CWG Birmingham: Badminton twin medal winner Treesa Jollys tough trek yields a smashing success

Treesa Jolly, twin medal winner in badminton at Birmingham, started her journey from an indoor court on the courtyard of her house in Kannur

Kerala governor seeks explanation in Priya Varghese's appointment as associate professor in Kannur university

Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan is planning to initiate action against the Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University in the state in connection with the appointment of Priya Varghese, as an associate professor in the university, sources related to Raj Bhavan said. Priya Varghese is the wife of KK Ragesh, who is a Private Secretary of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Governor sought an explanation from the Vice-chancellor after the Save University campaign filed a complaint with him stating that the UGC rules were flouted during her appointment. The complaint said that she doesnt have the necessary years of teaching experience to be appointed for the post. Seeking an explanation into the matter, the governor has given 10-days' time to the VC of the university. Meanwhile, the Government has extended the deputation period of Priya Varghese for one year. At present, she is working as deputy director of Kerala Bhasha Institute. Varghese was an assistant professor in Kerala Varma College in Thrissur and was working at Bhasha Institute on deputation as deputy director.

Kerala Governor seeks explanation from Kannur VC on appointment of CPI(M) leaders wife

Kerala Governor seeks explanation from Kannur VC on appointment of CPI(M) leaders wife

Senior journalist, CPI(M) associate 'Berlin' Kunjananthan passes away at 96

Death He was a correspondent of the now defunct pro-Left weekly Blitz in erstwhile East Germany, and his long stay there earned him the prefix 'Berlin'. PTI Twitter/ncvrsreenath Senior journalist, writer and CPI(M) fellow traveller 'Berlin' Kunjananthan Nair died on Monday, August 9, party sources said in Kannur. Kunjananthan (96), had not been keeping well for the past few years and he passed away at his residence in Narath village due to age-related ailments. Closely associated with the undivided Communist Party and with CPI(M) after the split in the party, Kunjananthan became European correspondent of the Left publications in India in the early 1960s. He was the correspondent of the now defunct pro-Left weekly Blitz, and his long stay in erstwhile East Germany earned him the prefix 'Berlin' with his name. During his nearly three decade-long career as a journalist in East Germany, Kunjananthan was in touch with many leaders of the erstwhile socialist block. Joining the communist movement in his younger age, Kunjananthan became the founder secretary of Balasangham -- children's organisation wing of the then undivided Communist Party -- in 1935. He became the party card holder in 1939. A year later he was jailed in connection with the Morazha incident a famous peasant movement that occurred in Morazha in Kannur during the independence struggle. Kunjananthan was the youngest representative of the Communist party's first party congress held in Bombay in 1943. He worked underground in Bombay for the party during the 1945-46 period. Later, he worked for the party in Calcutta and New Delhi. When EMS Namboodiripad became the general secretary of the undivided Communist party in 1957, Kunjananthan was appointed as his private secretary. In 1958, he went to the Soviet Union and graduated from the Party School in Marxism-Leninism and Political Philosophy. Kunjananthan had attended the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union that took place in Moscow in 1959. Kunjananthan was expelled from the CPI(M) in 2005 after he took sides with VS Achuthanandan to criticise the party then headed by Pinarayi Vijayan. He returned to the party fold 10 years later in 2015. Kunjananthan has also authored several books. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly VD Satheesan condoled Nair's death.

Kannur varsity posting: Guv Khan mulls strict action against V-C

Khan had sought a report from Gopinath Ravindran, vice-chancellor of Kannur University on the controversial appointment.

Seven-year-old with suspected monkeypox admitted to Kannur medical college

Child came from the U.K. with her parents

Upgraded the headlight bulbs on my preowned Maruti Swift VXi

BHPian Ashtoncastelino recently shared this with other enthusiasts. February 2021Headlight bulb upgrade to 90W/100WHad to drive to Kannur Airport to pick up my dad and this was the first long drive with the Swift, I had taken my dear friend too along with me for company as parents were not comfortable with me driving alone. We left around 2 PM and reached Kannur Airport around 8 PM. It was was a great drive which I thoroughly enjoyed. On the way back we stopped for dinner and I let my friend drive the way back to Manipal. He immediately found it difficult with the 55/60w bulbs and said I need to upgrade them ASAP as night drives were very difficult. The windshield moreover had hard water stains/residue which made night driving very difficult with oncoming cars on high beam. The very next day when we reached back to Manipal, I did a thorough research if it is safe to upgrade to 90/100W bulbs on the Swift. Having read few threads were the reflectors got burnt after upgrading the bulbs scared me a bit, But my uncle's 2011 Swift was running on 90/100W with no issues at all since years. My uncle's WagonR was running 90/100W setup with Philips bulbs and Philips headlight relay, but one day when I was driving, the relay just gave up and the fuses melted. I really don't know what happened or what caused it but I expected better life from Philips headlight relay but I was let down. Browsed Amazon and other websites for a day and finally decided to get the headlight relay which was of made by Vaishnu Auto Lighting Solutions. It had great feedback and customer support. IIRC I paid about 944 and ordered Osram Rallye 62204 90/100W bulbs for 300. After placing the order on Amazon, I was contacted by Vaishnu customer care, to notify them if I face any issues during installation or needed help. The headlight relay kit was made with great material, Ceramic H4 Connectors and all the wires were of Finolex make. Dad and me installed it ourselves and did a test at night to see its output . We compared it with my uncle's WagonR which was running 55/60W lights and the light output was an improvement over the previous setup. Anyways I am keeping a close watch on the reflectors to see if any issue crops, so far all good. We noticed an immediate improvement and ease in night drives. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Reduce fare of flights from Gulf to Mluru, say expats

Expats working in the Gulf countries have demanded a reduction in the airfare in the Mangaluru-Gulf sector.The airfare in this sector is high compared to the other international airport nearby in Kannur, Kerala, several expats have pointed out.

African swine fever: expert team from Kannur culls pigs in Karnataka

Disease reported in Bangalore rural districts

Idukki dam opening: No cause for worry, says Industries Minister Rajeeve

Kerala Rains 2022 The Minister said that there was no need to worry as the water that will reach Periyar from Idukki Dam can be easily accommodated as the tributaries have been cleaned under 'Operation Vahini.' PTI File Photo | BIJU KALAYATHINA The Cheruthoni Dam of the Idukki reservoir is likely to be opened on August 7 to discharge excess water, Idukki district authorities said on Saturday, August 6, after the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which manages the dam, issued a red alert as the water-level has increased to 2,382.88 feet. The full reservoir level is 2,403 feet. The Idukki reservoir consists of two dams- the Arch Dam and the Cheruthoni Dam. The shutters of the latter were opened for the first time in 26 years in 2018 to mitigate the worst flood faced by the state in a century. Kerala Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine said that water would be released from Idukki Dam to discharge excess water and that would be contained at the Idamalayar Dam downstream. We will be discharging some excess water tomorrow (Sunday) and plan to contain that water at Idamalayar Dam. I have called a meeting of the representatives of the local self-government bodies downstream today and will discuss the situation. Only a small quantity will be released, Roshy said. Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeeve said that there was no need for any concern with regard to the opening of the Idukki Dam to discharge the excess water, as the distributaries and streams from Periyar river have been cleaned to ensure the natural flow of water. Rajeeve chaired a meeting of officials to evaluate the situation after the Idukki district authority decided to open the Cheruthoni Dam of the Idukki reservoir on Sunday to discharge excess water.Under current circumstances, there is no need to worry. The water that will reach Periyar from Idukki dam can be easily accommodated as the tributaries have been cleaned under 'Operation Vahini.' Necessary steps have been taken to shift people from the banks of the Periyar. There is no need for any concern, Rajeeve told the media. The Minister said relief camps have been opened in all Taluks downstream. Food and drinking water facilities have also been ensured in the camps, he said. He said that people have been shifted from the banks of Chalakudy river as the water-level has gone up. Meanwhile, the water-level at the Mullaperiyar Dam, which is managed by the Tamil Nadu government, has increased to 138.15 feet and 10 shutters have been lifted, discharging 2,122 cusecs of water. However, the rains have subsided in Kerala which has witnessed heavy showers since July 31. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now issued a yellow warning in Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. A red warning indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange warning means very heavy rains of 6 cm to 20 cm. A yellow warning means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. Landslides occurred at Kundala estate in Idukki on Saturday, destroying a temple and two shops in the locality. A total of 175 families from the locality have been shifted to relief camps. The road to Vattavada in the district has also been isolated after getting damaged in a minor landslide. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) had said there are 342 active camps across the State with Thrissur and Pathanamthitta having the most numbers 88 and 69 respectively. A total of 12,195 people are accommodated in the camps, SDMA had said. It also said that 36 houses were damaged fully while 282 houses were destroyed partially.

African Swine Fever: Kerala Govt to give Compensation to Farmers

Thiruvananthapuram: The Government Kerala announced that it would distribute this month the compensation to pig farmers in Kannur and Wayanad districts, who had suffered heavy loss on account of the outbreak of African swine fever. The state government also made it clear it would pay the full amount without waiting for the central allocation . Pigs had reportdly been culled in these districts following the outbreak. The Animal Disease Control Project of the department's corpus money would be used to pay for the necessary preventive measures and compensation, according to State Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J Chinchurani. A government order has been issued for the situation, and the district animal welfare officers have been directed to determine the losses suffered by the farmers. The state government had implemented all preventative measures in response to news of Bihar and north-eastern states having African swine fever, but Mananthavady, Thavinjal, and Nenmeni in the Wayanad district as well as Kanichar Panchayat in Kannur had the virus, the minister explained. Then, pigs at farms within a one-kilometer radius of the disease's epicentre had to be put to death in accordance with the central government's action plan. Chinchurani said, up to 702 pigs in Wayanad and 247 pigs in Kannur had already been put to death. The state and the federal governments often split the cost of the compensation. But in this case, the minister said, the Kerala government will pay the full amount right away without waiting for the federal allocation and will seek the same later. The minister added that she will soon travel to the affected areas to visit the farmers who had lost their pigs and give them compensation. She said that the members of the department's fast action forces would be recognised for their successful preventive actions. Following a warning from the Center that African swine flu had been reported in Bihar and a few northeastern States, Kerala enhanced biosecurity measures in July. African swine fever is a deadly viral disease of domestic pigs, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Culling of pigs to begin in Wayanad, 190 pigs culled so far 5th monkeypox patient found in Kerala, total 7 cases across the country Heavy rain in Kerala; 10 death, more rain likely

Kerala rains: Sabarimala pilgrimage suspended, CUET postponed due to red warning

Kerala Rains 2022 A red warning has been declared in eight districts of Kerala by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). TNM Staff Image for Representation | PTI Incessant rains in Kerala have thrown life out of gear even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning for eight districts in the state. The Kerala government has said that 46 people lost their lives from July 29 to August 4 in connection with rain-related incidents. A red warning has been declared in eight districts of Kerala by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as rains continue to lash various parts of the state. Rains have also disrupted the day-to-day lives of the people as many roads were flooded or caved in and many got displaced from their homes to relief camps. A red warning is in place for August 4 in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur. An orange warning is in place in the remaining districts, except for Thiruvananthapuram, where a yellow warning is in place. A total of 14 relief camps have been set up in the state and 5,849 people belonging to 1,732 families have been moved to the camps. The Kerala government has said that 46 people have died from rain-related incidents in the state from July 29 to August 4. One person is missing in Kollam while another person died in Kottayam district. In Thrissur, two fishermen met with an accident and one body has been found while a search operation is on to locate the second fisherman. The famed Sabarimala temple which opens for a few days during the beginning of the Malayalam calendar has started to restrict devotees. Devotees have been barred from entering the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Pathanamthitta in the wake of rising water levels in the river Pampa. From now on, people will not be allowed to enter the Sannidhanam from the river, and those in Sannidhanam are expected to climb down the hill by 6 pm. The district administration has warned that all instructions should be strictly adhered to. Meanwhile, landslides have entirely cut off access to road transport in the Moozhiyar-Gavi stretch of Pathanamthitta. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked the people living on the banks of water bodies to be extremely cautious. They have been asked to follow the directives of the district authorities and be prepared to move to relief camps if a need arises. Those living in low-lying areas in Thrissur and Ernakulam districts and had moved out to relief camps during the 2018 floods, should do so this time as well. Night travel should not be undertaken on the higher ranges of the state. With most of the rivers in spate, none should attempt to cross it and fishing and swimming have been banned. In vulnerable places, residents should ensure they have an emergency kit packed and kept ready, said CM Pinarayi. The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday postponed the CUET-UG (Common University Entrance Test for UnderGraduate courses) in Kerala due to heavy rains in the state. The second phase of CUET-UG, which got under way in the rest of the country and nine cities abroad on Thursday, will continue until August 6. Nearly 6.8 lakh candidates had registered for the second phase of the test. The CUET (UG) 2022 for the candidates who will be appearing in cities of Kerala State for 04, 05 and 06 August 2022 has been postponed and fresh dates for the exam will be announced later. The inclement weather in the state resulted in water levels of various rivers like Pampa, Manimala and Achankovil in Pathanamthitta district rising close to or crossing danger levels. In Thrissur, the fourth shutter of Peringalkuthu dam was opened leading to rising water levels of the Chalakudy river to dangerous levels prompting the district officials to ask people living on its banks to evacuate immediately. Even the shutters of Chimmini dam are expected to be raised further in view of the heavy rains in Thrissur district and as a result, the water in Kurumali river there which is already above warning levels is expected to rise further, officials said.

Kerala rain updates: Ernakulam Collector faces ire, Thrissur sees major evacuation

Kerala Rains 2022 The rains disrupted the day-to-day lives of the people as roads got flooded or caved in and many got displaced from their homes to relief camps. TNM Staff pti A red warning was declared in 8 districts of Kerala on Thursday, August 4 by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as rains continued to lash various parts of the state. The rains disrupted the day-to-day lives of the people as roads got flooded or caved in and many got displaced from their homes to relief camps. IMD issued a red warning for the day in the districts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur and an orange alert in remaining districts except for Thiruvananthapuram, where a yellow warning is in place. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange alert means very heavy rains of 6 cm to 20 cm. A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. Here are a few updates from Kerala Chalakudy region in Thrissur district is facing heavy rains. The Thrissur Collector has asked all those people who were asked to move out of their houses during the 2018 and 2019 floods to vacate immediately. Many panchayats have already evacuated people, the directions are to move people to camps before 4 pm. The government has said that fishing folk should not venture out into the seas. The government has opened 101 relief camps and around 5000 people have shifted to the camps across the state. The district administration in Thrissur is evacuating people living near the Chalakudy river immediately. Ernakulam Collector Renu Raj has come under a lot of criticism as the announcement that educational institutions will remain shut on August 4 was made only at 8.30 am. Many children were stranded in schools, meals prepared for children were wasted. The Collectors Facebook page was filled with protests from parents. The Collector then said that if students have already reached their school, they can stay back. Many schools however made arrangements for children to be dropped back. Ernakulam district was given a red warning for August 4 and it has left people surprised that the Collector waited till morning to make a decision. Read: Kerala rains: Red warning in eight districts, downpour disrupts normal life The inclement weather in the state has resulted in water levels of various rivers like Pampa, Manimala and Achankovil in Pathanamthitta district rising close to or crossing danger levels. Read: Despite frequent flooding risk, Kochi still lacks drainage master plan In Kozhikode, the bad weather led to five flights from the Middle East which were bound to Calicut Airport being diverted to Cochin International Airport. Air Arabia flights from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, Gulf Air flight from Bahrain, Air India Express flight from Abu Dhabi and Qatar Airways flight from Doha were those diverted to Cochin, the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) said. Also read: 52nd Kerala Film Awards ceremony postponed due to heavy rainfall

Kerala rains: Red warning in eight districts, downpour disrupts normal life

Weather Rains continued to lash various parts of the state and disrupted the day-to-day lives of the people as roads got flooded or caved in and many were moved from their homes to relief camps. PTI IMAGE FOR REPRESENTATION A red warning was declared in eight districts of Kerala on Thursday, August 4, by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as rains continued to lash various parts of the state and disrupted the day-to-day lives of the people as roads got flooded or caved in. Many people were moved from their homes to relief camps. The IMD issued a red warning for the day in the districts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur. An orange warning is in place in all the other districts, except for Thiruvananthapuram, where a yellow warning is in place. A red warning indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange warning means very heavy rains of 6 cm to 20 cm. A yellow warning means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. The inclement weather in the state resulted in water levels of various rivers like Pampa, Manimala and Achankovil in the Pathanamthitta district rising close to or crossing danger levels. Anticipating landslides and floods, several families were relocated to relief camps, district officials said. The roof of an anganwadi building collapsed in Konni taluk of Pathanamthitta district, officials said and added that there were no casualties. The water in some major dams and reservoirs of the state is also rising. The water in Idukki reservoir has reached blue warning storage levels and the water level in the Ponmudi dam in the Idukki district has reached the red warning storage level. Meanwhile, six shutters of the Malankara dam in Idukki were opened by 100 cm at 6 am, officials of the district said. The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam was at 135.35 feet at 11 am, according to Idukki district officials. Besides Pathanamthitta and Idukki, the districts of Kottayam, Thrissur and Kozhikode too witnessed heavy rainfall. In Thrissur, the fourth shutter of the Peringalkuthu dam was opened leading to a rise in the water level of the Chalakkudi river to dangerous levels prompting the district officials to ask people living on its banks to evacuate immediately. Even the shutters of Chimmini dam are expected to be raised further in view of the heavy rains in Thrissur district and as a result, the water in Kurumali river there which is already above warning levels is expected to rise further, officials said. In Kozhikode, bad weather led to five flights from the Middle East, which were bound to Calicut Airport, being diverted to Cochin International Airport. Air Arabia flights from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain, an Air India Express flight from Abu Dhabi and a Qatar Airways flight from Doha were among those diverted to Cochin, the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) said. In Kottayam, the Meenachil river overflowed leading to flooding of some roads. In some other parts of the state, TV channels showed visuals of roads that had cracked or caved as a result of the rains. A holiday was declared for schools and educational institutions in various districts of the state a day ago in view of the rains, but in Ernakulam the announcement was made only after 8 am on Thursday, leading to many students turning up in schools and then having to be sent back home. It led to widespread criticism of the Ernakulam District Collector on social media. Meanwhile, the Central Meteorological Department has predicted widespread rains in Kerala from August 4 to 8. Landslides and flash floods in Kerala triggered by heavy rains killed 18 people in the last few days, damaged hundreds of properties and displaced thousands to relief camps, the state government said on Wednesday.

Brief respite from rains in Kerala, IMD withdraws red warning

Kerala Rains 2022 The IMD had issued a red warning in Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam for August 3, which was withdrawn the same day. PTI Image for Representation The red warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for Kerala was withdrawn, and an orange warning was issued in 11 districts of the state on Wednesday, August 3. This indicates a probable decrease in the intensity of the rains hitting the southern state. The IMD, on Wednesday noon, withdrew the red warning and issued an orange one for the day in all the districts barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragod, where yellow warnings have been issued. The red warning issued in the state for Thursday was withdrawn, while an orange warning was issued in 12 districts for Thursday, according to an IMD district rainfall forecast issued for Kerala at 10 am. At 10 am on Wednesday, IMD had sounded a red warning in the districts of Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam for the day and an orange warning in the remaining districts. It had also issued red warnings in four districts and orange warnings in eight districts for August 4. Various weather models of the Central Meteorological Department, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, National Centers for Environmental Prediction and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, have predicted heavy rainfall in several districts of Kerala during the day. A red warning indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange warning means very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rain. A yellow warning means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. Meanwhile, the state government, in a release, said that 166 relief camps have been set up in various districts and 4,639 people have been relocated there from disaster-hit or disaster-prone areas. It also said that water in six dams Ponmudi, Lower Periyar, Kallarkutty, Erattayar and Kundala in Idukki and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta districts have reached red alert storage levels.The water in Idukki and Peringalkuthu dams have reached blue and yellow storage alert levels, respectively, it further said. Earlier in the day, state Revenue Minister K Rajan said that people should strictly avoid going to areas which are inundated or flooded as part of a growing trend of flood tourism and warned that police would be used to remove such persons. Speaking to reporters at Pathanamthitta, the minister said that there was a growing trend among people to visit areas which are flooded and try to enter the waters there or catch fish and the same should be avoided as it creates an additional burden on the authorities carrying out relief and rescue operations. He gave the example of an elephant being stranded for hours in the Chalakudy river on Tuesday morning, news reports of which led to a large number of people arriving at that place and creating a problem for the local authorities. Such activities in flooded areas would not be permitted at all and if necessary, police assistance would be sought to remove such persons, he said. As there was some decrease in the intensity of rains in certain parts of the state in the early morning hours on Wednesday, water levels in various major dams and reservoirs were holding steady or had risen only marginally at around 7 am, according to data received from various districts. The heavy rains led to six deaths one each in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts and three in Kannur district resulting in a total of 12 rain-related casualties in the state from July 31 to August 2, the Kerala State Emergency Operations Center (KSEOC) had said. Besides that, three people have also gone missing from various parts of the state during the day, it said.

Lack of ventilation after fumigation may have caused 8-year-olds death in Bengaluru

Death Vinod Kumar, an MBA graduate, his wife Nisha and Ahaana left Bengaluru on July 29, for their hometown in Kerala after their house owner informed them that painting and pest control would be done. TNM Staff Representative image/Pixabay A fumigated house turned out to be a toxic gas chamber for an 8-year-old girl, who developed complications shortly after entering it and passed away in the hospital on August 2 at Vasanth Nagar in Bengaluru. Doctors suspect that the family could have inhaled toxic fumes left behind by tick pesticides used for cleaning. It is also suspected that pesticides used for pest control contaminated the water used to make coffee. The owner of the house has been taken into custody for causing death by negligence as the rooms were not ventilated properly after the cleaning. The family left Bengaluru on Friday, July 29, for their hometown of Kannur in Kerala after their house owner informed them that painting and pest control would be done. Vinod Kumar, an MBA graduate working for a corporate firm in Bengaluru, complained to the house owner, Shivaprasad about the infestation of bugs and cockroaches at the apartment. To get rid of the insects, the owner agreed to spray insecticides and asked them to vacate. Following pest control, the men on the job had closed all ventilation points. The ventilation in the house was blocked, and even the keyholes were filled with tiny pieces of paper. Doctors told us that it could not have been just because of house cleaning, the cleaners used in such procedures are more or less safe. Doctors told us they suspect the house owner must have combined some other chemicals for better cleaning, a family member told TNM. It's unclear whether the family was told to open the doors and windows before moving in. The building had three floors, while the owner lived on the ground floor, Vinods family lived on the third floor. We have not heard of anyone else facing any trouble there. But the, this house was kept locked for three days, and maybe the toxic fumes were not aired out, a relative said, Vinod Kumar, his wife Nisha, and their daughter Ahaana arrived in the city at 5:30 a.m. on August 1. The family slept until 7:30 a.m., then made coffee with the water that was already in the house. The mother and daughter drank the coffee and they then went back to sleep. After a while, due to breathing difficulties, all three of them woke up and called an ambulance, their relative said. After experiencing breathing difficulties, the parents and child were rushed to Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital in Vasanth Nagar. Because the hospital was only a few kilometers away, the ambulance arrived as soon as the family called around 11.30 a.m. The ambulance took Vinod and Ahaana to the hospital in the first round, then returned to the house and took Nisha in the second round. Around 1.30 p.m on August 2, the child passed away. A relative told TNM that the childs body had been sent for post mortem. The parents are out of the ICU and in normal hospital rooms. After the post mortem is done, the childs body will be taken to Kannur for the funeral, the relative said. According to the police, the owner bought a cleaner from the shop and used it. It is commonly used to control bollworms, caterpillars, leafminers, and other insects in cotton, paddy, oilseeds, and other plantation crops, TOI reported. The police have taken chemical samples from the house and sent them for testing. The house owner is in police custody for questioning. Based on a complaint from Vinod's relative, the owner of the house has been charged under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code with causing death by negligence. The child's body was sent for post-mortem examination, and the High Grounds Police Station is investigating which pesticide was used.

Kerala rains: Red alert lifted from state, orange alert in 11 districts

The heavy rains led to six deaths -- one each in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Ernakulam, and three in Kannur district -- resulting in a total of 12 rain-related casualties from July 31 to August 2

Heavy rains to continue in Kerala, red warning issued in 3 districts

Weather Revenue Minister K Rajan also warned people against going to inundated areas for flood tourism and that strict action would be taken against violators. PTI Image for representation Heavy rains will continue to lash Kerala as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning to three districts on Wednesday, August 3. An orange warning has been issued for eight districts as well. Red warning was declared in the districts of Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam for the day and an orange warning has been sounded in the remaining districts barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragode, according to an IMD district rainfall forecast issued for Kerala at 10 AM. A red warning was issued for 10 districts the previous day. On Thursday, August 4, a red warning was issued in four districts and an orange warning was sounded in eight districts. Various weather models of the Central Meteorological Department, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, National Centers for Environmental Prediction and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, have predicted heavy rainfall in several districts of Kerala during the day. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange alert means very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rain. A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. Meanwhile, the state government, in a release, said that 166 relief camps have been set up in various districts and 4,639 people have been relocated there from disaster-hit or disaster-prone areas. Earlier in the day, state Revenue Minister K Rajan said that people should strictly avoid going to areas which are inundated or flooded as part of a growing trend of flood tourism and warned that police would remove such persons from the site. Speaking to reporters at Pathanamthitta, the minister said there is a growing trend among people to visit areas which are flooded and try to enter the waters there or catch fish and the same should be avoided as it creates an additional burden on the authorities carrying out relief and rescue operations. He gave the example of an elephant being stranded for hours in the Chalakudy river on Tuesday morning, news reports of which led to a large number of people arriving at that place and creating a problem for the local authorities. Such activities in flooded areas would not be permitted at all and if necessary, police assistance would be sought to remove such persons, he said. On evacuating people from disaster prone areas, he said that according to guidelines in the Orange book such people have to be mandatorily relocated. Rajan said that the state government has taken all necessary steps, like setting up relief camps, so that there is no loss of life and people can comfortably wait out the rains. The minister also said that there was no need to be concerned about the flood-prone low lying Kuttanad area of the state, but the authorities were monitoring the situation there. As there was some decrease in the intensity of rains in certain parts of the state in the early morning hours on Wednesday, water levels in various major dams and reservoirs were holding steady or had risen only marginally at around 7 AM, according to data received from various districts. However, the water storage level in Idukki reservoir reached 2375.52 feet and a blue alert was sounded at 10 AM. The heavy rains led to six deaths one each in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts and three in Kannur district resulting in a total of 12 rain-related casualties in the state from July 31 to August 2, the Kerala State Emergency Operations Center (KSEOC) had said. Besides that, three people have also gone missing from various parts of the state during the day, it had said.

8-yr-old in Bengaluru dies allegedly from inhaling toxic fumes from household cleaner

Death The family had left their house after the house owner informed them that the house will be painted. TNM Staff Image for representation An eight-year-old girl died after suspected pesticide poisoning on August 2 at Vasanth Nagar in Bengaluru. The parents along with the child were rushed to Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital in Vasanth Nagar after they suffered difficulty in breathing. The family hails from Kannur in Kerala. The family had left Bengaluru on Friday, July 29, to their native place in Kannur in Kerala after their house owner informed them that painting and pest control will be done in their house. Vinod Kumar, an MBA graduate working with a corporate company in Bengaluru, his wife Nisha and their daughter Ahaana returned to Bengaluru at 5:30 am on August 1. The family slept till 7:30 am after which they made some coffee with the water that was already in the house. Then they slept again. After a while all three of them woke up due to breathing difficulties and called the ambulance, their relative told Asianet News. Since the hospital was less than a km away from the house, the ambulance rushed as soon as the family made a call around 11.30 am. Vinod and Ahaana were taken to the hospital in the first round, the ambulance returned to the house and then took Nisha in the second trip. The child passed away by around 1.30 pm. While the parents are still undergoing treatment and are disoriented, doctors suspect that the family inhaled toxic fumes left behind by pesticides used for cleaning. It is also suspected that the water used for making coffee could have been contaminated from pesticides used for pest control. The body of the child has been sent for post mortem and an investigation is being carried out by the High Grounds Police Station as to which pesticide was used. Initial reports say that the parents are also critical and the mother has not yet been notified about her childs death. The owner of the house has been booked under 304A of the Indian Penal Code for causing death due to negligence. The police told TNM that the owner purchased a cleaner from the shop and used it. He has not been arrested yet. Police told TNM that samples had been collected from the house and sent for forensic analysis.

Kerala: Heavy rain causes chaos, red alert in 10 districts; Toddler washed away

In a tragic incident that occurred on August 1 during a landslide in Kannur, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, Numa, was washed away in flood waters. The body was found in the search operation by the NDRF personnel on August 2nd. Her mother, Nadeera, survived the mishap that occurred on August 1st. Though Nadeera was rescued, Numa, who was holding on to Nadeeras hand, got lost in the currents. Meanwhile, the heavy rain that lashed various parts of Kerala since July 31st claimed over 12 lives, besides causing widespread damage to property and agriculture. Many important roads in Kochi and other areas have been facing waterlogging and significant traffic disruptions since August 1. Many schools in vulnerable areas have been suspended due to heavy rains. IMD has issued a red alert in 7 districts till August 4.

Foreign tourists rescued in Kerala after riverside resort is flooded

Kerala Rains Entry of tourists to high ranges of Idukki and to Athirapally waterfalls in Thrissur have been blocked. TNM Staff With heavy rains resulting in rise in river water level, a resort in Kodanad in Ernakulam district was flooded on Tuesday morning, trapping tourists who were staying there. The incident happened at around 5.30 in the morning. Foreign tourists and staff staying in the Elephant Pass resort near the Elephant Kraal in Kodanad, a popular tourist destination, were rescued after the incident. Two foreigners, a family from Kochi and resort staff were trapped in the resort after it was flooded. Fire force, police and revenue department officials were involved in the rescue. The rescued tourists were shifted to a nearby resort. Many tourists in Idukki, Wayanad and Alappuzha districts have moved out following reports of heavy rains, flash floods and landslides. Restrictions have been placed on entry of tourists to high ranges of Idukki and the Athirapally waterfalls in Thrissur district. Tourist movement has also been restricted to Ponmudi, a hill station in Idukki, which witnessed heavy rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also issued a Red alert in 10 districts for August 3. The red alert has been issued in all the districts of the state barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Kasaragod, where Orange alerts have been issued for August 2 and 3, an IMD district rainfall forecast for Kerala said at 10 AM on Tuesday. The department also warned of widespread and isolated heavy and very heavy rainfall in the state till August 5. As the heavy rains continued, the authorities have set up relief camps in various districts and tourist spots in high range areas of Idukki have been shut. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange alert means very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rain. A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. Payyavoor region of Kannur district experienced several landslides on Tuesday morning and Monday night. On Monday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said that till August 1 six people died in rain-related incidents and one was missing. Meanwhile, the Central Water Commission has issued flood warnings in five rivers across the state. CWC warned of flooding in Pullakkayar in Kottayam, Maadaman, Kallooppara in Pathanamthitta, Vellaikadavu and Aruvippuram in Thiruvananthapuram.

Kerala rain updates: Red alert in 10 districts and across 7 dams

Weather Educational institutions in Kozhikode district will remain closed on August 3. TNM Staff As incessant rains continue to lash Kerala with reports of landslides and rising river water levels in some parts of the state, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red warning in 10 districts of the southern state for Tuesday. IMD also issued a Red alert in the same 10 districts for August 3 also. The red warning is issued in all the districts of the state barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Kasaragod, where Orange alerts have been issued for August 2 and 3, according to an IMD district rainfall forecast issued for Kerala at 10 AM on Tuesday. The department also warned of widespread and isolated heavy and very heavy rainfall in the state till August 5. Rain updates from Kerala Twelve people have died in rain related incidents. A two-year-old child was washed away in gushing waters in Kannurs Nedumpuramchal region. The incident took place as residents were evacuating the area on Monday, August 1, after four landslides were reported from surrounding places. Read: Landslides in Kannur as heavy rains lash Kerala, two-year-old washed away Tourists including foreigners who were trapped in the Elephant Pass resort located in Kodanad of Ernakulam district were rescued. Educational institutions in Kozhikode district will remain closed on August 3. 77 relief camps have been started in the state and around 500 people have been moved already. Red alert in seven dams in Kerala- Lower Periyar, Ponmudy, Erattayar, Kundala, Peringalkuthu and Moozhiyar. Five rivers in the state are in spate- Pamba, Neyyar, Karamana, Manimalayar and Meenachal. Flood warnings have been given in Manimalayar, Neyyar and Karamana rivers. Fishing has been banned on all coasts and people living in landslide prone areas have been asked to move out when asked. Read: Kerala rains: At least eight dead as incessant downpour lashes state Equinoct, a climate tech startup, has written to state Chief Secretary and the State Disaster Management Authority requesting their immediate intervention in reservoir release scheduling to reduce the downstream impact. A similar situation had resulted in flooding of many areas in 2018. The letter urged the state government to convene an emergency meeting under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005. Equinoct highlighted the need for constituting a river basin level emergency team to assess the real-time conditions and preparation of integrated hourly reservoir release schedules.

Kerala rains: At least eight dead as incessant downpour lashes state

Rains On Tuesday morning, the body of a two-and-a-half-year-old child was found around 200 metres away from the house in Kannur, where one more death has been reported. TNM Staff pti As many as eight people have lost their lives and a few others are reported missing as per the latest update by the government as incessant rains continue to pound Kerala from Sunday, July 31. On Tuesday morning, the body of a two-and-a-half-year-old child was found around 200 metres away from the house in Kannur, where one more death has been reported. Four deaths have been reported from Pathanamthitta. Kollam and Kottayam districts have reported one death each, while four people have gone missing. Of the eight deaths, two have been reported in the last 24 hours. However, unofficial figures suggest that the death toll could be 10. On Monday, a 27-year-old man named Kingston from Tamil Nadu was injured after his boat overturned at Vizhinjam village in Thiruvananthapuram district and he died on the way to the hospital after he was brought to the shore. Three people died on Monday when their car fell into a ravine at Vennikulam village in Mallappalali taluk - Chandy Mathew, Seba Mathew and Blessy Chandy, the deceased are natives of Kumily. On Sunday evening, Kumaran (50) from Madurai, died after falling into the Kumbhavuruti waterfall at Aryankav village in Punalur taluk. One more person Advait, 22, died after being swept away by the flood in the Palakkava at Kollamula village. A person named Kannuparampil Rias, 45, has been washed away from Koutikal Chappath in Kanjirapalli taluk and is reported missing. A young man named Shakeel, a native of Pailur-Mutannoor, died on Sunday after his boat overturned during an excursion in the Tirur- Ponnani river in Mangalam village of Tirur taluk. In Kottayam, the body of a man who had gone missing a day ago was recovered on Tuesday morning from the Koottikkal Chappath area of the district, the emergency operations centre there said. Central Water Commission (CWC) Advisory The India Meteorological Department (IMD) as part of the Central Water Commission advisory has predicted extremely heavy rains in Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram and very heavy rains in Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur districts for next 3 to 4 days. Alert for water level rise may be kept in Meenachil, Manimala, Pamba, Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha, Periyar, Achankovil, Kallada, Vamanapuram, their tributaries and other small rivers of above said districts, the IMD stated. Increased inflow is expected into Idukki and Edamalayar dams. Water levels of Kalady, Marthandavarma stations are above the respective flood warning levels. The CWC report has warned of severe flood situation in Periyar and Pamba on August 4. In Thrissur, the Chalakudy river water levels rose by nearly 5 metres around 2 am on Tuesday due to the heavy rains leading to the district administration advising those living on the low-lying areas of the river's banks to move to safer places. Agriculture Control Rooms The Department of Agriculture has opened control rooms at the state and district levels. The Agriculture Minister informed that the Agriculture Department has opened control rooms at the state and district levels for reporting agricultural damage and disaster mitigation as heavy rains and natural calamities are expected in the state in the next few days. Farmers can contact the following numbers to report information: State Level Control Center 9495931216 District level control centres Thiruvananthapuram - 9383470086, 9383470092; Kollam - 9447104855, 7907935033; Pathanamthitta - 9495734107, 9495606930; Kottayam - 9383470704, 9383470714; Alappuzha - 9496117012, 9447400212; Ernakulam- 9383471150, 9383471180; Thrissur - 9446035934, 9447614652; Palakkad- 9447359453, 9447839399; Malappuram- 9446474275, 9895335298; Kozhikode- 9383471784, 9383471779; Idukki - 9447124455, 9447447705; Wayanad- 9446367312, 9383471912; Kannur- 9383472028, 9495326950; Kasaragod - 9383471969, 9447089766 Red warning in 10 districts As incessant rains continue to lash Kerala with reports of landslides and rising river water levels in some parts of the state, the IMD issued red warning in 10 districts of the southern state for Tuesday. IMD also issued a red warning in the same 10 districts for August 3 also. The red warning is issued in all the districts of the state barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Kasaragod, where orange warning has been issued for August 2 and 3, according to an IMD district rainfall forecast issued for Kerala at 10 am on Tuesday. A red warning indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange warning means very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rain. A yellow warning means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. The department also warned of widespread and isolated heavy and very heavy rainfall in the state till August 5. As the heavy rains continued, the authorities have set up relief camps in various districts and tourist spots in high range areas of Idukki have been closed down. Shutters of dams have been opened across the state. Rain activity has shifted from southern districts to the northern as Tuesday saw central and northern districts getting heavy rain. Educational institutions in several districts have been given a holiday for Tuesday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the rule curve at all the dams are under constant monitoring and the authorities concerned will be taking the appropriate decisions and at the moment things are under control. State Revenue Minister K Rajan said control rooms at all the district headquarters of the state are functioning. A total of 49 relief camps have been opened in the state, and as many as 289 families and 922 people are housed in the camps.

Cops up in arms as private function gets police cover

The permission to hire four civil police officers was granted by Kannur City Additional SP P P Sadanandan.

16-year-old girl suffering from spinal muscular atrophy passes away in Kerala

Death Afra had last year appealed to the people to raise Rs 18 crore for saving her toddler brother, Mohammed, who is also suffering from the same disease. Agencies MEDIAONE YOUTUBE SCREEN GRAB /Afra with her brother Mohammed who is also suffering from SMA A 16-year-old girl, who was bound to a wheelchair due to a rare genetic disorder, passed away on Monday, family sources said. Afra was suffering from spinal muscular atrophy and had last year appealed to the people to raise Rs 18 crore for saving her toddler brother, Mohammed, who is also suffering from the same disease. The disease affects the central nervous system and causes the wasting of muscles used for movement. The 16-year-old was admitted to a private hospital in the last few days as she was not keeping well. The teenage girl had appealed to the world in July last year seeking help to raise money for her brother to procure a dose of Zolgensma, worth over Rs 18 crore, which is considered as one of the most expensive drugs in the world. A medical treatment committee formed at the time received over Rs 46 crore contribution and the prescribed drug was procured. Mohammed was given the dose last August. The rest of the money was used for the treatment of two other children affected by the same disease. Speaking to the media at Muhammeds house at Matool in Kannur in July last year, local legislator M Vijin had said that it was unbelievable that were able to raise such a huge sum from well-wishers. We first formed a committee and then decided to appeal through social media, and with the help of media organisations, this campaign gathered momentum. We are still yet to come to terms with the success of raising Rs 18 crore in a week, he had said. Afra was also undergoing treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. The Kerala government, through a local body, had recently handed over a high-tech wheelchair to Afra. Her last rites will be held at Matool central Juma Masjid Kabristan in Kannur.

Heavy rains lash parts of Kerala, orange warning in seven districts

Weather Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that those in hilly areas should be cautious and as a precautionary measure they should be shifted to relief camps as soon as rains start. TNM Staff Image for Representation | PTI Kerala has been witnessing heavy rains since Sunday night, July 31, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall in many places in Kerala from August 2 to August 4. The IMD has issued an orange warning for seven districts and a yellow warning for six districts on August 1. Due to the incessant rains, a landslide was reported at the 22nd bend of Kallar-Ponmudi road during the late hours of Friday night. However, there were no casualties. On August 1, orange warning has been issued in seven districts Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki; and yellow warning in six districts Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Kannur. On August 2, orange warning has been issued for eight districts Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur; and yellow warning in six districts Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode,Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod. On August 3, there is an orange warning in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad; yellow warning in two districts Kannur and Kasargod. On August 4, IMD has issued a orange warning in 12 districts Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam,Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod; and yellow warning in two districts Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has also asked the residents from the areas affected by landslides and floods in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and local bodies and government agencies from the areas identified by Geological Survey of India and expert committee of SDMA as hazard prone areas or uninhabitable areas, should be ready with disaster preparedness. One person has died and another got injured, both hailing from Tamil Nadu, after being swept away in a flash flood at Kumbhavurutty Falls a popular tourist attraction due to the heavy rainfall in the surrounding forest area. A senior forest official of the area said that as soon as they noticed the rainfall and change in water level they asked everyone to move out of the waterfalls but five people could not quickly move away to safety. Forest officials managed to rescue three of them but two got swept away with one of them hitting his head on the rocks at the bottom of the falls, the official said. The two who got swept away had suffered injuries and were rescued, but one of them died later in the hospital, he said. The forest official said that as a result of the incident, the tourist spot has been closed down till some security measures, like a safety net perhaps, are put in place to prevent anyone from being swept away or losing their balance and falling to the bottom of the falls. Apart from this, three persons died in Pathanamthitta on Monday. A car while overtaking a bus lost control and fell into a canal overflowing due to the rains. While two people were brought dead to the hospital, a third person died later. Meanwhile, the rains in parts of Kottayam district flooded eight houses in Kanjirappally taluk and also caused a landslide in Munnilav village in Meenachil taluk, the district officials said. The water level of Meenachil river at Cherippad station also crossed the warning level due to heavy rainfall in the region since afternoon, officials said. Functioning of Kerala High Court was also affected briefly for 45 minutes on Monday as the proceedings started at 11 am instead of the scheduled 10.15 am owing to heavy downpour. In view of the orange warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the coming week, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Sunday, said that those in hilly areas should be cautious and as a precautionary measure they should be shifted to relief camps as soon as rains start. The Chief Minister, in a Facebook post, also said that the district and taluk control rooms should be on warning 24X7, police and fire brigades should be ready for action and steps should be taken to prevent potential accidents due to trees, hoardings or posts being dislodged by strong winds. He further said camps should also be set up in coastal areas and fishermen should not be allowed to go to sea. Besides that, power houses and important institutions in low-lying areas which could get inundated due to the rains should take precautionary measures, water level in dams be monitored closely and the situation communicated to the district and state disaster management authorities in time, Pinarayi said in his post. He said people should be careful as, in the coming days, the rains were likely to intensify. (With PTI and IANS inputs)

Four held for possessing 70g of MDMA in Thiruvananthapurma'sAakkulam

The arrested are Ashkar, 40, of Panoor in Kannur; Sharon, 26, of Aakkulam; Fahad, 36, of Koduvally and Seena, 26, of Keezhattingal.

Tourist dies in flash floods at Kerala waterfall, another injured

Floods The two men were rescued by forest officials after they were swept away in the falls, however, they succumbed on the way to the hospital. PTI Kumbhavurutty Falls | WikimediaCommons/ Santhosh Sellathurai Two people hailing from Tamil Nadu, who had visited the popular Kumbhavurutty Falls in Keralas Kollam district, were injured after flash floods hit the region due to rains on Sunday, July 31. One of the two succumbed to severe injuries, while the other is still undergoing treatment. Heavy rains have begun to lash parts of the state, with authorities on alert. A senior forest official of the area said that as soon as they noticed the rainfall and change in water level on Sunday, the public was asked to move out of the waterfalls. However, five people were unable to escape in time. Forest officials managed to rescue three of them. However, the two men hailing from Tamil Nadu were swept away. One of them hit his head on the rocks at the bottom of the falls, according to officials. The two were later rescued, but the man succumbed to severe injuries on the way, officials added. The forest official said that as a result of the incident, the waterfalls have been closed down till security measures like safety nets are put in place at the falls, especially as heavy to extremely heavy rains are expected across the state. The falls are primarily frequented by people from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the rains in parts of Kottayam district flooded eight houses in Kanjirappally taluk and also caused a landslide in Munnilav village in Meenachil taluk, the district officials said. The water level of Meenachil river at Cherippad station also crossed the warning level due to heavy rainfall in the region since afternoon, officials said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains in Kerala till August 4 with orange warnings being issued in various districts over the coming week. The rains are likely caused by a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal, the IMD said. In view of this, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday, July 31, said those in hilly areas should be cautious and as a precautionary measure they should be shifted to relief camps as soon as rains begin. The Chief Minister, in a Facebook post, also said an order will be issued prohibiting vehicular traffic to the hilly regions of the Western Ghats from 7 pm to 7 am. Further, district and taluk control rooms should be on alert 24X7, police and fire brigades should be ready for action and steps should be taken to prevent potential accidents due to trees, hoardings or posts being dislodged by strong winds. He further said camps should also be set up in coastal areas and fishermen should not be allowed to go to sea. Besides that, power houses and important institutions in low-lying areas which could get inundated due to the rains should take precautionary measures, water level in dams be monitored closely and the situation communicated to the district and state disaster management authorities in time, Vijayan said in his post. He said people should be careful as, in the coming days, the rains are likely to intensify. On Monday, August 1, the IMD put in place an orange warning in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki districts. On Tuesday, August 2, orange warning is in place in these districts as well, along with Thrissur. The rains are likely to spread as these eight districts, along with Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad, are under an orange warning on August 3. On August 4, an orange warning has been issued for 12 districts including Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange alert means very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rain. A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 to 11 cm. Read: Kerala to see heavy rains over next four days, IMD issues orange warning

Kerala to see heavy rains over next four days, IMD issues orange warning

Weather An orange warning has been issued in eight districts for August 2, 12 for August 3 and 12 on August 4, the IMD said. TNM Staff Image for representation/ PTI Even as parts of Kerala are reeling from heavy rains in the past few weeks, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy showers across the state. The rains are predicted for four days starting from Sunday, July 31, till Thursday, August 4. In light of this, the IMD has issued a series of weather warnings. For Sunday, the IMD has sounded a yellow warning in 10 districts Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram. On Monday, August 1, the IMD put in place an orange warning in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki districts. On Tuesday, August 2, orange warning is in place in these districts as well, along with Thrissur. The rains are likely to spread as these eight districts, along with Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad, are under an orange warning on August 3. On August 4, an orange warning has been issued for 12 districts including Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur. A warning cautioning fishermen not to enter the sea is also in place till August 3. As per the IMDs weather bulletin, the rains are a result of cyclonic circulation over south-central Bay of Bengal, causing rains across southern states. The Kerala Disaster Management Authority has advised those staying on riverbanks and in hilly and coastal areas to remain vigilant. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange alert means very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rain. A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 to 11 cm. Earlier in July, heavy rains had lashed parts of the state, and between July 3 and 7, as many as six people lost their lives due to rain-related incidents.

Its back: Downpour leads to flash floods in Mluru

Due to flash floods, many roads in the city were inundated with rainwater and traffic movement was affected at many places, especially below the Pumpwell flyover, Kodialbailguthu West, Attavar, Ekkur, Padil, Kannur and other low-lying areas, on Saturday morning.

Large seabird rescued and released off Kerala coast

Wildlife The injured masked booby could have straggled towards the Kerala coast due to the inclement weather and winds caused by the south-west monsoon. Maria Teresa Raju Manoj Karingamadathi A sub-adult masked booby, a large seabird of the Sulidae family, was released into the deep sea off the Kochi coast by a team led by Assistant Conservator of Forests Jayamadhavan A on July 25. The bird was found by fishermen near the Kuzhupilly beach area on July 4. While masked boobies fall under the least concern category of the IUCN, the bird was a rare sight as they seldom come to the Kerala coast. The bird was found with a slight injury to its wings and was handed over to a local animal and bird enthusiast named Abdul Shukkoor. The masked booby recovered under Shukkoors care, even supposedly responding to being called booby. It is not usual for large seabirds like this to be tame. But this masked booby was exceptionally tame, and never once left our compound even when let out of the cage, Shukkoor said. As the bird is a heavy feeder, taking care of it was a demanding task. Shukkoor later alerted officials of the Forest Department after which release measures were undertaken. Manoj Karingamadathil, a bird watcher involved in the coordination of the birds release, said that the bird must have straggled towards the coast due to the inclement weather and winds caused by the south-west monsoon. One or two sightings are reported along the Kerala coast annually. Around the same time this year, another masked booby was rescued in Thrikkarippoor of Kasaragod district too, Manoj informed. The earliest recorded sighting of the masked booby in Kerala was made by H R Baker in Kannur in 1911. Birds of Kerala: Status and Distribution describes the bird as an exhausted young female. The rescue team under Jayamadhavan consisted of officers of the Forest and Fisheries departments, the Cochin and Bombay Natural History societies as well as bird watchers. They undertook two attempts to release the bird back to the sea. During the first attempt, it was taken to the seashore, where it was let out. That attempt failed as the bird did not take off as expected. Dr Dilip K G, retired Sociology Professor and bird watcher associated with the Cochin Natural History Society, said that releasing a seabird back to the sea is a time-consuming process which involves re-orienting the bird to the sea. The time chosen for release during the first attempt wasnt favourable as it was raining then. Birds usually tend to perch somewhere and not fly in the rain, he explained. The bird was also used to being regularly fed at Shukkoors place. It is a common behaviour trait for birds, or any animals, to stay close to whoever provides regular feed. They are likely to choose the convenience of being fed over having to forage. In this case, the masked booby cannot be said to have been tamed. It could have merely been responding to the food, Dr Dilip added. The team chose to release the bird in the deep sea during the second attempt. By then, the bird had also become healthier. The bird had a lice infestation. It is common for such parasites to attach to animals and birds in the wild. By the time of the second attempt, the infestation had been treated, Dr Dilip said. The bird was taken twenty kilometres into the sea where it was released. Fishermen and sailors have reported instances where these birds would fly in from the sea and perch on boats or ships. According to Dr Dilip, Even during its second release, the bird perched on the boat for a while. It took some encouragement from the team for it to take off. As soon as it touched the water, it took several dips in the sea, making evident its delight at being back in its natural habitat, Manoj observed. Masked boobies may be present in high, uninhabited islands, possibly with sparse vegetation, found deep in the Indian Ocean all the way from Australia to the Maldives. Sailors may spot these, but sightings of their breeding colonies are rare, Dr Dilip stated. Manoj, who has been on two birdwatching journeys in the deep sea, said that he has never spotted a breeding colony of the masked booby. I have only seen masked boobies as part of rescue and release measures, and not in their natural habitat. Rarely, individual boobies are seen between the rocks of breakwaters a few hundred metres into the sea. This is despite them being distributed across almost all oceans, he said. The masked booby was ringed under the supervision of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) before it was released into the sea. It was an aluminium ring inscribed with BNHSs name and an identification number that will help track the flight and sightings of the bird, he added. Bird ringing is a research method used by ornithologists that helps in studying migration and feeding patterns along with other scientifically significant information. Ringing using the aluminium ring is actually an old technique. Newer methods that make use of radio tracking with radio apparatus help track daily or hourly activities. While there are studies that have used radio tracking in India, they are very rare, he explained. On being asked whether global warming and associated rise in global temperatures and sea level has had any adverse effect on the masked booby population, Dr Dilip said that no such effects have been recorded so far. Sea level rise will submerge several small islands in the deep sea. This will adversely affect the seabirds that were dependent on these islands for breeding. This threat will extend to the masked boobies too. This will become reality gradually and is not an immediate threat, he clarified.

Kerala govt decides to exclude residential areas, farmland from eco-sensitive zone

Environment Considering objections received against a Union government draft notification, the Cabinet decided to approve the Forest Department's proposal to exclude certain areas from the ESZ. PTI Image for representation: Pixabay/Siva prasad The Kerala government on Wednesday, July 27, decided to exclude residential and agricultural areas as well as government, semi-government and public institutions from the one-kilometre-wide eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting held during the day, a release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. It said that taking into account the objections received against a Union government draft notification which included residential areas around 23 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the state, the Cabinet decided to approve the Forest Department's proposal to exclude such areas, agricultural land, and the various public institutions from the ESZ. The Forest and Wildlife Department's proposal has also been forwarded to the Union government. Later, state Forest Minister AK Saseendran told reporters that with the latest Cabinet decision, the earlier one regarding the ESZ or buffer zones would cease to exist. He said the Forest and Wildlife Department has been tasked with taking the matter forward, including moving the Supreme Court, after holding discussions with the Advocate General. The top court had on June 3 pronounced the verdict to create a one-km eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around all wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, which is generally considered to affect the normal life of people living in such areas of the southern state for decades. The Kerala Legislative Assembly had earlier this month unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Union government to exempt inhabited places and agricultural lands in the state while implementing the one-km wide eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around forests and sanctuaries as directed by the Supreme Court. Read: SC order on eco-sensitive zones may not pass the scientific test Besides the buffer zone issue, the Cabinet meeting decided to also grant administrative approval to the construction of an educational complex in Pinarayi village of Kannur district, the release said. The complex would be spread over 12.93-acre land and would be constructed with funding from KIIFB, it said. Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL) would be appointed as a special purpose vehicle for the construction work which would be coordinated by the Institute of Human Resources Development, the CMO release said. Another important decision taken by the Cabinet was to approve the 100 million euro funding from French bank AFD for the resilient Kerala developmental programme to be implemented under the re-build Kerala initiative, the release said.

Monkeypox: Homophobic posters crop up in Alappuzha, LGBTQIA+ activists debunk them

LGBTQIA+ The homophobic posters are spreading misinformation in the name of protecting family values. Azeefa Fathima Image for representation Trigger warning: Homophobia, queerphobia Homophobic posters cropped up overnight in Keralas Alappuzha, on Sunday, July 24, the same day a rationalist group organised a pride march here. The posters put up by anonymous persons are not only homophobic but also provide unscientific information about the spread of monkeypox by placing the blame on LGBTQIA+ persons. Under the guise of Pride Awareness Campaign and protecting family values, the posters are in reality regressive and hateful. In one, a man and a woman (supposedly parents) are shown holding an umbrella over two little children, preventing rainbow coloured rain from falling over them (that is, protecting them from the rainbow colors that are associated with pride). In another illustration, a hand that looks like that of a devils holds a rainbow passing through it. Both of these posters have a question: Why give the name of nature to perversion? Other posters included clippings of news about monkeypox vaccines being offered to gay and bisexual men in some countries and about the spread of certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). One poster says, The latest communicable disease monkeypox is also present in homosexuals. (sic) Racism and homophobia This last poster especially carries dangerous messaging around LGBTQIA+ persons, particularly gay and bisexual people, despite multiple science and medical professionals saying that monkeypox is not an STD, not particular to gay individuals, and in fact, is a disease that spreads through touch and contact. Ashish Jose Ambat, a scientist and pharma researcher who is openly queer, explains that monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus in the family poxviridae virus, the primary host of which happens to be monkeys, and has been reported in multiple countries over years. This was first reported in humans in Africa in the 1970s, and only caused concern when it came to the west in 2003 in the US. As long as it was limited to Africa, not much attention was given to it, which shows apparent racism in negating health policy concerns of undeveloped countries by western countries. Since the 1970s, there have been multiple outbreaks, Ashish said. While the WHO did point out initially that monkeypox seems to be affecting men having sex with men more than others initially, it (and other international organisations like the UN) later clarified that that it is not a disease that particularly affects people of a certain sexuality, or only spreads through them. Some cases have been identified through sexual health clinics in communities of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. It is important to note that the risk of monkeypox is not limited to men who have sex with men. Anyone who has close contact with someone who is infectious is at risk, the WHO said in an advisory on May 25. Stigmatising people because of a disease is never ok. Anyone can get or pass on monkeypox, regardless of their sexuality, it added. Monkeypox is not an STD As the WHO suggests, it could be that the disease is being identified among gay or bi men more because of testing in sexual health clinics. A New York Times interview with Gregg Gonsalves, an Associate Professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health offers another explanation: that in this outbreak, a person who had monkeypox attended a gay rave (a party), and the spread happened in that social and sexual network. That does not make monkeypox a gay disease or an STD (one that spreads through exchange or contact with bodily fluids like semen) - it is simply one that spreads through physical contact, and according to some scientists, usually a longer duration of contact rather unlike, say, just brushing past someone or a hug. The latter may not be zero risk, but is being seen as low risk. The physical contact here need not be sexual contact because this isn't a sexually transmitted disease. It can be any close proximity interactions, like social gatherings, touching objects, fabrics and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox. The risk is highest when there is direct contact with a monkeypox patients rash or scabs, Ashish said. Right now, most people who tested positive for the virus happen to be queer and that is what the data is based on. Vaccination is also being done. Monkeypox is a contagious and self-limiting disease, and does not have high mortality. But this homophobia, racism, and bigotry might lead to complications wherein a person does not disclose in case of an infection, fearing stigma, they explained. There is also research to show that the current rise in monkeypox cases could be related to the global waning of orthopoxvirus immunity. This is because smallpox vaccinations, which also gave immunity against monkeypox, were stopped after the disease was declared eradicated in the 1980s. However, framing monkeypox as a disease affecting persons of a particular sexuality may end up further marginalising and restigmatising a group of people and prevent them from seeking medical attention, and accessing precautions, therapeutics, and healthcare. It's also important to remember that diseases that ARE sexually transmitted infections don't necessarily only spread through sex. They can spread through a handful of other activities, typically those that involve blood. In the case of HSV, contact between lesions and open skin. jess kant (@jessdkant) July 23, 2022 The classification of STIs themselves may in fact be an issue, as it takes something without moral value, infection, and assigns it moral value in the context of a society which is incapable of admitting that people like to have sex and that that's a completely fine thing to do. jess kant (@jessdkant) July 23, 2022 But when we behave and frame conversations as if MPX is an STI, and STIs have always been historically blamed on two groups: sex workers and LGBT people, we set the stage for a group or handful of groups to receive the rage of a burned out population looking for someone to blame. jess kant (@jessdkant) July 23, 2022 The overemphasis on zoonotic spillover early in the COVID-19 pandemic was not a useful way of passing information. It was a way of finding someone to blame. It was, to be crystal clear: white supremacy alleviating itself of the blame for a virus it would later fail to control. jess kant (@jessdkant) July 23, 2022 Homophobic groups are already joining groomer rhetoric with monkeypox misinformation, and this will bring us 40 years back to GRID.Gay-related immune deficiency was a name given to HIV that allowed the larger population to treat HIV+ people as pariahs and let them die. jess kant (@jessdkant) July 23, 2022 Stigma against particular communities endangers them Transgender rights activist Sreemayi says that the posters cropped up on the same day as the pride event conducted by Essense Global (a rationalist group) in Alappuzha. The WHO announced that most of the cases have been reported in gay and bisexual men, which I understand could have been due to the outbreak at an LGBTQIA+ event. We should understand that anyone can get infected but it just happened to start spreading amongst the queer people. So, in the name of a disease, they are trying to ostracize and discriminate against a community of people. At this point, we should also remember how COVID-19 patients were treated at the beginning of the pandemic and the social stigma associated they faced, she says. Gay rights activist Unais likens the misinformation being spread against LGBTQIA+ people in the case of monkeypox to the targeted attack over members of Tablighi Jamaat as well as Muslims in 2020 over the spread of COVID-19 at a Jamaat event. Now, it does not mean that only Muslims who attend that event get the disease or that they are the ones who spread the disease. Similarly, the Nipah outbreak happened in Kozhikode. Does it mean that only people from Kozhikode will get infected? he asks. Sreemayi also points out that there is no mention of a name or organisation in the offending posters. This means that someone wants to mislead the society but they dont want people to know that they are the ones misleading, she adds. Unais also points out that this homophobic poster campaign is similar to the recent online seminar conducted by the Kannur womens wing of Jamat-e-Islami, where comparisons were made between homosexuality and paedophilia, and it was said that transgender persons are mentally ill. Only this time, we dont know who is behind the posters, he adds. He also points out that another class was held for Kannur medical college students by a queerphobic Muslim group. He says that the reason behind the repetition of such instances is that there is no concrete police action or any action taken against people spreading false information and hatred. No police action or repercussions encourages them to continue doing it. When I tried to file a police complaint in a similar incident, I couldnt because of financial and personal reasons. That is the condition of the legal system, which does not facilitate filing a complaint, he adds. Unais also questions if people would have a similar outlook if a disease was reported primarily among heterosexual people: Would those be labelled heterosexual diseases? The WHO, on July 23, declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern, and added that for the moment this is an outbreak that is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners. However, it also warned against discrimination and stigma against a particular people. Meanwhile, UNAIDS has also expressed concern about language used while reporting and writing about monkeypox that reinforce homophobic and racist stereotypes and exacerbate stigma. UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Matthew Kavanagh, in a press statement, said, Stigma and blame undermine trust and capacity to respond effectively during outbreaks like this one. Experience shows that stigmatising rhetoric can quickly disable evidence-based response by stoking cycles of fear, driving people away from health services, impeding efforts to identify cases, and encouraging ineffective, punitive measures. We appreciate the LGBTI community for having led the way on raising awareness and we reiterate that this disease can affect anyone. (With inputs from Geetika Mantri)

Doctor, community leader, philanthropist: Wayanad bids farewell to Dr Shantharam

Obituary Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi in his condolence message said Dr Shantharam went over and beyond his call of duty to serve those in need, and that his fierce dedication and commitment towards his patients won him tremendous love and respect. TNM Staff Dr Shantharam, popularly known as Wayanads beloved doctor, passed away at the age of 68 in Thamarassery in Kozhikode district on Saturday, July 23. His service was renowned throughout the region, and he was cherished for being a compassionate doctor who offered affordable services to patients who needed them. Tributes have been pouring in for the beloved doctor from many local residents, as well as Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi. Having set up his practice in Kaithappoyil back in 1979 when it was a remote area, Dr Shantharam is widely admired for continuing to offer reliable and inexpensive medical care to local residents until his final days. According to reports, Dr Shantharam met with an accident on April 13, and had been receiving treatment for his injuries since then. After his passing on July 23, his body was kept in the Kaithappoyil madrasa for people to pay their last respects. Hundreds of people joined his funeral procession, and a hartal was observed in Puthuppadi panchayat on July 23 in mourning. He is survived by his wife Dr Parimala, and three daughters who are also serving as doctors. Dr Shantharam began working in the hilly region of Wayanad nearly four decades ago. He studied in Government Brennen College, Thalassery and SN College, Kannur. He then joined for MBBS in Kozhikode Medical College before moving to Kaithappoyil in 1979. Beginning his career as a doctor in a small clinic, he went on to become the Managing Director of the Karuna Care Centre in Kaithappoyil, as well as the President of Medical Aid Service Society in Puthuppadi. According to many residents of the region, what made Dr Shantharam stand apart all these years and evoke such fondness that hundreds of people turned up to pay their last respects, was his compassion. Social media users who knew Dr Shantharam say that while treating patients, he would take into consideration their financial, social and cultural background. Just like his hospitals name (Karuna), he was filled with compassion. He would direct patients to the best treatment available which they could afford, based on their situation. He knew each of his patients on a personal level, one well-wisher wrote in a Facebook post. Those who knew him reminisce that his eagerness to get to know his patients and their background better had helped him foster a close bond with the community. Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences to Dr Shantharams family. I am deeply saddened by the demise of Dr Shantharam. He was a doctor, community leader and a philanthropist who went over and beyond his call of duty to serve those in need. His fierce dedication and commitment towards his patients won him tremendous love and respect. Driven by his desire to make a difference, he set up his practice in what was then a remote area. Over the decades, Karuna Care Centre, Kaithapoyil evolved into an institution that was trusted by the community. His personal care and attention, and willingness to provide the best possible care to every patient will be remembered. His legacy will live on and continue to inspire us all. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and well-wishers in this difficult time, he said in his message. Muslim Youth League state president Sayyid Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal also took to social media to express his condolences. Tribute to beloved doctor Shantaram. He worked as a beloved doctor for the last four decades and was a prominent personality in Puthuppadi in the social, cultural and health circles. He was honoured in a program organised at Puthuppadi last year. Deeply saddened by his demise, he said in a Facebook post.

India Reports Second Confirmed Case Of Monkeypox From Kerala's Kannur: Official

A 31-year old man who arrived in Kerala last week from Dubai has tested positive for monkeypox, making it the second case in India this year, state Health Minister Veena George said on Monday. The minister said the patient,

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Kerala rains: State on high alert as rain set to continue, NDRF teams deployed

As rains continue to lash days ahead of the expected onset of Southwest monsoon, IMD has issued a red alert in 5 districts in Kerala on May 16. IMD issued a red alert in Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. A few low lying areas in Kerala were flooded on May 15 due to heavy downpour.