KOCHI: A man and his nephew drowned while taking a bath in the Idamalayar river at Vadattupara near Kothamangalam during Eid picnic on Tuesday. The deceased are Sidheek, 38, a resident of Aluva, and Aboofayiz, 22, a resident of Kalady. Sidhiq, a fire and rescue services personnel with the Kothamangalam fire station, said the incident occurred around 1 pm. A 20-member group of family and relatives, who had arrived in three vehicles, had gathered at the Palavanpadi region of Vadattupara for a picn

KOCHI: A two-and-a-half-year-old girl fell and drowned in a pond near her home in Chettikad in North Paravoor on Tuesday. Juhi Elizabeth, the daughter of Kongorpilly residents Joshy and Jasmine, is the deceased. An officer with the North Paravoor police station said the incident occurred while Juhi was playing with her five-year-old brother in the courtyard of the home. The childrens father is working in a Gulf country, and they were staying with their mother at their maternal home in Chettikad.

KOCHI: Here is an opportunity for Kochiites to go shopping late at night. The WENderland Midnight Market is set to entertain shoppers from 4pm to midnight, at Rajendra Maidan on April 5 and 6. Curated and organised by the Kochi chapter of the Women Entrepreneur Network (WEN), the initiative aims to show that the city is not only a thriving hub of fun and entertainment, but also one that prioritises safety, especially for women and children. We have been assured the support of the district admini

KOCHI: The Ernakulam District Private Bus Operators Association has announced that students attending classes during the summer vacation will not be granted concession fares. Thus, students commuting in private buses for vacation, special, and tuition classes from April 1 to May 31 will have to pay the full fare for the distance travelled. The decision is applicable across the state, according to the association. The regular academic year in Kerala for Classes 1 to 12 begins on June 1 and ends b

KOCHI: Amid reports of changes incorporated in the original alignment of Kochi Metro Phase 2, also referred to as the Pink Line, it has been revealed that the road along the 11.2-km-long corridor connecting the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with Infopark wont have uniform width. In its reply to an RTI query, the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) said land has been acquired such that the road along the stretch from Palarivattom to Infopark will have a width of 22 to 26 m, and that 2m on both sides is meant

City residents will soon have more modern and convenient options to purchase liquor as the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) is all set to launch premium outlets at the Vyttila and Vadakkekotta metro stations. According to a top official, Bevco has received the Excise licence for the Vyttila station outlet, while its application for the one at Vadakkekotta is being processed. The licencing procedures are expected to conclude by next week. Once approved, we will enter into a lease agreem

KOCHI: The wait for a new sub-jail in the district continues even as overcrowding in existing prisons becomes a growing concern. Though the district administration sanctioned land in Puthuvype for the project last year, the plot was later deemed unfit for construction. In 2023, the state government approved construction of a sub-jail in the district. Following this, the district administration allocated 19.03 ares of land in Puthuvype last July. The land is marshy and not structurally viable for

KOCHI: With eyes set on the upcoming local body elections, two Twenty-20 ruled panchayats in Ernakulam district Kizhakkambalam and Aikaranad have announced more welfare projects for financial year 2025-26. Adding to the initiatives already in place, the two panchayats have decided to foot 25% of household power and gas bills. The local bodies will meet 25% of the electricity and cooking gas expenses of households to ensure that people dont suffer because of the rising electricity and cooking g

Once, in Japan, there lived a dreamer named Hayao Miyazaki. With a sketchbook in hand and many stories in his mind, he longed to create something that felt alive, something that could capture the magic hidden in everyday moments, tender emotions, and visually rich landscapes. Together with his friend Isao Takahata, Miyazaki founded Studio Ghibli. Instead of the loud, flashy visuals that were popular in animation at that time, they created scenes with hand-drawn frames painted with soothing colou

Sandeep Pradeep is a dreamer one who breathed cinema with every heartbeat from a young age. At just 15, he was already making short films, driven by his passion for acting. Yet, like many dreamers, he feared the uncertainty of the path ahead and briefly considered other career options. But fate, as if hearing his wish, nudged him back to where he belonged in front of the camera. His debut in Pathinettam Padi was just the beginning, but it was his role as Basils brother in Falimy that truly put

KOCHI: An abode for birds, which the principles of faith demanded. That was the concept behind the 30-metre-high construction on the Jain temple premises in Mattancherry. The enormous birdhouse, intended to serve as home to 300 birds, was inaugurated at 9am on Sunday by temple trustee Manikant Khona. And by 12.30pm, a flock of birds regulars at the feeding ground in the temple courtyard perched on their new mega-home for the first time. For the past 25 years, the community here has been feeding

KOCHI: A sub-inspector with the Aluva East police station was suspended on Sunday for allegedly stealing Rs 3,000 from the purse of a Rajasthan native who got run over by a train two weeks ago. District Police Chief Vaibhav Saxena placed Grade SI Saleem P M under suspension pending inquiry. The Rajasthan resident was run over by the train near Aluva railway station on March 19 after he tried to alight from the moving train. The police reached the spot and conducted the inquest. A purse was recov

KOCHI: The city police registered 37 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in a special combing operation held in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. A youth was apprehended from Puthukalavattom near Elamakkara with 508 g of MDMA. Muhamed Nishad, 38, of Maramuttom in Malappuram, was nabbed by a special DANSAF (District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force ) team led by Narcotic ACP Abdul Salam. The accused ran a drinking water business based in Aluva. A de

KOCHI: Fort Kochi beach, one of the most visited international tourist spots in Kerala alongside Kovalam, is set to be declared a Green Tourism Destination. However, authorities continue to grapple with the persistent issue of waste accumulation. The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), in collaboration with the Kochi Corporation and the Cochin Heritage Society, has ramped up efforts to address garbage disposal at Fort Kochi. The local self-government department is expected to officially d

KOCHI: Opposition councillors of the Kochi corporation on Sunday accused the corporation of failing in preparing a proper plan to spend the fund earmarked by the state government for the 2025-26 financial year. While the state government allocated a plan fund of Rs 88 crore in the budget, the plan prepared by the corporation for the fiscal is only for Rs 82 crore, the UDF councillors alleged. The government had issued an order saying local self-government bodies should formulate an annual plan i

KOCHI: Ernakulam Rural police chief Vaibhav Saxena on Saturday felicitated an auto-rickshaw driver for his brave act that helped cops nab a thief. Aluva-based auto driver Sudheer, of Uliyannoor Kunjunnikkara, was felicitated with a certificate at a function held at the district police chiefs office in Aluva. On March 24, a person hired Sudheers auto-rickshaw near Seemas Junction in Aluva, asking him to transport some scrap materials to a company. The items included two air conditioning units and

KOCHI: In an eco-friendly move, the Kochi Corporation has launched the initiative Penbox at School. The distribution of pen collection and recycling box was inaugurated by Mayor M Anilkumar on Saturday at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School. The project aims to raise awareness among students on the sensible use and disposal of pens and recycling of used pens. The project implemented at a cost of Rs 10 lakh will be carried out in 46 government schools within the corporation limits.

KOCHI: The GCDA has announced its budget for 2025 with focus on major infrastructural projects, sports facilities, urban rejuvenation and beautification projects. For the proposed Infopark phase 3 development, an amount of Rs 1.5 crore was set aside for preliminary works. The procedures to identify the 300 acres that would be acquired by land pooling are under way. While an IT corridor will come up on 100 acres, the rest of the land will be used to develop a carbon-neutral township that focuses

KOCHI: Police investigating the seizure of counterfeit currency notes in Perumbavoor suspect that the accused, Salim Mandal, brought a bundle of over 50 fake notes from Bangladesh. A team from the Perumbavoor police will soon travel to Murshidabad, West Bengal, for further inquiries. The investigation began on March 21 after the police team probing a mobile phone theft on a train in Alappuzha, raided the rented house of Salim, a Bangladeshi national, in Perumbavoor. During the search, officers r

KOCHI: A Nepali woman assaulted four police officials while she and her companion were being taken to the police station at Kuttipara near Ayyampuzha in the early hours of Friday. The police arrested Sanch Maya Limbu, 38, and Suman, 36, both Nepali nationals who are working at a firm in Ayyampuzha. According to the police, a patrolling team found the duo standing suspiciously by the roadside at Kuttipara at night. When the officers approached them, the duo tried to flee on a scooter. However, th

KOCHI: An alarming trend in the private transport sector has come to light, with a police report revealing that many bus owners are leasing their vehicles to independent driver-conductor groups instead of employing staff directly. According to the report by the assistant commissioner of police (traffic), Kochi city, the practice prioritises profit over passenger safety, often leading to reckless driving, mismanagement and increased road accidents. Authorities are now set to scrutinise the financ

KOCHI: The Little Big Festival, touted as Keralas first exclusive childrens fest, will be held on April 5 and 6 at the Sacred Heart College ground in Thevara. Open from 2pm to 9m, the fest will feature over 40 fun-filled activities for children aged 2 to 12, including workshops and performances such as designing, skating, origami, drawing, book reading sessions, painting, talent hunting, puppetry, storytelling, carving, baking, and clay modelling. Sana Aesha, the brain behind Little Big Festival

KOCHI: Giving a boost to effective waste management in the city, the construction of the compressed biogas plant (CBG) at the Brahmapuram waste dumping yard has been completed. The plant which has a capacity to treat 75 tonnes of biodegradable waste daily can process the waste from Kochi Corporation and nearby local bodies. The treatment of biodegradable waste and production of compressed gas are expected to begin by the end of April, following the trial run which began a few days ago. The capac

KOCHI: The Kochi police on Friday arrested four Gujarat residents who allegedly defrauded goldsmiths from Namakkal in Tamil Nadu of Rs 50 lakh by providing soil that they falsely claimed contained gold particles. Surat residents Sandeep Hasmukh Bhai, 37, Vipul Manji Bhai, 43, Dharmesh Bhai, 38, and Krupesh Bhai, 35, were picked up from their hideouts in the city. In addition to the Rs 50 lakh, the suspects had also obtained a cheque worth Rs 18 lakh from the victims, the police said. The police

KOCHI: Police on Friday arrested four persons from Surat, Gujarat, for allegedly defrauding goldsmiths from Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, by taking Rs 50 lakh after providing soil falsely claimed to contain gold particles. The arrested suspects were identified Sandeep Hasmukh Bhai, 37, Vipul Manji Bhai, 43, Dharmesh Bhai, 38, and Krupesh Bhai, 35. In addition to the Rs 50 lakh, they also obtained a cheque worth Rs 18 lakh from the victims. According to police, the accused persons had rented a building o

KOCHI: The Kochi City Police have registered 5,785 cases against transport buses for violating traffic rules over the past two months, according to a report submitted before the Kerala High Court on Thursday. The report was presented before the High Court bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran, which is reviewing issues related to roads and footpaths in Kochi. As per the report submitted by the Kochi City Police Commissioner, 5,618 petty cases were registered against transport buses for various vio

KOCHI: UDF council members protested and walked out of the council hall during Thursdays discussion on the Kochi corporation budget for the 202526 fiscal, alleging that details of the utilisation of CSR funds received by the civic body had not been recorded in the budget tabled on Monday. Amid protests, the corporation passed the budget. Responding to the allegations, Mayor M Anilkumar said several projects implemented by agencies, including C-Hed and GIZ, were carried out using CSR funds. The R

These are the days flooded with awareness programmes geared towards motivating the community, especially youth and teenagers, to say no to addictive substances. Classes, marathons, human chains, and the like are organised to create resistance in the face of temptations and peer pressure. Do they work? Party whirl As part of one such campaign two years ago, an awareness session for high school students presented an often-encountered situation. The children were asked to imagine that they were at

April and May are months that are hot, humid, yet so charmingly awaited. The days of these months were once as sweet as misty mornings, even when the sun would blaze to its fullest, threatening to wear everyone down, except perhaps the busy bees children on vacation for whom sun or rain, April and May meant nothing but outdoors and tonnes of fun. The mango trees would be laden, and what else spells bliss except to land a few of those raw gems with a well-aimed stone strike? Is there anything el

With over 40 years of artistic experience, Joshe is known as the proponent of telepathism in art. His works delve into the theme, exploring the profound connection between spirituality, emotion, and thought. At David Hall, Joshe has curated an exhibition featuring a diverse collection of sculptures and paintings from seven distinguished artists, including French talents Patrik Andre, Eymony Renaud, and Corinne Cathaud, along with Indian artists Sreejith Pottekkatt, Sanjeev Kishore Gautham, Shilp

KOCHI: The Ernakulam district panchayat budget for financial year 202526 comes with a slew of projects prioritisinginfrastructure development, elderlycare, and the welfare of the differently abled, with the aim of promoting public safety and welfare. The budget that expects a revenue of Rs 149.81 crore and an expenditure of Rs 148.35 crore, with a surplus ofRs 1.45 crore, was tabled on Wednesday by district panchayat vice-president Elsie George. The document also highlights projects to promote a

KOCHI: Kochi corporations proposal to issue municipal bonds has sparked concerns among Opposition councillors who fear that it may lead to a debt trap. The corporation plans to raise funds for development activities by leveraging municipal land as collateral, which the Opposition believes is ill-advised given the corporations existing revenue struggles. Local bodies are bearing the brunt of the state governments flawed economic policies, and if this trajectory continues, the Kochi corporation wi

KOCHI: In a major narcotics bust under Operation Clean Perumbavoor, the Ernakulam Rural police on Wednesday arrested a migrant worker with 9 kg of ganja intended for distribution among college students, residents and migrant workers. Rabeen Mandal, 24, of Raipur in Murshidabad, West Bengal, was apprehended by a team led by Perumbavoor ASP Shakthi Singh Arya. The arrest came after a college student, Rabeens customer, disclosed details about the supplier. The raid was conducted in a Bengali colony

KOCHI: Akash M of Kollam, the first accused in a case related to the seizure of ganja from the mens hostel of Government Polytechnic College, Kalamassery, was the kingpin in selling narcotic substances among students. The other accused collected money from students for drug trafficking. According to the probe report, Akash had been actively involved in selling ganja at the Government Polytechnic College and other educational institutions for the past year. The police made this revelation before

KOCHI: A visitor to a medical shop near Edappally carried a highly recommended prescription issued by a psychiatrist practising in the same locality. The pharmacist, however, grew suspicious after noticing that the prescription included sleeping pills thrice a day, instead of the usual once at night. The handwriting of the medical practitioner raised additional doubts. To verify its authenticity, the pharmacist contacted the psychiatrist concerned, which confirmed that the prescription was forge

KOCHI: It was a memorable day out for a group of senior citizens, mostly women, from far-off Nedumpuram grama panchayat in Pathanamthitta district, who travelled all the way to Kochi to experience the modern transportation systems in the city. A majority of them, including widows, were experiencing a Kochi Metro ride and sailing in the Water Metro for the first time. Thanks to Sneha Vazhi, the first-of-its-kind tour programme for senior citizens for which the small grama panchayat has tied up wi

KOCHI: Kochi corporations budget for financial year 2025-26, tabled on Monday, has proposed ambitious plans for the city. They include big spending on urban infrastructure development, setting up night shelters, hosting sports and cultural events, establishing age-friendly spaces, and launching comprehensive waste management initiatives. The current councils last budget, presented by Deputy Mayor K A Ansiya, also suggests using Kudumbashree members for tax collection until the complete switchove

KOCHI: At least once, many of us have found ourselves glancing towards a particular house while driving along KC Joseph Road, Panampilly Nagar, trying to spot that one landmark. Yes, its the house of actor Mammootty an iconic attraction. This residence embodies his vision of creating a living space, combining the conveniences of the city with the verdant lushness of rural life. As Mammootty once said, I always try to create a village for myself within the city. The house, where some of the most

KOCHI: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has rescued several rare Alexandrine parrots from fortune tellers operating on Aluva and Ernakulam North railway station premises. Acting on a tip-off, SPCA officials intercepted the fortune tellers at Aluva Manappuram on Sunday evening. The operation was led by SPCA Ernakulam secretary T K Sajeev. On receiving the tip-off, we reached Aluva Manappuram, where we found several fortune tellers with the Alexandrine parrots. These bir

KOCHI: A woman from Goa suffered injuries after a car lost control and hit her in an incident of reckless driving at Kadavanthra on Sunday evening. The CCTV footage of the accident was out on Monday. Old Goa residents Estevam Ferro and his wife, Jaisel Gomes, had recently arrived in Kochi. On Sunday evening, while walking back to their hotel after visiting a church, a car hit Jaisel near Kadavanthra Metro Station. In the impact, she fell on the other side of the road. She suffered serious injuri

KOCHI: The Thrikkakara police registered a case against an unidentified person in connection with an alleged burglary attempt and harassment of women in hostels and paying guest (PG) accommodations in Kakkanad on Sunday. The case was filed following a complaint from the residents of a private PG. Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect is a migrant labourer who may be residing nearby and is familiar with the surroundings, said Nithin, a police officer with the Thrikkakara police stat

KOCHI: The murder of a businessman from Thodupuzha on Saturday has brought to light concerns over organised and contract-based attacks by gangs in the state. Despite police claims of implementing strict measures to curb criminal activities, there has been a noticeable rise in cases where listed goons from one area operate in other regions, evading the eyes of law enforcement. Additionally, individuals booked under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA) continue to participate i

KOCHI: The police have arrested the mother of two minor girls who were sexually harassed by her live-in partner at Kuruppampady. A police official said the mother was arrested after investigation revealed that she was aware of the abuse but did not take any action to stop it. Earlier, police had arrested Dhanesh, 38, a native of Ayyampuzha, who sexually harassed the victims. Following the death of the victims father three years ago, Dhanesh entered into a relationship with their mother. A taxi d

KOCHI: People living along the banks of the Mullassery canal are increasingly frustrated as authorities continue to delay deepening and widening work under Operation Breakthrough. Despite a High Court order in February mandating completion of the project by monsoon this year, the pace of work remains sluggish. Now, with monsoon looming, residents in areas around MG Road, Karikkamuri, Chinmayananda Road, and the north-south corridor are bracing for the worst. Every monsoon since 2019 has seen the

KOCHI: A massive fire broke out at a hardware shop functioning on Kathrikadavu Road on Saturday. The shop, owned by Siyad, a resident of Kaloor, reportedly suffered losses of approximately Rs 5 lakh as the fire destroyed a large quantity of goods. The incident occurred around 5 pm amid rain in the city. The preliminary investigation suggests that the fire was triggered by a short circuit inside the shop. The presence of highly flammable materials, such as paints and thinners, contributed to the

KOCHI: To bring the excitement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to cricket enthusiasts in Kochi, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is organising fan parks on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium premises in Kaloor for three matches this IPL season. The fan park, to be set up at the East Side Parking of the stadium, will feature live screening of an IPL match, with music, merchandise, food stalls, and fun games in place. The IPL fan park in Kaloor will screen the opening match between Ko

KOCHI: In an alarming sign, Ernakulam district has reported 129 cases of hepatitis A in the first 20 days of March, raising concerns about the quality of food and water. The number of cases has been particularly high in Thrikkakara and Kalamassery municipalities, and Karumalloor panchayat. In February, the district saw 157 cases. The situation is under control, said Sabitha Nazer, president of Karumalloor panchayat. We carried out inspections to ensure water quality. There are around 15 active c

KOCHI: A police sub-inspectors attempt to heat blank bullets on a frying pan led to an explosion at the Armed Reserve (AR) Camp of Kochi City Police on 10 March. The officer, CV Sajeev, was trying to prepare the bullets for a police funeral ceremony when the incident occurred. Blank bullets, which contain gunpowder but no projectile, are used in honorary services. Sajeev, who was in charge of the ammunition unit, found that the blank bullets stored in the camps armoury were rusted. Normally, suc

KOCHI: The Kochi Water Metro, which is inching towards achieving operational break-even, is eyeing a substantial additional revenue by monetising the carbon credits it earned through its contribution towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. To facilitate this, the Kerala Water Metro Ltd (KWML) has initiated the process to select a consultant for providing assistance in validation, registration, verification, issuance and trading of carbon credits. We have floated tenders to select the

KOCHI: A CPM leader from the tribal community Gopi Bathran, who represents Kallelimedu ward of Kuttampuzha panchayat, joined the Congress on Thursday. An active member of the CPM for the past 30 years, Gopi resigned from the party alleging neglect of the cause of tribal communities. Gopi accepted Congress membership from DCC president Mohammed Shiyas on Thursday. The UDF has 10 members in the 17-strong panchayat council, while the LDF has seven members. Kallelimedu includes the tribal settlement