leading to arrests and a search for remaining suspects.

Robbery suspect with 20 cases shot in leg after attacking police with sickle near Sankagiri, Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: A 25-year-old robbery-cum-murder suspect was shot in the leg by the police at an abandoned building near the foothills of Chinnagoundanur in Sankagiri on Saturday morning, after he attacked police personnel with a sickle while resisting arrest. The injured suspect has been identified as Niranjan, alias Naresh Kumar, a resident of Bottiyapuram. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Salem Government Hospital after being referred from Sankagiri GH. He was shot in his right leg. According to police, Naresh Kumar is facing close to 20 robbery cases, including a recent one in which he allegedly killed an elderly woman and robbed her of her stud after smashing her head with stones at Deevattipatti village near Omalur on May 20. Sarasu, alias Saraswathi, who had gone out grazing cattle, was found dead, and one sovereign of her stud was found missing. Based on a complaint from Saraswathis family, a special team was formed to nab the culprit. Police suspect that Naresh had been involved in similar crimes, especially targeting women who were alone, including an elderly woman at Salem and another at Magudanchavadi. He was also reportedly involved in two-wheeler theft cases in the Virudhunagar police station limits. Police said the special team, after receiving information about his whereabouts, went to an abandoned building near the Anjaneyar temple in Chinnagoundanur, Sankagiri, where Naresh was hiding. However, when the team tried to arrest him, the suspect attacked several police personnel, including the sub-inspector and a constable, Senthil Kumar, with a sickle. In retaliation and for self-defence, a police officer shot him in the right leg and subdued him. Following the incident, fellow police personnel rushed the suspect and the injured officers to Sankagiri hospital. After receiving first aid, the suspect was shifted to Salem GH for further treatment. Subsequently, Salem Range DIG E.S. Uma and other senior police personnel visited both the scene and the hospital and enquired about the condition of the suspect and the injured police officers.

Massive water pipe burst near Mettupalayam disrupts traffic

COIMBATORE: A major water pipeline supplying drinking water from Bhavani River near Mettupalayam to Tiruppur city burst near the Nadoor Bridge on the Mettupalayam-Annur Road on Friday afternoon, causing a spectacular fountain of water to shoot nearly 50 feet into the air and disrupting traffic in the area for over an hour. The pipeline, part of the Tiruppur Combined Drinking Water Scheme, draws about 120 million litres per day (MLD) from the Bhavani River and supplies it via giant pipelines through Mettupalayam, Annur, and Avinashi to Tiruppur. The unexpected rupture sent lakhs of litres of treated drinking water gushing onto the road, creating a flash flood-like situation. Motorists and passersby were stunned by the sheer force and volume of the water. Many stopped their vehicles near the bridge to capture photos and videos of the dramatic scene. The sudden flood made it nearly impossible for vehicles to navigate, especially as the summer holiday rush to tourist spots like Ooty has increased traffic through this stretch. Officials from the Mettupalayam Municipality, Annur panchayat, Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) and Tiruppur Municipal Corporation rushed to the scene. They immediately halted water intake from the pumping station near the Samanna water treatment plant to reduce the pressure and prevent further leakage. Repair crews were deployed quickly to assess and fix the broken pipeline. Traffic resumed after more than an hour, but not before a significant amount of precious drinking water was lost. Authorities are investigating the cause of the pipe burst and assessing the damage. Sources said high pressure and lack of maintenance of the valves might be the cause for the rupture. According to villagers, a small leak in the water pipeline quickly escalated into a major burst around 3.20 pm, resulting in a water jet rising over more than 15 feet high. Officials from the TWAD Board said that they were working to restore the damage in the pipeline and it will be rectified by Saturday.

Design tweaks, funding delays: Semmozhi Park now set for August launch

COIMBATORE: A combination of funding delays, design enhancements, and unseasonal rains has pushed the completion of Coimbatore's ambitious Semmozhi Park project to August 2025. The sprawling 45-acre urban space, under development on the prison grounds at Gandhipuram, was originally scheduled to open in June but has seen multiple setbacks. Civic officials say that nearly 85% of the work under Phase 1 is now complete. The Rs 167.25-crore project, being executed by the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) with 50% financial support from the State Government, came to a halt earlier this year due to a lack of funds. The CCMC had already spent Rs 70 cr when work stalled for over a month, prompting officials to request an additional Rs 50 cr to resume construction. Adding to the delay was the inclusion of new features and amenities in the park's design. Among the standout additions is what is set to become India's tallest Ferris wheel. With a massive diameter of 40 metres outstripping Mumbai's current record-holder at 31 m - the Ferris wheel will be built under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and is expected to be a major attraction. Sources said the structure will house 24 fully air-conditioned cabins, each capable of accommodating six to eight people. These modern, enclosed cabins are designed for comfort and panoramic views, offering visitors a unique way to experience the city skyline. Originally, the plan was to finish the project by June, said CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran. However, with the inclusion of new amenities like the Ferris wheel and zip line, work needed more time. Now, construction has picked up pace again, and we are targeting completion by August. Once completed, Semmozhi Park will offer a mix of ecological richness and recreational infrastructure. The park will feature more than 20 different types of gardens, showcasing rare species of trees from across the country. A mini waterfall, a 1,000-seat convention centre, a joggers' track, a museum, and an augmented reality (AR) centre are among the major attractions. In addition to these, the park will include heritage-style buildings, a gardener's residence, and an in-house nursery where rare plant and tree species will be available for sale. Public amenities will include free Wi-Fi, clean restrooms, and extensive parking facilities for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. To support its water needs and resilience, the park includes 15 lakh-litre capacity water storage sumps and German-technology stormwater drains to handle runoff efficiently. Speaking to TNIE, Commissioner Sivaguru Prabakaran said, Around Rs 15 cr in pending dues has been settled with the contractor, and only Rs 7 cr to Rs 8 cr remains to be disbursed. With construction back in full swing, the civic body is confident that all works, including the Ferris wheel and other new additions, will be completed in time for an August launch. With its unique blend of nature, innovation, and recreation, Semmozhi Park is expected to become a landmark destination not only for Coimbatore but for urban park design across the country.

Madras HC orders display of Ombudsman details in local bodies

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently directed the principal secretary of the municipal administration department to ensure that the availability of the ombudsman is exhibited in all the offices of local bodies in a prominent manner. Justice B Pugalendhi gave the direction last week while dismissing a petition moved by the commissioner of Puliyangudi municipality in Tenkasi, K Paunraj, against an interim order passed by the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Ombudsman Tribunal, referring the complaints made against him by the Taxpayers Welfare Association in Tenkasi and a few others to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in November 2019. The complainants had alleged that the petitioner had committed several financial irregularities and amassed wealth disproportionate to his sources of income. Paunraj's counsel, however, claimed that the association owed a huge amount in tax arrears and made the above complaint to intimidate him from taking any further action towards its recovery. The judge observed that the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Ombudsman Act was enacted in 2014 with an intention to address the complaints of corruption, maladministration, etc made against the elected members, officers and employees of the local bodies in the state. Section 6(4) of the Act empowers the ombudsman to avail the services of any officer or investigation agency of the government for the purpose of conducting inquiry under the Act. Hence, the order of the ombudsman does not warrant interference, he held. He also noted that a criminal case was registered against Paunraj by the district crime branch police (DCB), Coimbatore, in 2021, for misappropriating public funds to the tune of Rs 15.62 crore during his stint as Valparai municipality commissioner. The case was later transferred to the DVAC but no final report has been filed in the case despite a specific direction from the court in 2022, the judge noted, and directed the DVAC director to ensure that the final report is filed expeditiously.

Madras HC orders crackdown on overloaded share autos; calls for permit cancellation and vehicle seizure

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Principal Secretary of the State Transport Department to amend the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to allow for the cancellation of permits and the seizure and confiscation of share autos that carry more passengers than permitted. Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan issued the direction last week while dismissing an appeal filed by a share auto driver, Chellapandian, who challenged his conviction by the Paramakudi Sessions Court. The court had sentenced Chellapandian to two years' imprisonment in 2019 for driving under the influence, resulting in an accident that claimed three lives in Ramanathapuram district in 2015. The judge emphasized that every driver is a custodian of passengers and must drive responsibly. However, many auto drivers continue to operate recklessly, overloading their vehicles and disregarding traffic laws. Despite repeated court directives to control the issue, only a few cases have been registered. Even those few reflect an alarming trend, the judge noted, citing government data on share auto-related accidents in Tamil Nadu. The data revealed that from January 2008 to November 2024, 354 fatal and 2,290 non-fatal accident cases involving share autos were registered in Tamil Nadu. The figures exclude data from Coimbatore city, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Tiruppathur, Virudhunagar, and Ramanathapuram due to lack of available information. While only one fatal case was reported in 2008, the number rose steadily, with over 60 fatal accidents recorded in 2024 alone. Taking serious note of the governments failure to act on the data and the resulting loss of human lives, the judge instructed the Principal Secretary to curb the menace by amending the rules to authorize cancellation of permits and seizure of share autos involved in overloading and rash driving. Additionally, ruling that the prosecution had proved the charges against Chellapandian beyond reasonable doubt, the judge dismissed his appeal.

SS funds only if TN signs PM SHRI pact: Centre

CHENNAI: The union government on Friday informed the Madras High Court that funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme could be released to Tamil Nadu only if it signs the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme as per the National Education Policy (NEP). Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan, representing the centre, made the submission when a public interest litigation petition filed by V Eswaran of Coimbatore seeking a direction to commence the admissions under Right to Education (RTE) Act for the upcoming academic year came up for hearing before the vacation bench of justices GR Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan. An MoU has to be signed between the central government and the respective state governments. A number of state governments have signed it and the funds have been released. As far as TN is concerned, they have not yet signed it, and therefore, funds are not released, Sundaresan told the bench. Additional Advocate General (AAG) J Ravindran, appearing for the state government, called it a big brother attitude to say that funds would be released only if the MoU is signed. The bench asked the ASG whether an MoU could be framed without the conditions to implement the three-language policy or NEP. He said he could reply only after discussing it with the department concerned and that would require time. Sundaresan also informed the court that as per sub-section 6 of section 7 of RTE Act, the central government shall develop a framework of national curriculum with the help of academic authorities specified under section 29 and therefore it is a body that looks into NEP, which is applicable across the country. The bench reserved the orders and directed the AAG to submit the minutes of the meeting of the government authorities scheduled for May 28 to discuss the issue.

Second female wild elephant dies in Madukkarai forest within a week

COIMBATORE: A female wild elephant, aged about 40 years, died without responding to the treatment at Karadimadai in the Madukkarai forest range on Friday, a day after it was found sick. This is the second death of a female wild elephant here this week. Anti-Poaching Watchers (APW) who were on a regular patrolling duty inside the Karadimadai forests had found the animal in a weak condition on Thursday afternoon, said sources. Subsequently, they informed the Madukkarai forest range officer. The range officer after getting permission from the Chief Conservator of Forest, who is also the Field Director of ATR and Coimbatore DFO, engaged forest veterinarian K Sukumar for treating the animal. The treatment commenced on Thursday evening. The veterinarian has also administered IV fluids to improve her health. However, the elephant died at 11.55 am on Friday. The postmortem revealed the animal had no external injuries. The elephant couldnt consume the fruits given by the staff as it was sick. There were no external injuries to the animal. The animal could have died due to the infection of the uterus. We suspect it could have led to multi-organ failure, said a senior official of the Coimbatore forest division. The carcass was left in the wild for scavengers. Another female elephant had died on Tuesday in the Maruthamalai foothill where it was being treated for four days. Postmortem carried out on Wednesday revealed it had consumed plastic and was pregnant. Poignant pictures of this elephant with its calf had gone viral last weekend.

Red alert for Nilgiris, Kovai Ghats; orange for Dindigul

CHENNAI: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has issued a severe weather warning for Tamil Nadu, with a red alert declared for the Nilgiris and ghat areas of Coimbatore on May 25 and 26. The met office forecasts isolated extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204.4 mm in these regions, signalling potential disruptions due to intense monsoon activity. An orange alert has been issued for Dindigul, Theni, and Tenkasi districts, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected during the same period. The monsoon onset over Kerala is anticipated within the next two days, setting the stage for increased rain across southern India. In Tamil Nadu, the RMC predicts that rainfall activity will commence on Saturday in the Nilgiris and ghat areas of Coimbatore, gaining momentum on Sunday and intensifying further on Monday and Tuesday. The escalation is attributed to a well-marked low-pressure area over the Eastcentral Arabian sea, likely to develop into a depression within 24 hours, and another low-pressure system expected over the North Bay of Bengal by May 27. Authorities have urged residents in the affected areas to stay vigilant, with the IMD advising against unnecessary travel and recommending preparedness for potential flooding and landslides, especially in hilly terrains. Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are also forecast in parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal through May 27.

Tamil Nadu weather: Red alerts issued as 8 districts brace for heavy rain, landslip risk looms

Eight districts in Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore and The Nilgiris, are bracing for heavy rainfall as a low-pressure area in the Arabian Sea intensifies. Red and orange alerts have been issued, prompting authorities to prepare for evacuations and establish relief camps.

Tamil Nadu weather alert: Heavy rain likely in Nilgiris and Ghat areas of Coimbatore - Mathrubhumi English

Tamil Nadu weather alert: Heavy rain likely in Nilgiris and Ghat areas of Coimbatore Mathrubhumi English

Coimbatore police probe suspected murder of youth with ADHD at Pollachi

COIMBATORE: Coimbatore District (Rural) police have formed six special teams to investigate the suspected murder of a 23-year-old man with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), who had been staying at a home for persons with intellectual disabilities in Pollachi. Two of the six individuals associated with the home have been detained, while the others are being traced. The missing youth has been identified as S. R. Varunkanth, son of T. Ravikumar and Banumathi of Amman Nagar, Karavali Mathappur. Trustees of the home initially told the parents that their son had gone missing during an outing to Aliyar Dam. However, the family later received information that their son had been severely beaten by staff on 12 May and obtained a video showing him with serious injuries, seated on the floor. According to police, two of the detained suspects confessed that the youth had died and his body was buried at farmland owned by the trust at S. Nagoor near Naduppuni. However, attempts to exhume the body on Friday were halted after the exact burial location could not be determined. Varunkanth had been admitted on 4 February to the Yuthira Charitable Trust (Special Children Care and Training Centre) at Rathinasabapathy Puram for rehabilitation. The family agreed to pay Rs 40,000 per month and Rs 1 lakh as a donation, of which Rs 50,000 had been paid. They were allowed to visit the youth once every six months, police said. On 15 May, after learning of his disappearance during the alleged outing to Aliyar Dam, his father Ravikumar lodged a complaint with Aliyar Police. The trust cooperated initially and shared this version with the authorities. However, CCTV footage from the previous week showed no evidence of the youth being present at Aliyar Dam. The family later received credible information about physical abuse at the home, along with a video confirming the injuries. On Thursday, they approached Superintendent of Police Dr K. Karthikeyan, who transferred the case to Mahalingapuram Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the care home. Two days ago, all six suspects comprising staff and trustees went absconding. Police have since detained two, who revealed that the youth had been murdered and buried. Meanwhile, officials from the District Differently-Abled Welfare Department reported that 26 inmates were residing at the home. Most have since been relocated to their native places. Seven were forcibly moved to the house of a suspects relative in Pollachi following the incident. Of these, six were rescued on Thursday and one on Friday. Efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families. The home was recognised (without government funding) by the Commissionerate for Welfare of the Differently-Abled on 12 May, based on its progress over the past three years. It has now been closed due to the case and violations related to fee collection, sources added.

TN floats tender to procure 10 lakh laptops for students

CHENNAI: In its effort to swiftly roll out the distribution of free laptops to eligible college students as promised in its 2025-26 budget, the Tamil Nadu government has floated a tender inviting bids for the procurement of 10 lakh laptops through international competitive bidding. The tender documents showed that the government intends to provide college students with laptops of fairly high specifications, including 8 GB RAM, 256 GB Solid State Drive, Integrated Graphics supporting 128 MB VRAM or higher, display of 14 or 15.6 inch and any processor equivalent to or above Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen3 with minimum of four cores, eight threads and hyperthreading feature, and launched between January 2022 and June 2024. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu had said that the government aimed to distribute 20 lakh laptops over a two-year period with an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore for 2025-26. While the government had earlier announced that the college students would be able to choose whether they wanted a laptop or tablet, the tender documents indicate that the government is planning to distribute only laptops at the moment. Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu, coming under the Department of Information Technology, which has floated the tender, said any interested bidder should be able to supply a minimum of one lakh laptops along with laptop bags. Sources said multiple vendors could be chosen to supply the 10 lakh laptops in a short period of time. With the 2026 Assembly election less than a year away, the government intends to roll out the distribution at the earliest. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chaired a meeting in this regard on Monday. Vendors should offer one-year warranty As per the tender document, the selected vendor should be able to supply the entire committed quantity, which will be a minimum one lakh, within six months from the date of issue of work order. Targeting all 38 districts in the state, the scheme will provide laptops to students in government and government-aided colleges. Over 4,600 educational institutions are expected to be covered, with the highest number of 366 in Coimbatore district. In addition to supply, vendors must oversee installation, commissioning, and after-sales service, including the establishment of at least 63 service centres statewide. Coimbatore alone may host up to five centres. The vendors should offer one-year warranty and minimum three-year service support. Devices must be fitted with BIOS-level tracking software, tamper-proof stickers, and government insignia measures aimed at curbing black market diversion and unauthorised resale. Prospective vendors face a series of stringent eligibility conditions presumably designed to weed out smaller players and ensure delivery at scale. Bidders must be able to supply a minimum of 1,00,000 units and demonstrate an annual production capacity of at least the same volume. Financial thresholds are equally steep: a minimum turnover of Rs 200 crore in at least three of the past five financial years is required. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for May 28, followed by a second on June 6. The last date of submission of e-bids is June 26 (3 pm) and the bids will be opened on the same day at 3.30 pm.

Ailing wild elephant dies without responding to treatment near Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu govt urged to set up competitive exams coaching centre in Coimbatore

Highways Department plans to complete Avinashi Road flyover in Coimbatore city by August

Coimbatore Corporation will place 32 bus shelters at 2.64 crore along the six-lane on the surface-level service road

Cancer screening camps being held in Coimbatore district

Over 1,500 Corporation school students attend higher education orientation in Coimbatore

Coimbatore Corporation proposes revised estimate for 24x7 water supply project

AIADMK MLA S.P. Velumani receives death threat; letter warns of bomb blast in Coimbatore

The letter stated that three of his family members would be killed if a sum of 1 crore is not placed at a specific location in Coimbatore on May 25

DHS Coimbatore Recruitment 2025 - Apply Offline for 30 Dental Assistant, Physiotherapist and Other Posts

DHS Coimbatore Recruitment 2025 Notification Out! DHS Coimbatore has released an official notification for the recruitment of 30 Dental Assistant, Physiotherapist and Other posts. Interested and eligible candidates can apply Offline through the official DHS Coimbatore website. The last date to submit the application form is 13-06-2025.

Madras High Court seeks Centres report on funds disbursed to state under SS scheme

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the union government to file a report on the disbursal of funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme for Tamil Nadu. A vacation bench of justices G R Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan issued the direction to file the report on Friday while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by V Eswaran, founder of the Coimbatore-based Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam praying for orders to admit students under the Right to Education (RTE) Act for the current academic year. The bench expressed dismay over non-disbursal of the central funds when Additional Advocate General (AAG) J Ravindran submitted that the union government has not released its share of the funds since 2021 due to political animosity. Informing the bench that the state government has moved the Supreme Court regarding the issue, Ravindran stated the government has convened a meeting to discuss the issue at the end of the month. The counsel for the central government submitted that the Centre has been allocating funds for the other states but not to Tamil Nadu. The bench commented that if the funds were not provided, the private schools would suffer and adjourned the hearing for Friday. The petitioner prayed for the court to issue a direction to the respondent authorities to initiate the admission process under RTE Act for 2025-26 immediately. The notification for admissions to Class 1 under the RTE Act for 25% of the seats, which all private state board schools are mandated to reserve for children from economically weaker sections, are usually issued by the government in mid-April. Following this, applications can be filed on state governments online portal and the admission processes by respective schools are completed by May.

Aavin to increase procurement to 40 lakh litres per day: Minister Mano Thangaraj

COIMBATORE: The milk procurement in the state may go up as efforts in this regard are under way. Minister of Milk and Dairy Development T Mano Thangaraj on Thursday said Aavin will increase milk procurement to 40 lakh litres per day from the current 35 lakh litres. The minister didn't say when the milk cooperative will achieve the increased procurement target. Addressing media persons after inaugurating an Aavin Paneer Hut at RS Puram in Coimbatore city, he urged farmers to supply milk to Aavin as it gives standard price for milk. The public, including farmers, should support Aavin as it stands by them. Private milk procurement fluctuates seasonally, but the price of Aavin is always permanent. We are creating awareness regarding this. If any complaints are received from the public, immediate action should be taken by setting up a WhatsApp group to rectify the same, he said. The department cannot interfere in fixing the price for milk produced by private dairies, he added. He also revealed production is going well in the paneer manufacturing plant inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin during his last visit to Coimbatore. In response to the demand of the people of Coimbatore, a centre for selling products made with paneer has been opened at RS Puram. Similarly, milk and other milk by-products are also being sold, he said.

Villagers flag poor sanitation as a threat to public health, wildlife at Velliangiri foothills

COIMBATORE: Following the death of a pregnant wild elephant at the Marudhamalai foothills, which was found to have ingested plastic waste, villagers in Velliangiri are demanding action over the sanitary conditions around Poondi temple. They said the plastic and food waste attracts wild animals which, in turn, pose a threat to devotees. Permission to visit the Velliangiri Hills is granted every year from February 1 to May 31. Devotees and mountaineers usually visit the Velliangiri Andavar temple at Poondi and climb the hills. Over eight lakh people visited the temple in the last four months, according to the HR&CE department. Since the beginning of this season, the movement of wild animals, especially wild elephants, has increased here. The forest department has been continuously monitoring the area by deploying a unit with two kumki elephants to drive away wild elephants. However, locals and devotees alleged the dumping of waste on the temple premises and the stagnant sewage continue to attract wild animals. M Thamaraikannan, a researcher from Tiruppur, said the worsening sanitary situation poses a threat to public health and wildlife conservation. He said, The temple premises inside the reserve forest is being maintained without a sense of forest boundary. There is no proper sewage facility to the food donation halls, which is run by the HR&CE. They let the sewage run in the open and it remains stagnant. The waste management is in the worst state, as most of the places have been dumped with food waste attracting wild animals. Stationing kumki elephants is not a solution, instead they should keep the premises clean, Thamaraikannan added. Forest department officials said they had flagged the poor sanitary conditions with the HR&CE department several times. The temple management should draw a protocol to manage waste generated during food donations. The Ikkarai Boluvampatti village panchayat and district administration should take steps to keep the premises clean, said a forest department officer. A senior official from the HR&CE department said they have been clearing the waste daily and 20 sanitary workers have been deployed. There are 14 halls for food donation and waste accumulating from the hall is let into the trenches, which prevent elephant movement and works as sewage channels, he said. He added they keep the premises clean and have been taking measures to handle sewage stagnation.

Centum mania? Class 11 ST student 'expelled' by govt school in Coimbatore for failing one paper

COIMBATORE: Students bear the brunt of desperate attempts made by school authorities to put up a good show in the all-important Class 10 and 12 board examinations. To achieve the coveted 100% pass in these milestone exams, it is alleged schools try to get rid of students in the previous class itself. This was what happened to a Scheduled Tribe girl student of Class 11 at the Velliangadu government higher secondary school in Coimbatore the other day. She was handed out the Transfer Certificate (TC) on Tuesday for allegedly failing in the Commerce subject in the recent Class 11 state board examination. The next day, the parent complained to the district administration, alleging that two teachers and the headmaster expelled his daughter for not obtaining pass marks by issuing the TC and instructing her to enrol in courses at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Anaikatti. Girl's father, C Murugan (name changed), a labourer at Sodugananjanur hamlet near Velliangadu, told TNIE that his daughter scored 216 in the Class 11 board examination out of 600 but failed in Commerce, securing only 25 marks. As per the class teacher's instruction, my daughter and I went to school on Tuesday morning. The class teacher and another teacher advised her to join the ITI, stating that she would struggle to study Class 12 subjects, which are difficult, he said. I requested that my daughter be allowed to complete school studies. Teachers said that only ITI courses were suitable for her, citing her Class 11 academic performance, he said. I met the headmaster, but he too advised her to join the ITI. Then I requested him to assist her in applying for the Class 11 supplementary exam, he said. Saying that he would help her write the supplementary exam, they gave my daughter's TC after obtaining my signature on the register, he said. The girl's father wanted to enrol her in Class 12 after she cleared the supplementary exam. But he was in for a shock as he reached the school the next day. On Wednesday, we went to school seeking the teachers' help to apply for the supplementary exam. The teachers said they could not help her apply for the supplementary exam because TC had already issued, he said, adding, I realised she won't be able to continue her studies. Social worker, K Veerappan, who helped the student to complain to the authorities, told TNIE the school should not have issued a TC and advised the student to join ITI courses against her wish. To get a 'centum' result in the Class 12 board examination, they issued TC to the student, fearing she may not get pass marks. This is against child rights, he said. He urged the educational officers to take departmental action instead of protecting the school authorities because they had abused her mentally by issuing the TC. When contacted, Headmaster Socrates Kulasekaran S told TNIE that, considering the student's welfare, teachers advised her to join the ITI because she had difficulty learning. Listening to our advice, they received the TC from here. But the student told us that she wants to continue Class 12 studies. So, we enrolled her on Friday and helped her apply for the Class 11 supplementary exam, he said. Chief Educational Officer R Balamurali promised TNIE that he would inquire into this matter and take action. Marumalarchi Makkai Iyakkam president V Eswaran told TNIE that, like private schools, this unfair practice due to centum mania in board exams has now spread to government schools. He urged the district collector to curb such practices immediately by issuing a warning order.

24x7 water supply project in Coimbatore likely to hit another roadblock

Kerala youth held with 5 crore worth hydroponic weed at Coimbatore airport

Former Minister Dindigul Sreenivasan's granddaughter dies in road accident in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Former AIADMK Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan's granddaughter died in a road accident on Mettupalayam - Coonoor Road near Kallar in Coimbatore on Thursday evening. Police said that the car, in which travelled by Sreenivasan's grand daughter along with her husband and five more persons who were relatives of them, met the accident after the driver at the wheel lost control of the car and hit the roadside bund, overturning on Thursday around 5.45 pm. The deceased was identified as Divyapriya (29) of Arapalayam in Madurai. According Police, Divyapriya was the granddaughter of former AIADMK Minister Sreenivasan, and she was residing with her family members at Arapalayam in Madurai. On May 20, Divyapriya, her husband Karthik Raja (30) and five more family members including 8 year-old boy, were travelling in the car. They went to Udhagamandalam in the Nilgiris district. After spending two days at the hill town, they were returning to Arapalayam from Udhagamandalam on Thursday evening. Karthik's younger brother Parthiban, who was at the wheel of the car lost control of the vehicle when it approached the second hairpin bend near Kallar on the Coonoor-Mettupalayam ghat road. The vehicle hit the roadside bund and overturned. Divyapriya sustained severe injuries and was declared brought dead at Mettupalayam GH. Her husband Karthik Raja and family members Parameswari, Valarmathi, Ishwarya and others sustained injuries and were treated at Mettupalayam GH and later shifted to private hospital in Coimbatore. Police said that all others' condition was stable. Mettupalayam Police registered a case and further investigation is on.

Man arrested for sexually assaulting boy in Coimbatore; youth booked for raping girl

Customs officials seize ganja from passenger at Coimbatore airport

Coimbatore district administration to identify garbage dumping sites along forest boundaries

TVS Motor co, OOR cabs join hands to deploy 500 EVs in TN

As part of the initiative, OOR Cabs will deploy the vehicles for eco-friendly intra-city passenger services, beginning with Trichy, and progressively expand operations to Madurai and Coimbatore.

Coimbatore police arrest Swami Sunil Das of Palakkad-based trust for cheating

5.25 kg ganja seized from air passenger in Coimbatore

ESIC to hold joint outreach programme with EPFO in Coimbatore

Indian Chamber organises job fair in Coimbatore under Naan Mudhalvan Scheme

Australia sees scope for deeper ties with Coimbatore in clean energy, education, and defence

Wild elephant kills woman, injures neighbour near Sholayar Dam in Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE: A woman in her seventies was trampled to death by a wild elephant in front of her neighbours house near Sholayar Dam in Valparai in the early hours of Thursday. Her neighbour, also in her seventies, sustained injuries while trying to escape from the elephant. The deceased has been identified as T Mary, aged 77. The injured woman, D Deivanai, aged 75, is undergoing treatment at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) after being referred from the government hospitals in Valparai and Pollachi. Deivanai lived on the left side of the Sholayar Dam, in the Manombolly range of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Mary, the deceased, used to stay at her house during the night. The deceased has been identified as T Mary, aged 77. According to forest officials, the elephant had reached into the kitchen through a window using its trunk. When Mary noticed it, she rushed out of the house and accidentally fell at the animals feet, where she was trampled to death. Deivanai, who was near the animal at the time, injured herself when she fell down in fear. We are sure that the elephant trampled her to death, and we are tracking whether a male or female attacked her, said a forest range official. We suspect that the wild elephant might have visited the house after being attracted by the smell of rice or fruits. We will deploy the staff to prevent animals entering into the human habitations on Thursday night, the official added. Sources in CMCH said that the condition of Deivanai is stable and she will be in observation for a few days.

Two TN natives apprehended in Bengaluru for smuggling exotic turtles from Malaysia

CHENNAI: In yet another case of wildlife smuggling from southeast Asian countries involving Tamil Nadu natives, customs officials at the Bengaluru international airport apprehended two men from Thanjavur and Tiruvarur, who had brought 2,952red-eared slider turtles in their check-in luggage on an IndiGo flight from Malaysia, in the early hours of Wednesday. Sources said Bengaluru Customs apprehended Manivelan Gopinath (41) of Thanjavur and Govindasamy Sudhakar (56) of Tiruvarur, who landed in Bengaluru on the 6E-1038 flight from Kuala Lumpur late on Tuesday. Their check-in baggage contained 1,652 and 1,280 turtles respectively, for which they had no official documentation. The turtles were seized and deported back to Malaysia on the next flight, and the duo has been detained for interrogation, sources added. Though red-eared slider turtles are commonly smuggled from Malaysia to India, it is not yet protected under the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) or the Wildlife Protection Act. There are research papers indicating that it has become an invasive species in some waterbodies of India. It may be noted that the Bengaluru Customs had earlier seized nine Waglers pit vipers, a venomous snake native to southeast Asian countries, a common cuscus and a possum from Coimbatore native Jagadeesh Raman who landed from Thailand, a week ago. Customs also arrested the alleged receiver of the wildlife, Yogesh P (36), who runs a pet shop in Bengaluru.

CM opens hostels, hands over job orders

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday inaugurated three new Thozhi hostels for working women at Saint Thomas Mount (Chennai), Hosur and Tiruvannamalai, established at a total cost of Rs 38.15 crore. He also laid the foundation for 14 more Thozhi hostels to be built at a total cost of Rs 176.93 crore. These hostels are coming up in Taramani and Chepauk (Chennai), Madurai, Coimbatore, Coimbatore, Nagapattinam, Krishnagiri, Erode, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Theni, Sivaganga, Ranipet, and Karur. Over 2,000 working women can be accommodated in these facilities. Stalin also handed over appointment orders to newly recruited staff in the departments of police, fisheries and dairy development. Meanwhile, Fisheries Minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan commenced the payment of financial assistance to fishermen for the ban period. An official release said the government has sanctioned Rs 140.07 crore for providing assistance of Rs 8,000 each to 1.75 lakh fishermen families in 14 coastal districts. The period between April 15 and June 14 in East Coast areas and between June 1 and July 31 are considered as fishing ban periods (61 days).

Siruvani Dam leakage yet to be plugged even as monsoon nears

COIMBATORE: With the southwest monsoon just days away, concerns are mounting over the delay in initiating critical repair works at the Siruvani Dam - one of the primary sources of drinking water for Coimbatore city. The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has been waiting for the Kerala Water Resources and Irrigation Department to finalise cost estimates for essential repairs, based on a recent report by dam safety experts. To address increasing seepage from the dam, a joint inspection was conducted on January 8 by five teams comprising officials from the Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), CCMC, and the Kerala State Government's Water Resources Department. The teams carried out a detailed assessment of the dam's condition and highlighted urgent structural interventions. The CWPRS team has since submitted a comprehensive report to CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran, outlining the extent of the damage and suggesting remedial measures to arrest the leakage and improve overall dam safety. The Pune team has suggested two methods - grouting and geo membrane for fixing the issues in the dam. Due to water seepage, around 10 MLD of water is being wasted every single day. This quantity can be used to supply water for three days to residential areas in the city. And once the issues are addressed, around 50 to 55 MLD of water can be saved during the peak summer season which would be of great use for the people. Speaking to TNIE, CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran stated that the Kerala Water Resources and Irrigation Department is in the process of preparing a detailed estimate for the repair works. Once the estimation is submitted, the Tamil Nadu government will allocate the necessary funds, and the work will be executed by the Kerala government, he said. However, with time running short and the monsoon imminent, public voices and environmentalists are urging both state governments to act swiftly. Any further delay could result in a significant loss of rainwater from the reservoir, compounding water scarcity concerns in Coimbatore. Siruvani Dam, located in Kerala, is a lifeline for lakhs of residents in Coimbatore. The increasing rate of water wastage due to unchecked seepage has alarmed civic authorities and residents alike, making timely repairs not just necessary but urgent. As of Wednesday, the water level in the Siruvani Dam stands at 18.24 feet against its full storage capacity of 50 ft. Around 60.26 MLD of water is supplied from the dam to the Coimbatore district through the TWAD Board for drinking water purposes.

Peaceful protest by CPM turns into clash between party cadres and cops in Coimbatore

Coimbatore Collectorate receives fake bomb threat

Man arrested for cheating Coimbatore realtor

Consumer body in Coimbatore urges Tangedco to implement monthly electricity billing

Mother-Child statue unveiled at Lawley Road junction in Coimbatore city

Housing project for differently-abled persons nears completion in Coimbatore

State government releases 11 crore of its share for Semmozhi Poonga project in Coimbatore

Stalin lays foundation for 15.95-crore Thozhi working womens hostel in Coimbatore

IPL betting: Coimbatore man arrested for online fraud

CPI(M) stages protest in Coimbatore demanding withdrawal of resolutions on revised UGD and water charges

Elephant that died in Coimbatore was pregnant; plastic bags found in animal during post-mortem examination

The veterinarians found that that the elephant had been carrying a foetus of a male calf of 12 to 15 months old

Elephant found pregnant during post-mortem; plastic waste in gut stuns officials in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: In a dramatic turn of events, a post-mortem carried out on the mother elephant on Wednesday morning revealed that the animal was pregnant. A team of veterinarians also found a 12- to 16-month-old male foetus at Maruthamalai foothill near Coimbatore. The gestation period for a female elephant is 21 to 22 months. One of the veterinarians admitted that they were unaware of the pregnancy despite having assessed the elephant's health. They discovered it only during the post-mortem. The elephant could have died due to the failure of internal organs like the liver and heart, which may have occurred a few months ago. That is believed to be the reason the animal fell sick near the forest boundary at Maruthamalai foothill. The foetus will be sent to the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) in Chennai. In yet another shocking revelation for animal lovers, a few plastic bags were also found in the intestines of the mother elephant. This clearly indicates that the animal had browsed leftover food at the dump yard where waste from Somayampalayam Panchayat had been dumped for more than five years. A video of the mother elephant browsing in the dump yard is also circulating on social media. Despite the dumping of garbage posing a significant threat to wild animals, especially elephants, whose population has increased in the last five years, only on Monday (May 19) did the Panchayat stop dumping waste, based on a direction from Coimbatore District Collector G. Giriiyappanavar. According to sources, despite four experienced veterinarians, who had worked in tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu and a forest division, assessing the elephants health for four days, they could not determine the pregnancy. The elephant had been fixed in a sling and lifted using a crane on Sunday (May 18), a day after it fell sick in a lateral recumbent position at Maruthamalai foothill. It was given hydrotherapy on Tuesday. It was heartbreaking to see the calf elephant trying to wake up its mother on Saturday evening. A video of this moment also went viral on social media. N. Sadiq Ali, Founder of Wildlife and Nature Conservation (WNCT) Trust, said, It is sad that the veterinary team did not notice the animal and concentrated only on improving animal health. It is time to provide the latest gadgets to the veterinary team to assess the animals health, as well as keep an all-equipped ambulance facility at the spot wherever the elephants fall ill at the earliest. In this regard, the state government should allot funds for the veterinary team, and that would be helpful for saving the animals in distress. Two years ago, we petitioned the then-district collector to take steps to order the local bodies to manage their waste as per the solid waste management rules since wild animals are moving in several areas across Coimbatore district, said Sadiq Ali. In 2022 itself, we had noticed masks, plastic bags and sanitary napkins, etc., in elephant dung at Maruthamalai Hill Road. Despite appeals to close the dump yard, the Panchayat had continued, resulting in the loss of the precious lives of the mother and the calf elephant. We are happy that currently, the Panchayat is in the process of filling soil over the dumped waste. The animals would be happy if the Panchayat stopped dumping the waste again, said P. Shanmugasundaram, Secretary of the Coimbatore Wildlife Conservation Trust (CWCT).

Cannot form govt in Tamil Nadu without backing of national party: MP Karti Chidambaram

COIMBATORE: No party can form a government in Tamil Nadu without the support of a national party, said Sivaganga MP Karti Chidambaram, and reaffirmed the unity and strength of the INDIA bloc in the state. Speaking to reporters at Malumichampatti in Coimbatore on Tuesday, Chidambaram reviewed the Congress grassroots position and preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. The DMK-led alliance is politically strong in Tamil Nadu, and the Congress is gearing up as a powerful force, he said. While he acknowledged that the AIADMK still holds a significant vote bank, he criticised its renewed alliance with the BJP. Grassroots AIADMK workers are unhappy. After severing ties before the Lok Sabha elections, why rekindle the alliance now? Many are questioning this, he added. Commenting on coalition dynamics, Chidambaram stressed that Congress is not in a position to demand more seats than the BJP in an AIADMK-led front. We are caught between not being in power or in the opposition. It's a complex situation, he admitted. Congress hasn't been in power in Tamil Nadu since 1967, and that's unfortunate, he added. On national issues, he welcomed the Indian Army's response to the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam and backed Chief Minister Stalin's move to write to fellow chief ministers on the governor issue. He clarified that P Chidambaram's recent remarks were misunderstood, and affirmed that the INDIA bloc remains robust.

Coimbatore in TN steps up preparedness as southwest monsoon nears

Coimbatore in TN steps up preparedness as southwest monsoon nears Chennai: With the southwest monsoon expected to arrive early, the Coimbatore district administration and civic authorities have intensified their preparedness to tackle rain-related challenges such as drain overflows, water stagnation, and potential evacuations. The Coimbatore City Corporation is focusing on identifying vulnerable zones and implementing [] The post Coimbatore in TN steps up preparedness as southwest monsoon nears appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

CCMC gears up for monsoon: 4k workers deployed, flood management measures in full swing

COIMBATORE: With the south west monsoon around the corner, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has launched a series of intensive precautionary measures to tackle the anticipated heavy rains and ensure readiness. From flood management infrastructure to road maintenance and tree-clearing operations, the civic body has mobilised massive resources across all five zones. Speaking to TNIE , CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said that more than 4,500 workers have been deployed to carry out monsoon preparedness works. We are leaving no stone unturned. Around 250 km of roadside stormwater drains are being desilted, and maintenance work is underway in about 18,000 small bridges and aqueducts, he said. As part of its flood mitigation efforts, the CCMC has installed two additional motor pumps of 100 HP capacity near the old Avinashi Road flyover subway and another 100 HP pump near the Kaleeswara Mill railway underpass. These high-power pumps are aimed at swiftly draining rainwater from frequently flooded underpasses and subways, ensuring smooth vehicular movement and avoiding traffic disruptions. To prevent flooding in low-lying areas, the corporation has kept 5,000 sandbags ready with 1,000 bags allocated to each zone. In anticipation of possible tree falls due to strong winds and rains, 47 tree-cutting teams equipped with 65 specialised machines have been placed on standby, the commissioner added. Almost all major water bodies across the city have reached 90% capacity. We are closely monitoring them to prevent overflow and breaches, the commissioner said, noting that the civic body is working in close coordination with the railway department to oversee 23 railway crossings and road-over-bridges (ROBs) that are prone to waterlogging. Additionally, the CCMC has released Rs 50 lakh for each of the five zones to carry out urgent patch works and pothole-filling to minimise road hazards.

Three sovereigns robbed from elderly woman in Pollachi

COIMBATORE: An elderly woman was robbed of three sovereigns of gold jewellery at Pollachi on Monday evening. The robbers, knowing the woman was elderly and alone with her husband, approached her pretending to ask for water and then, robbed her. Notably, on Monday morning, Coimbatore District Police Superintendent R Karthikeyan told reporters that patrol strength has been increased to prevent such crime incidents targeting elderly people. Harish and Gomathi of Postal Colony at Achipatti near Pollachi were running a xerox shop on the Pollachi-Palakkad Road. On Monday, they both went to the shop leaving Harish's parents Kalidas (82), a retired postmaster, and Santhakumari (72) at home. At around 3 pm, one of the two miscreants came on a bike and approached the couple and asked for water. Shanthamani gave them water in a bottle, following which the stranger asked for water again. In suspicion, Kalidas questioned the duo, which is when they snatched the gold chain weighing around three sovereigns from Santhakumari's neck. They managed to flee from the spot with another person, who stood with a bike, few metres from the house. After locals informed the Taluk police station, police personnel held an inquiry and assessed CCTV footage from surrounding area. They booked a case and initiated an investigation. It is to be noted that three days ago, a house belonging to one Muthukumaraswamy, a farmer, was broken open and 50 sovereigns of jewellery were stolen in the same locality.

Apologise to students for your NEET lie, EPS tells Stalin

COIMBATORE: Chief Minister M K Stalin and his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin must apologise to students for making a false promise of getting NEET exemption for Tamil Nadu during their 2021 poll campaign, said AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday. In a post on X, Palaniswami condoled the death of Gowtham, who allegedly died by suicide due to fear over NEET at Narasothipatti. Stating that the number of students who ended their lives over NEET has reached 24 under the DMK regime, Planiswami asked, Is Stalin aware of the impact of his lie now? You (students) should not be made scapegoat to the drama executed by the DMK, as they will not take steps to get NEET exemption. Think about your parents, you are the world to them and you must not think about leaving them alone. There are opportunities across the globe. Never give up.

DMK gears up for 2026; appoints eight regional in-charges for poll work

CHENNAI: Though not officially announced yet, the DMK leadership has so far appointed eight regional in-charges to oversee election-related activities across designated districts. Their responsibilities include coordinating election preparatory works, addressing internal disputes, and assessing local ground realities. The partys district units have been grouped into eight regions, each entrusted to senior leaders with significant influence. Former Union minister and the partys deputy general secretary, A Raja, has been assigned to oversee the Chennai region. The deep southern districts have been split into two separate regions, with deputy general secretary and MP Kanimozhi and Minister Thangam Thennarasu appointed as in-charge for each. Minister R Sakkarapani is handling a region that includes Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, while former minister V Senthil Balaji is in-charge of the Coimbatore region. The entire delta and central districts have been placed under the charge of the partys principal secretary and Minister K N Nehru. Likewise, senior ministers E V Velu and M R K Panneerselvam have been appointed as in-charge of regions comprising the northern districts. However, sources indicate that the exact composition of each region and its respective districts will remain uncertain until the final announcement, which is expected on or before the partys general council meeting in Madurai on June 1. A Raja With DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin ambitiously targeting to secure 200 seats for the alliance in the 2026 Assembly elections and retain power for a second consecutive term, the party has already devised its strategies and begun implementing them. As Stalin previously stated, the detailed election work plan will be unveiled at the partys general council meeting. The regional in-charges have already begun holding consultative meetings in their respective districts and conducting one-on-one discussions with local party functionaries. They are taking note of internal disputes involving local functionaries, ministers, district secretaries, and MLAs, and are attempting to resolve these issues at their level. Sources said the more serious or unresolved matters are being escalated to the partys five-member committee, which includes Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. The in-charges and party functionaries from various districts held meetings with the five-member committee at the DMK headquarters in two sessions, morning and evening, on Tuesday. Sources said the discussions focused on some of the districts overseen by Thangam Thennarasu and K N Nehru. These meetings are expected to continue in the coming days. Party sources further noted that the meetings serve two key purposes. First, they help address internal conflicts well ahead of the election works and second, they provide Udhayanidhi, the partys youth wing secretary, with experience in understanding and resolving union and district-level issues within the party.

Nearly all of Tamil Nadu facing high or very high heat risk

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has emerged as one of Indias most heat-vulnerable states, with nearly 90% of its districts falling under high or very high risk categories, according to a new report released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) on Tuesday. With 46% of its districts in the very high-risk category and another 43% classified as high risk, TN faces a multifaceted challenge. The state ranks fifth nationally on the Composite Heat Risk Index (HRI), a data-driven assessment that integrates climatic, demographic, socioeconomic, and land-use factors to evaluate district-level heat vulnerability. The HRI is based on the IPCCs AR5 risk framework, which combines three core components: hazard, exposure and vulnerability. In TNs case, the hazard component has intensified significantly over the last decade. Districts like Kanniyakumari and Ramanathapuram have seen a sharp increase of nine to 10 very hot days per summer (defined as days exceeding the 95th percentile of historical maximum temperatures), and an additional seven to nine very warm nights. Such nocturnal heat events reduce the human bodys ability to recover from daytime heat, increasing risks of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. Although TN is a coastal state with naturally high humidity, recent data shows that relative humidity has increased even during peak summer months, particularly in interior districts. This reduces the effectiveness of sweating as a cooling mechanism, worsening heat stress, said Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, vice-chancellor of Atria University and former secretary at the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Urbanisation has also been factored into the index. The report incorporates satellite-derived land-use and land-cover data, which shows a sharp expansion of built-up areas in cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchy and Madurai. In Chennai, this has led to a measurable rise in nighttime minimum temperatures and a shrinking diurnal temperature range, CEEW researchers said. The state has formally recognised heatwaves as a disaster eligible for mitigation funding, yet most of its Heat Action Plans lack data-backed vulnerability assessments. Sudha Ramen, member of the State Planning Commission, acknowledged that there are gaps in availability of data in general to effectively tackle the issue, but Tamil Nadu is taking measures to mitigate the heat stress on its population. Department of Public Health has given an advisory to all the private hospitals to have an exclusive data reporting mechanism, especially for people who come with ailments that would have been caused due to heat stress, she said.

After four days of care, female jumbo dies due to suspected heart failure in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: After four days of care, a female elephant aged 25-30 died without responding to treatment at Maruthamalai foothills near Coimbatore on Tuesday evening. Coimbatore forest division officials confirmed that the animal died while it was undergoing hydrotherapy on the fourth day of treatment. We had started hydrotherapy around 2.45 pm on Tuesday to relieve the animal of the stress in its joints and muscle. The animal was unable to stand on its own and we had lifted it using a sling on Sunday. When the jumbo managed to stand on its own on Monday evening after the sling was relaxed, we decided to go ahead with the hydrotherapy, said sources in the forest department. We dug a seven-foot-deep pit and filled it with nearly 16,000 litres of water to create a makeshift pool and the animal was lowered into the pool. After half-an-hour, we noticed that the animal had lowered its head, and subsequently, we lifted it from the pool at 3.45 pm, sources added. The Coimbatore forest division, in a statement, said the elephant is suspected to have died of a massive heart attack and a postmortem will be carried out on Wednesday to ascertain the exact cause of death. We will know the pachyderms age and other details after the postmortem, said an official. The elephants calf, which is currently with a herd in the forest, will be monitored using a thermal drone camera, the official added.

Periyar varsity's former V-C hands over charge, sparks new row

COIMBATORE: Controversy erupted at the Periyar University in Salem after outgoing Vice-Chancellor R Jagannathan handed over charge to Dr T Periasamy, head of the Tamil department, without consulting the universitys syndicate committee. Jagannathan, whose term ended on Monday, is facing multiple allegations and ongoing investigations. In light of this, his decision to appoint Dr Periasamy as interim V-C, flouting protocol, has drawn sharp criticism from the academic community. A retiring V-C is expected to convene a syndicate meeting and form a panel to shortlist candidates for the position. But Jagannathan did not consult anyone, said a senior professor from the university, on the condition of anonymity. Dr T Periasamys appointment has raised eyebrows also due to the controversies surrounding him. Periasamy is reportedly associated with RSS groups, and is currently under investigation by the DVAC. A case against him is also pending in the Madras High Court. This is a clear violation of university norms and democratic processes. Appointing someone who is under a cloud undermines the credibility of the institution, said another professor.

A Dalit life, translated by a Dalit voice

Throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, Malayalam cinemas history credited MK Kamalam as the first woman to have played the role of a protagonist. Kamalam had debuted in Balan (1938), the first Malayalam talkie. But 10 years before Balan released in theatres, Vigathakumaran , a silent film directed by JC Daniel, premiered in Thiruvananthapurams Capitol tent; starring PK Rosy a Dalit woman in the lead role. But Rosys legacy was cast aside due to her caste identity. At the premiere in Capitol tent, stones were hurled at the screen by the audiences who couldnt accept Rosy playing the role of an upper caste Nair woman. The violence followed Rosy home, as dominant caste men attempted to harass her and had set her thatched hut on fire. She was then forced to flee Kerala and seek refuge in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, where she spent the next sixty years of her life, away from the public eye. This casteist history of Malayalam cinema was compiled by Kunnukuzhy S Mani, over 50 years of his journalistic career, and was published as a book titled PK Rosy Malayala Cinimayude Amma in 2019. Thirunangai Press LLP released this book in Tamil on May 16, in Chennai, titled PK Rosy Malayala Cinimavin Thai , translated by James Mark Peter. James translation work, however, is not merely linguistic, but political. It reclaims agency, affirms solidarity, and preserves Dalit history from dominant caste narratives. When Thirunangai Press entrusted James, a journalist, with this translation work, he immediately jumped at the opportunity, he tells CE . I accepted it because I was curious to learn more about PK Rosys life. But above that, as a Dalit man myself, I believed that my lived experience would allow me to resonate deeply with the text; equipping me to approach the translation work with utmost authenticity and care, James says. He elaborates, I could empathise deeply because as a child I faced caste discrimination. During my school days in Coimbatore district, students would maintain a certain distance from me. It began in class four and soon, I came to realise that it was because of my caste. The decision to have James translate the book was a conscious one, says Grace Banu, a Dalit transwoman and the CEO of Thirunangai Press. Our team came across his Tamil translation of the Malayalam book Mahatma Ayyankali. At that book launch event, we learnt of James, she adds. Despite being a non-native speaker of Malayalam, this book is Jamess third Malayalam to Tamil translation work. James says that he learnt to read and speak Malayalam while working in a hotel briefly after graduating college. I learnt the language by comparing and reading bus boards that would have the destinations written in both Malayalam and English, he recalls. Although he is fluent in Malayalam now, he admits to have approached Kunnukuzhy for several clarifications while translating this book. Both the publishing house and I wanted this book to be a perfect account of the original Malayalam version, he adds. Due to rigorous rounds of edits, the initial plan to release the book in April Dalit history month was deterred, Grace notes. In the same way that James was thoughtfully selected, Kunnukuzhys book was also carefully chosen to be translated into Tamil by Thirunangai Press. Kunnukuzhy sirs book clearly mentions how and who all have distorted PK Rosys life and thereby, appropriated dalit history, Grace explains. James cites such previous efforts at appropriation as the reason for advocating Kunnukuzhys book to be translated into more languages. Rosy has been misrepresented as an immoral woman who eloped with a lorry driver. To resist such distortion of Dalit history, we need to preserve them in as many languages, he concludes.

Coimbatore district readies to tackle monsoon challenges

Andhra Dy CM Pawan Kalyan flags influx of Rohingyas into state from West Bengal

VIJAYAWADA: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan warned that southern states remain vulnerable to terrorism, citing past attacks in Hyderabad and Coimbatore as stark reminders. Speaking at Gannavaram ...

Ailing elephant dies without responding to treatment in Coimbatore

Two more corporation schools in Coimbatore identified for AR & VR labs

Kolarampathy Lake in Coimbatore turns red due to algal bloom

Farmers association in Coimbatore sceptical of installing steel wire fences along forest fringes to prevent human-animal conflict

The Forest Department ought to evaluate the utility of the project rather than implementing it for the sole reason that funds have been sanctioned, says P.Kandasamy, State general secretary of Vivasayigal Sangam

Heavy rain lashes Kerala, TN and Karnataka; eight killed in rain-related incidents

Heavy rains lashed Chennai and neighbouring districts on Tuesday evening, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that conditions are favourable for onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala during next 4-5 days. A total of eight deaths in separate rain-related incidents have been recorded in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu so far. Meanwhile, the IMD, in the forecast bulletin issued on Tuesday at 4.30 pm, predicted widespread rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and strong winds across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the next seven days. The southwest monsoon, which typically arrives towards the end of May, has arrived about two weeks earlier than predicted. The early onset of southwest monsoon can be attributed to climate factors like stronger westerly winds and rising sea surface temperatures, experts told TNIE . Another change in the usual monsoon pattern is the northward tilt in rainfall distribution due to a low-pressure system forming near Karnataka's coast. IMD has issued a red alert for seven districts in Karnataka --which include Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan-- and four districts in northern Kerala --which include Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, and Kozhikode. Orange alert has been issued for parts of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka Various parts of Karnataka continued to receive heavy rainfall on Tuesday. Heavy rain, along with thunder and lightning, was reported in coastal districts. Traffic congestion due to flooding was reported in the arterial roads of Bengaluru. At least five people died in the state, including three in Bengaluru, due to rains. Two people --63-year-old Manmohan Kamath and 12-year-old Dinesh-- died due to electrocution in Bengaluru's BTM layout on Monday while trying to use a motorised pump to clear water out of his house. Though they were rushed to a hospital soon after, they were declared dead on arrival by doctors. Another person, 35-year-old Shashikala, who worked as housekeeping staff at a software firm in Mahadevapura area, died after a wall in company premises collapsed on her. Additionally, two people died due to lightning in Raichur and Karwar regions, officials told Hindustan Times. In the 24 hours ending on Tuesday morning, the centres to receive heavy rainfall include, Guttal (dist Haveri) 11 cm, Kalasa (dist Chikkamagaluru) 10, Kolar Pwd (dist Kolar) 8, and T G Halli Hms (dist Bengaluru) 7. Five dead as IMD issues red alert for Karnataka; BJP, HDK slam Congress for celebrations amid crisis Tamil Nadu Chennai received moderate to heavy rains late Monday night and on Tuesday evening. Heavy to very heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms and strong winds were reported in several isolated places across the state. At least three people died in the state due to rains. Three people were killed in Madurai when a sunshade slab collapsed from the weight of water that stagnated in top. The three --65-year-old Ammapillai, her 10-year-old grandson Veeramani, and her 55-year-old neighbour Venkadammal-- were pulled out of debris a while later. Venkadammal was declared dead by doctors upon admission, while the two others succumbed to their injuries later. The centres to record heavy rainfall in the 24 hours ending on Tuesday morning include, 12 cm in Hosur AWS (dist Krishnagiri), 6 cm in parts of Krishnagiri, Ranipet, Dharmapuri, Salem districts, and 5 cm in parts of Coimbatore, Vellore, Nilgiris. Kerala Widespread waterlogging has been reported in several parts of north Kerala, disrupting daily life and transportation, officials said. While a red alert has been sounded for the districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, and Kozhikode, an orange alert has been issued for Palakkad, Malappuram, and Thrissur. The remaining districts have received a yellow alert. KSDMA officials warned that extremely heavy rainfall could cause serious problems. Officials also issued safety advice, urging people living in hilly areas experiencing heavy rain, particularly those at risk of landslides, mudslides, and flash floods, to move to safer locations as early as possible, preferably during daylight hours. Stations recorded 22 cm in Kunnamkulam (dist Thrissur), 18 cm in Ams Kannur (dist Cannur); heavy rain of more than 15 cm was recorded across Cannur, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Idukki districts. Heavy rainfall likely in Andhra Pradesh for next two days

Female wild elephant dies without responding to treatment in Coimbatore

Two-day job fair to begin in Coimbatore on May 22

CS Academy Continues Its Winning Streak with Outstanding CBSE Results for Grades 10 and 12

csacademy.in/ coimbatore .

Southern States Remain Soft Targets For Terrorism, Claims Pawan Kalyan

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday claimed that southern states remain soft targets for terrorism, recalling past attacks in Hyderabad and Coimbatore as reminders of ongoing threats that demand continuous vigilance.