Kerala News

Keralas sky dining malfunction leaves tourists stranded

Kerala: Four tourists, with two children among them, were stranded about 150 feet above ground near Anachal on Friday after the crane lifting a sky-dining restaurant malfunctioned. #WATCH | Munnar, Kerala | Tourists were stranded at a private sky dining setup in Anachal, Idukki, after a technical failure in the crane, today; Rescue operation underwayThe Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Tourists Stranded In Kerala Sky-Dining Restaurant After Crane Malfunctions

Four tourists, with two children among them, were stranded about 150 feet above ground near Anachal on Friday after the crane lifting a 'sky-dining' restaurant malfunctioned.

Names Of Researchers, Places From Kerala Approved For Naming Martian Features

3.5-billion-year-old crater will be named after pioneering geologist M S Krishnan : International Astronomical Union (IAU)

WATCH: 5 stranded mid-air in sky dining restaurant near Munnar in Kerala, rescue opsunderway

Media reports said that a four-member family from Kannur district and a restaurant staff member have been trapped in the sky dining restaurant. According to the operators, they cannot lower the crane as its hydraulics have stopped working.

Curbs on government spending extended by another year in Kerala

Finance department order cites current financial situation of the State and the need to control expenses for the extension

Tourists stuck 120ft up in air: Sky dining goes wrong in Kerala; rescue under way - video

Suspended Kerala MLA booked for rape, FIR alleges forced abortion

Thiruvananthapuram: The police FIR against suspended Congress MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil alleged that he raped the complainant multiple times even when she was pregnant. As per the FIR, Mamkoottathil assaulted the complainant and raped her on multiple occasions. It stated that on March 17, the womans videos were recorded at her apartment, and he allegedly threatened Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Five tourists trapped 120 ft up in sky dining restaurant near Munnar in Kerala; rescue efforts on

Diners were hoisted on to sky dining to enjoy panoramic view of Anachal village in the hill station. But due to a technical malfunction in the crane, they were left stranded

NHAI suspends Ashoka Buildcon from participating in ongoing or future bids for one month

Ashoka Buildcon faces a one-month suspension from National Highways Authority of India bids. This follows an incident during the construction of a six-lane elevated corridor in Kerala. A show-cause notice was issued after two precast girders fell, resulting in a fatality. The suspension will last until an expert committee concludes its investigation.

Special squads in action against illicit liquor trade in Kerala ahead of local body polls

Strike squads deployed to expose hooch dens and smuggling of liquor. Tribal regions to get special attention

Congress in Kerala walks a tight rope as CPI(M), BJP ramp up demand for MLA Rahul Mamkootathils resignation

UDF convener Adoor Prakash questions timing of the allegations, while dissent within Congress grows, with Rajmohan Unnithan, MP, warning of backlash for inaction. Protests erupt in Mamkootathils constituency as CPI(M) and BJP leaders condemn Congress for allegedly shielding offenders

Supreme Court rebukes Kerala Governor for delay in acting on Justice Dhulia report

The Supreme Court of India strongly criticized the Kerala Governor for failing to take action on the report submitted by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia regarding the appointment of Vice Chancellors in two state universities. The Court made it clear that the report is not an ordinary document and represents the considered work of a former Supreme [] The post Supreme Court rebukes Kerala Governor for delay in acting on Justice Dhulia report appeared first on India Legal .

From Italy to Kerala, in search of art and its completeness

The dim-lit stage, with its hand-stitched curtain of bold geometric designs barely concealing the artist, set the mood. The warm hues from the flickering kalivilakku (traditional lamp) added an aura that evoked centuries of aesthetics and a way of life where art was inseparably woven into human existence. It was in such a setting at the Margi theatre in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday that Giulia Tonello debuted her Kathakali performance. It marked the culmination of three months of rigorous training for the Turin-born artist, whose English is still tinged with Italian and whose Malayalam is, at best, pidgin. And the stage became the true test of her learning. Giulia grew up with art all around her grand piazzas, Baroque architecture and classic museums like the Museo Egizio and the National Museum of Cinema that define Turin in northwest Italy. She had found in her city art expressions that spoke silently yet eloquently. Yet, something was amiss, she says. Art was there, but more as part of the whole than as the whole itself. Giulia being readied as Krishna by her guru Sadanam Vishnu Prasad. The 25-year-old came to Thiruvananthapuram in September, seeking that sense of completeness. The eclectic movements and deep, soulful expressions of Kathakali drew her in. Its so complete an art, says the theatre studies student from the University of Turin, who is in Kerala on a scholarship. Here, artists live it every bit. Back home, art is everywhere but not many artists imbibe it in whole. There is no growing into or unison with the art like it is here. Giulia found the wholeness she was seeking in Kathakali, notes Sadanam Vishnu Prasad, who trained her in purapaadu (introduction), mudraparichayam (hand gestures), and kaalsadhakam (adavus or legwork) the foundational lessons in Kathakali. Kathakali is indeed a complete art form, with delicate balances of nritya, nritta, and natya (dance, drama, and body movements) as well as sangeetam and vadyam (music and percussion), he adds. Giulia took stage ahead of a performance of Nalacharitam Third Day by the Margi troupe. We prepared her in 18 classes. It was very intensive, and her determination was exemplary, says Vishnu, seated in the green room painting facial makeup patterns in predominantly green hues and accenting them with other softer colours, all traditionally Ayurvedic blends. Giulias role for the evening was that of Lord Krishna. Purapaadu is the introductory dance, mostly legwork. It is to invoke the gods for their blessings for a bright path ahead, she explains. Final look: Giulia Tonello Back in Italy, Giulia is part of three theatre groups. It was during one performance that my professor told me I should go to Kerala to learn more about theatres ultimate expressions, she says. For this, he suggested that I first gain the balance of mind, body, thoughts, and soul. He had taken up Kalari and Kathakali himself, and recommended the same to me. And here I am, she says, sitting through the elaborate five-hour Kathakali make-up process. As the chutti artist begins, she remains still while strips of paper, cotton, and cloth dipped in rice water are pasted along her face in a semi-spherical frame. One of her friends at Margi opens her notebook kept beside and gestures what the jottings in Italian were. Giulia suppresses a chuckle, and points to her sketches of mudras and expressions on the subsequent pages of the book to give a glimpse into her diligence. Her notebook is filled with drawings of mudras and notes on talam. I wrote down everything so that I could practise after my 90-minute training session every day, Giulia says. Language often stood between Giulia and her guru, as both had only a smattering of English. But there was a language that emerged between us from all this of gestures and the grammar of Kathakali, she adds. Guilia recalls rushing from her rented accommodation in Kamaleshwaram to CVN Kalari for training sessions at 6 am every day. Then she would head to Margi for her Kathakali lessons around noon. I would again go back for kalaripayattu in the evening, and then at home by 6pm, I would practise the days lessons for about 60 minutes. The regimen was difficult at first, but slowly, I got tuned to a discipline and lifestyle that I began to enjoy. Art, as I wanted, began to fill my life, she notes. On her off days, she found time to travel to Kanyakumari, visit temples, and even attend a Carnatic concert. I had googled about Kerala after my Kalari trainer in Paris introduced me to the state in June. But it was very different when I came here, she says. Its been amazing. And I find the penchant for art here so impressive. One does not see this in Italy. Though I loved the food here, I did miss pasta and made it once in a while at home. Vishnu asks her to stop speaking so as to avoid disrupting the facial makeup process. Now she knows everything the way of life. She would come rushing from Kalari for Kathakali lessons and wouldnt have eaten anything. She would then share our food. She adjusted well to everything here. Giulia, who will leave for Italy on December 6, hopes to return next August for advanced training in the various veshams (roles) of Kathakali. Before that, she wishes to host her friends from Margi in Turin with help from her university. The world should know about the hidden talents of these wonderful artists who have given their life for this art. Such involvement is rare, she smiles, before turning still and silent for the chutti.

Cyclone Ditwah: Five Colombo-bound flights diverted to Thiruvananthapuram airport

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five flights bound for Sri Lankathree from the Middle East and one each from Malaysia and India were diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) due to prevailing cyclone Ditwah warning in Colombo on Friday. The diverted flights include two Srilankan Airlines flights, one each from Dubai and Doha, one Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi and one AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur, and an Indigo flight from Mumbai to Colombo the TIAL said. The Indigo flight resumed the journey and departed to Colombo at 11.32 am. Passengers of the rest of the flights would be shifted to hotels by the airlines concerned and their ground handling agencies, according to the officials. The flights started diversion from early morning at 3.44 am.

Washington play features the sweet bond between fantasy fiction kings Lewis & Tolkien

The play, Lewis and Tolkien, was staged in the Museum of the Bible, Washington DC earlier this month. This unusual play, directed by Andrew Borba, was presented by World Stage Theatre. It evokes the friendship of two brilliant thinkers, C S Lewis and J R R Tolkien, who influenced each others work and profoundly impacted literature and faith in the 20th century and up to the present day. The stage was set in Oxford, in the backroom of the now famous pub, The Eagle and Child. This pub, fondly referred to as The Bird and Baby, was the scene of their weekly meetings with a literary group called The Inklings, that included friends and fellow academicians like Hugo Dyson, Nevill Coghill, Owen Barfield and Charles Williams. Written by Dean Batali, the play imagines the famous duo meeting years later, shortly before Jack Lewis death in 1963. It opened on an oddly acrimonious note, with Lewis resenting Tolkiens disapproval (as a Catholic) of the formers marrying an American divorcee, Joy and with Tolkien referring to Lewiss obituary (printed by mistake before his death) and asking about Warnie, Jacks beloved elder brother. The barmaid, Veronica, is a catalyst in the discussion. Familiar with Lewiss stories for children, she asks Tolkien what he has written about hobbits and orcs and elves and a story about a ring which he insists is not a symbol or allegory for atomic power. (Tolkien was allergic to the allegorical mode of story-telling.) Picture of the celebrated writer-duo from the play brochure. The well-known discussions about The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) are revisited, with Tollers loud objection to the sudden and incongruous irruption of Santa Claus into the story. Similarly, there were some elements of the Narnia tales that he described as odious, childish and silly, terms which must have rankled in his friends mind. Lewis for his part managed to send his child protagonists to Narnia on seven trips before Tollers finished his extended tale of a journey with a purpose in this case, not a Quest to find the Great Ring but to cast it away! It was interesting to hear Arye Gross (as Tolkien), relating how the opening line of The Hobbit and the subsequent trilogy came to him. In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit a line scribbled absent-mindedly at the back of an essay he was grading. To Veronicas question, Lewis explained how during Operation Pied Piper in war-torn England, some children were sent, like the Pevensie children to live with the Lewis household at The Kiln. And this was the springboard for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (easily one of the most intriguing titles for a childrens book!) However, unless the audience was very familiar with the authors and details of their oeuvre, the many references to Boxen, the nature of myth and allegory, the momentous talk on Addisons Walk, sub-creation and the carefully crafted and scripted languages of Middle-Earth like Quenya, the language of the Elves and so forth, must have been thrown away. The device of using Veronica to ask rather obvious questions to explore various background issues, seemed rather contrived. Veronicas Cockney accent was hard to decipher, while the two professors should have had more of a British accent to carry conviction. However, the play has clearly been well researched. Though the resentful and awkward ambience at the start seemed rather overdone, the mood relaxed as the play progressed, and the shared laughter and the nostalgia of the close, recalled the ambience that must have surrounded the Inklings in their heyday. Some moments stood out: Tolkien speaking eloquently about eucatastrophe the moment of grace; Hugo Dysons dismayed reaction to a new chapter of LOTR Not more Elves!; Lewis reproaching Tollers, his closest friend at one time, for drifting away The silence that came out of you was loudest of all; and their explosion of laughter over the Romantics who never had an original thought. Arye Gross appeared to be a better fit for Tolkien than Bo Foxworth for Jack Lewis. Both professors must have been older men, but Bos Lewis looked more sprightly than he would have been in 1963, the year he died. On the whole, the idea of a meeting between these celebrated scholars, authors and friends, was a good one, and this play was a creative and effective exploration of the possibility. It may have the added fallout of getting more readers interested in reading the amazingly evocative books written by this famous pair. Imagine never having pushed past the coats of the wardrobe into the snowy land of Narnia, seeing the light of a lone lantern and the face of a faun, meeting the Witch and coming face to face with Aslan! (Although in the play, Lewiss other works like the Ransom space series is not mentioned, nor Mere Christianity and the other brilliant books that brought theology within the purview of the common man.) Imagine never picturing a hobbit, never seeing Gandalfs firework displays, escaping from the Black Riders and finding refuge in Rivendell; imagine never meeting Frodo and Samwise and Gollum, freezing as the Eye of Sauron sweeps searchingly over all Middle-Earth, gazing at the beautiful Lady of Loth Lorien, encountering Elves and orcs and walking trees and tree shepherds all the rich history and varied creatures of Tolkiens sub-creation! Imagine never hearing the language of the Elves (very far removed from the Christmas elves) never hearing them singing: We still remember, we who dwell, In this far land beneath the trees, The starlight on the western seas! (The author is a veteran journalist. Views expressed are personal)

BJP leader & Ex-DGP R Sreelekha questions womans delay in filing complaint against Rahul Mamkootathil

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP Thiruvananthapuram Corporation election candidate and retired DGP R Sreelekha has courted a fresh controversy by making a social media post questioning the rationale behind the victim filing of sexual abuse complaint against Rahul Mamkootathil MLA before CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Sreelekha wrote that she was with the victim, but questioned the alleged delay made by the woman in filing the complaint. She also asked whether filing of complaint before the CM was to facilitate the accused flee after switching off his phone and obtain anticipatory bail. She also raised apprehension whether the move was meant to save big names involved in the Sabarimala gold theft case .

CPI(M) panchayat member arrested for assaulting BLO during SIR in Kerala

Sabarimala pilgrims season to push demand for tea in central Kerala belt

The central Travancore belt witnesses a 5-10 per cent increase in tea sales during the season as pilgrims prefer to buy packet teas on their way back home

FIR filed against Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil over alleged sexual exploitation, coerced abortion and threats

Police say charges against Palakkad MLA include rape, obtaining sexual consent through deceitful means, possibly by holding forth a false promise of marriage, and coercing a woman into terminating her pregnancy

Police book Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil on sexual abuse charge after woman approaches CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dragging the Congress party that's bracing for the upcoming local body election into a quandary, the police have registered a case under non-bailable section against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil for sexually abusing a woman under the pretext of marriage and forcing her to terminate pregnancy. The case was registered at the Valiyamala police station and then transferred to the Nemom station.The development that could hurt the party's aspiration and dent the political image of the young leader unfolded after the woman met the Chief Minister and filed a complaint against Rahul, accusing him of sexually abusing her and goading her into aborting the pregnancy. Though the SIT had earlier registered a case against the MLA based on third-party complaints for cyber stalking, the investigation did not make any headway as the victim chose not to lodge a police Discord among senior leaders over Rahul Mamkootathil puts Congress in a fix

Four Colombo-bound flights diverted to Thiruvananthapuram airport due to bad weather

Two were Srilankan Airlines flights, one each from Dubai and Doha, one was an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi and the last one an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur

Five Colombo-bound flights diverted to Thiruvananthapuram airport due to bad weather

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five flights, three from the Middle East region and one each from Malaysia and India, bound for Sri Lanka were diverted to the international airport here on Friday due to bad weather over Colombo, TIAL said. TIAL said that more flights are likely to be diverted to Thiruvananthapuram in view of a cyclone warning over Colombo. Two were Srilankan Airline flights, one each from Dubai and Doha, one was an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi and one an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur, the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) said. The fifth was an Indigo flight from Mumbai to Colombo, it said. The Etihad Airways aircraft landed here at 3.44 am, the AirAsia flight at 4.37 am and the Srilankan Airlines flights at 7.44 am and 7.55 am, TIAL said. The Indigo flight landed here at 9.49 am, it added. The flights which landed at the Thiruvananthapuram airport in the morning are still here due to the bad weather conditions in Colombo, a TIAL official said.

Kerala local body polls: Rivals will seek to loosen LDFs firm grip on Kollam Corporation

Since the formation of the Corporation in 2000, the Left front has been in power. This time, the CPI(M) is not fielding a single sitting member of the current council, hoping that a totally new line-up will get voters approval. While the UDF is looking for a recovery from a major setback in the 2020 elections, the NDA, having tripled its seats in 2020, is highly optimistic about its prospects

Kerala local body polls: Writing on the wall is clear, charm of poll graffiti doesnt fade

The old world charm of the wall art is something that political parties and candidates do not want to miss. Graffiti has evolved in terms of colour, design and font

Kerala local body polls: Development beckons, but coastal Thiruvananthapuram continues to battle age-old issues

Lack of potable water and proper waste disposal mechanism have been issues faced by areas near Vizhinjam for decades. Dwindling catch, eroding beaches and fewer employment opportunities will be key issues in the coastal areas in the local body elections

SHO fires at accused after being attacked with machete

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Station House Officer (SHO) of Aryancode opened fire at a habitual offender when the latter tried to attack him using a machete. The shot was fired by SHO Thanzeem Abdul Samad after Kiran, who was included in the Kerala Anti Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA) list and banished from the district, attempted to assault him. As per law, Kiran has been barred from entering the district. Despite this, he returned to his house within the Aryancode police station limits on Wednesday night. When the police found out about this, they went to his residence to detain him on Thursday morning. The plan was to take him into custody and then move him to preventive detention for violating KAAPA rules. When the police demanded Kiran to turn himself in, he refused to comply. Instead, he reportedly drew a machete and charged at the SHO. The police alleged that he swung the weapon at the SHO twice. Despite warning, Kiran charged at the officer again, following which Samad fired at him. The bullet, however, did not hit Kiran and he was unhurt. Though he managed to get away initially, the cops eventually nabbed him and took him into custody.

Indywoods Being wins award at IFFI hackathon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indywoods AI-generated film Being has won the prestigious Best AI Visualised Film Award at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) - CinemaAI Hackathon 2025. It was selected from over 500 entries received globally. The hackathon featured a 48-hour competition where the top 10 teams created a 2-minute film on a mystery theme revealed at the event. Set in the mist-laden groves of North Kerala, Being traces the echo of a childhood moment that forever reshaped a life. Being was screened on 25th November at Waves Film Bazaar, where it received appreciation for its unique visual expression and creative interpretation of memory. Winning this award is an important milestone for Indywood. Being shows how technology and emotion can coexist beautifully, and this recognition strengthens our resolve to explore the future of storytelling through AI-driven creativity, said Sohan Roy, producer and founder director of Indywood. The film was conceptualised by storyteller Sumeshlal and visually crafted by Alby Nataraj. Indywood is involved in a wide range of creative, including large-scale film productions, international co-production opportunities, film industry expos, talent development programmes, and technology-driven cinema solutions.

Kerala Lottery Result Today, November 28, 2025 Live: Suvarna Keralam SK-29 Winning Numbers

Kerala Lottery Result Today Live Updates, 28-11-2025: Heres Guessing Numbers for Suvarna Keralam SK-29 for Friday, November 28. Check the full list of winning numbers from 3 pm.

MVD to cancel licence of motorists who endanger safety of pedestrians

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major crackdown on traffic violations, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has announced that driving licences of motorists who endanger pedestrian safety at zebra crossings will be cancelled. Transport Commissioner C Nagaraju said the department has observed widespread disregard for pedestrian rights. Many two-wheeler and four-wheeler drivers fail to show courtesy to pedestrians, especially at zebra crossings. Several motorists even stop or park their vehicles directly on zebra crossings, defeating their very purpose, he noted. The commissioner added that in some areas, footpaths are being misused as parking spaces, reflecting a dangerous driving culture that has contributed to thousands of pedestrian deaths. According to official data, 800 pedestrians have died in road accidents this year, with senior citizens accounting for nearly 50% of the fatalities. The primary cause, officials said, is motorists failing to slow down at zebra crossings, often forcing pedestrians to run across or hesitate in confusion. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, Section 184, violators will face legal action, including a fine of Rs 2,000. Repeated violations will lead to cancellation of driving licences. As per traffic rules, drivers are required to slow down gradually and stop at least three metres before a zebra crossing whenever a pedestrian is seen waiting to cross the road. Courtesy and anticipation of pedestrian movement are now being emphasised as key criteria for retaining a driving license. The Kerala High Court has also directed stringent enforcement of laws against errant drivers. Police and MVD officials will penalise those who stop or park vehicles on zebra crossings, with cancellation of licences forming part of the enforcement drive.

Vets, vax & woofs: Kochi's stray dogs get anti-rabies shots

Over the past few days, young men and women sporting bright yellow T-shirts have been spotted running with pole-nets behind stray dogs across the city. Many have been wondering what they were up to, considering the national attention strays have drawn in recent times. Well, these youths are members of several NGOs that have joined forces for a vaccination campaign. The Worldwide Veterinary Services Mission Rabies, in partnership with the Animal Rescue Kochi collective, has deployed about 200 volunteers across wards under the city corporation, and the Chellanam and Kumbalangi panchayats. Their target: to vaccinate 10,000 stray dogs. Notably, as per the corporations estimates, there are as many strays within the city limits alone. The five-day vaccination drive, which started on November 24, is being carried out by NGO volunteers from across the country especially Goa, the base of Mission Rabies India and from several other nations. Notably, the campaign comes amid rising judicial and public pressure. Kerala recorded 3.63 lakh dog-bite cases in the past year, a third linked to strays. In July, the High Court slammed civic bodies for inaction, noting over 1 lakh bites and 16 deaths in just six months this year. The court rejected culling and directed a humane, structured approach centred on sterilisation, vaccination, and monitoring. Among the chief coordinators of the ongoing vaccination drive is Sajith Sajan, a veterinary nurse and founder of Animal Rescue Kochi. known for his efforts in organising fundraisers, adoption drives, and community outreach. Animal Rescue Kochi acts as a base for the campaign. We collaborate and coordinate drives with other organisations, Sajith says. Working alongside him is British veterinary nurse Julie Corfmat, the Kerala head of Mission Rabies, who has spent nearly two decades working with street dogs across India. Last year, Mission Rabies collaborated with Animal Rescue Kochi and ran a 14-day anti-rabies vaccination campaign across Chellanam, Kumbalangi, and 30 wards under the Kochi corporation. The team vaccinated about 3,000 dogs through field mapping, door-to-door searches, and mobile vaccination units, shares Julie. The success of that drive led to the current campaign, for which they met with the authorities to develop a strategy. So far, we have come across two cases of rabies-infected dogs during this particular drive. The total has now reached 25 since July in Kochi, Sajith says, underscoring the urgency of the mission. When a dog suspected of being infected is identified, it is taken away for isolation, observation and, if needed, euthanasia in an ambulance that remains on standby. Other dogs in the area are given supplementary vaccine shots. Two types of teams hand-catching and net-catching are deployed. Each has three to four volunteers armed with nets, vaccine shots, and paint markers. All the friendly dogs, the ones that we can handle, are vaccinated by hand. The aggressive ones are caught in a net, says Julie. We vaccinate, mark, and also conduct a post-vaccination survey to assess the coverage. Right now, we have 36 teams in action. Volunteers during a net catching drive TNIE joins a hand-catching team, led by 26-year-old Lokesh Yukiy from Goa, who has been with Mission Rabies for six years. The team also includes Sakshi, 18, from Shimla, and Dr Vishnu, a veterinarian from Kollam. On their second drive of the day, they head towards Nambiapuram in Palluruthy. For the next three hours, we trace a loop: Hospital Road, MLA Road, Nera Lane, Nambiapuram Road, AroorThoppumpady Road, and back to the Corporation Ground. The first dog approached the volunteers with curiosity, tail wagging. A quick jab, a green paint mark on the head, and hes off. Shy, older dogs retreat on seeing the team, while some puppies tag along like supervisors. On Hospital Road near Palluruthy, Sakshi emerges from a dark corner of a building with three pups. They are vaccinated gently, set free. A little later, Sakshi slips under an old pushcart to coax out another nervous dog. The mutt, however, manages to scoot. Such moments have become routine for us, she smiles. On MLA Road, the lanes narrow, and clusters of community dogs appear some playful, some cautious. One family brings out their pet indie dog. Dr Vishnu gives the little one a shot and hands a small card with the vaccination details to the family. Why do you paint the head? Will you take the marked dogs away? ask some curious children trailing the team. Volunteers explain the drive and importance of anti-rabies vaccination. Some older residents of the area demand that the strays be relocated, opening up conversations about coexistence and community responsibility. As we return to Corporation Ground, the teams tally for the day stands at 10 dogs. Those left would be covered by the net team the next day. On average, these teams together cover 250 to 300 dogs a day. Volunteers during the vaccination drive The modus operandi closely mirrors Goas rabies-elimination programme, which is said to be a success model. When Mission Rabies launched a pilot in Goa in 2014, the findings were alarming: among 45 suspected animal cases, 39 tested positive. What followed was public-health collaborations. Mission Rabies, the state government, and hundreds of trained volunteers created a model based on mass vaccination, surveillance, and rapid response, Sajith explains. In 2015, an MoU formalised the partnership. In a month-long campaign, over 63,000 dogs were vaccinated with the support of 500 veterinary professionals from 16 countries. A rabies hotline was introduced for immediate reporting, and door-to-door coverage ensured no pockets of the state were missed. By 2021, he adds, Goa was officially declared a rabies-controlled area after three consecutive years without a single human rabies death. Monitoring, surveillance, and annual vaccination cycles continue even today. Similar to Goas rapid-response system, a dedicated rabies hotline for Kochi is set to be launched soon. Sajith adds that vaccination is vital as animal birth control measures may not always be feasible due to manpower and logistical constraints. Corporation veterinary surgeon Dr Ambili T R echoes the view. The drive being conducted by Mission Rabies supplements ongoing efforts to curb issues related to stray dogs, including the animal birth control (ABC) and public awareness campaigns, she says. The ABC centre in Brahmapuram is already functioning, and we are looking to expand it further. The centre also has up to 27 kennels and space for dogs to play and rest. There are also four large caged enclosures. We also opened one centre in Tripunithura this year. There is a limit to how much a local civic body can do, so such collaborations are critical.

In vote-bank theatre, Ezhavas still in search of key role

KOCHI: Taking up 24% of the states population, the Ezhavas constitute the most significant demographic. But as better-organised groups haggle their way to political gains, the states biggest community has remained a mute spectator. Once treated as untouchables, Ezhavas have transformed into a progressive, well-educated community, making significant contributions to Keralas social and economic development. But in politics, they have failed to secure their due share. With 27 MLAs from LDF, the community, for the first time, received representation in proportion to its population in the 15th assembly in 2021. However, just five ministers from the community were named. The Nairs, who constitute just 12% of the population, got seven, further souring sentiments. The Ezhavas have been traditionally associated with left parties. The role of Communists in organising the Punnapra-Vayalar agitation for protection of the rights of the underprivileged, and the struggles to remove inequality and untouchability greatly influenced the community. However, recent shifts in the communitys political affiliation has shocked the ruling CPM. In the 2024 Lok Sabha (LS) election, the BJP led the way in 11 assembly divisions, while coming second in eight. In many of these segments, including Attingal, Kattakkada, Kazhakkoottam, Irinjalakuda, Haripad, Kayamkulam and Palakkad, Ezhavas hold sway. The 2019 LS poll and 2021 assembly election saw the BJP widen its support base in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Kollam on the back of public sentiment over the Sabarimala stir. This coincided with a shift in Ezhava voting patterns in the three districts. While Vellappally Natesan, general secretary of SNDP Yogam, has been a staunch supporter of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, BJP has made inroads into the community. The Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), formed in 2014, gave it a platform to further push the agenda. With Vellappallys son Thushar at the helm of BDJS, a key NDA ally, connecting with the community has been easy sailing for BJP. From the 65% backing in the 2011 assembly election, LDF saw its Ezhava vote share decline. According to BJP, around 35-40% of the community has shifted loyalty in its favour. An increasing number of Ezhava youth are getting lured by the saffron front. It is true the influence of BJP is increasing in the community. The appeasement politics of the ruling party and opposition, reluctance to appoint Ezhavas in key posts and bias in allocation of funds have alienated the community from both the fronts, said a senior SNDP Yogam leader. However, the BDJS is not feeling secure in the NDA. Ezhava leaders in BDJS and BJP say there is lack of trust at lower levels. There is perfect coordination between BJP and BDJS at the state level, but when it comes to the rank and file, there is lack of trust. Most BJP leaders at district and mandalam levels belong to the Nair community and do not accept Ezhava leaders. If this is resolved, the BJP-BDJS combine will emerge as a strong third force, said a state-level BDJS leader. Nair-Ezhava tensions, BJPs reluctance to deliver posts once promised to BDJS, lack of mutual trust and poaching of BDJS leaders are factors hampering NDAs growth in Kerala. I feel it was LDF that respected the community. BJP treats us as second-class citizens. But there is a strong sentiment within the community against Muslim appeasement and this may work in the partys favour this time, he said. But why have the Ezhavas failed to claim their rights? The Ezhavas have been politically sensitive and ideologically committed, due to their long association with the Communists in the struggle for rights. They could have united on the caste basis and bargained with political parties, but they preferred to stick to their ideology. When K R Gouri Amma was denied chief ministership and V S Achuthanandan was sidelined, they were disheartened and started drifting away from CPM. Now there is a growing affection towards the BJP, said political observer P Sujathan.

Kerala will urge Centre to revoke labour code: Minister V Sivankutty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Labour Minister V Sivankutty on Thursday announced that the state will urge the Union government to withdraw the newly implemented Labour Code. Addressing the press here after an online meeting with trade union leaders, the minister said that the states stand on the unilaterally passed labour code will be conveyed to the Union Minister of Labour and Employment. He said that the state will soon send an e-mail regarding this to the Centre, following which the disagreement will be directly communicated to the Union Ministry after the labour conclave on December 19. Mentioning that the state will seek legal advice, Sivankutty said that the labour conclave will address key areas, including how the code will affect employees, possibilities of how Kerala can draft a separate rule, and to what extent a state can interfere in this. The meeting, which passed a resolution against the code, came to this decision unanimously, Sivankutty added. Upon being asked about the opinion of the Sangh Parivar organisation Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Sivankutty said that the representative remained silent regarding the decision to send the letter.

Action against bus after drunken crew incident

KOZHIKODE: The fitness certificate of a private bus operating on the Kozhikode-Bengaluru route has been cancelled following the circulation of a viral video of drunk bus crew on duty. The bus, belonging to private bus operating firm Bharathi Travels, was brought to the Chevayur test ground on Thursday, after the video sparked widespread protest. The video showed both the driver and cleaner of the bus in a drunken state while on duty, raising concerns about passenger safety on long-route private buses. According to the passengers of the bus, timely intervention of a few alert fellow travellers prevented what could have been a major tragedy. The bus was made to undergo a detailed mechanical and safety check, after which the authorities decided to cancel the fitness certificate since safety precautions were not followed. Officials stated that strict action will be taken against the crew and those responsible for compromising the safety of the passengers.

Remarried Muslim woman cannot be denied right to maintenance: Kerala HC

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday held that a Muslim woman cannot be deprived of benefits under right to maintenance in the name of remarriage. Dismissing a revision petition filed by the former husband of the petitioner, Justice Kauser Edappagath ordered payment of maintenance and fair provision to the divorced woman and her minor daughter, though she has remarried. The petitioner had divorced the woman by pronouncing talaq in 2011 and she remarried in 2014. After the divorce, the woman filed a petition under Muslim Women Protection Act claiming maintenance and return of gold ornaments before the family court. The family court disposed of the petition granting monthly maintenance till the date of remarriage. The Court observed that a Muslim husband is legally bound to provide reasonable and fair provision for future maintenance to the divorced wife under the Muslim Personal Law. A Muslim husbands obligation to provide maintenance to his divorced wife arises immediately after pronouncement of talaq and not at the time of adjudication.

Rahul Mamkootathil Case: Kerala Congress MLA Charged For Rape, Coercion To Terminate Pregnancy

Suspended Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil is facing a police case after a woman lodged a sexual exploitation complaint. The probe has been transferred from Valiyamala to Nemom.

Wildlife Bill: Kerala CM seeks MPs help to get Presidents nod

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move to facilitate effective Centre-state interactions, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the MPs from the state to intervene to get Presidents nod for the Wildlife Protection (Kerala Amendment) Bill. The permission is crucial as the bill passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly simplifies major obstructions in the 11th section of the Wildlife Protection Law 1972. In an online meeting convened on Thursday, the CM asked MPs to raise the demand for the disbursal of central share to be provided to the victims of the human-animal conflict. The meeting was attended by state ministers and other officers concerned. Seeking the MPs intervention to reinstate two tranches of Rs 6,757 crore and Rs 3,323 crore, which were cut from the states borrowing limits in the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26, respectively, Pinarayi reiterated the stand to increase the states borrowing limit to 3.5%. Pointing out that the centre only provided Rs 260.56 crore for the Meppadi-Chooralmala rehabilitation against the states demand of Rs 2,221.03 crore, Pinarayi asked MPs to help the state avail of its deserving share. Urging that the central government should increase its share in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) 2.0, the CM asked the MPs to intervene to avoid the display of PMAY boards during its implementation. Making an attempt to reduce the duration of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragode rail journey, the CM urged MPs to raise the demand for conducting surveys for the third and fourth line on the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru section, along with the deployment of Namo Bharat Rapid Rail here. Other key projects, including AIIMS, Attappady Irrigation Project, and the rail projects on the Angamaly-Sabari, Thalassery-Mysore, and Nilambur-Nanjangud routes, should also be highlighted before the Union government, the CM stressed.

Party rules out further action despite formal complaint against the MLA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In spite of a formal sexual harassment complaint filed against him by the victim, the Congress leadership has ruled out any further disciplinary action against Rahul Mamkootathil, MLA. KPCC president Sunny Joseph told TNIE that the party has already taken all necessary steps and would continue the status quo. There is no situation that requires further action. We have already suspended Rahul from the primary membership, removed him from the Congress parliamentary party, allotted a separate seat for him in the assembly and excluded him from all official programmes. What he is doing in Palakkad is in his capacity as an MLA, he said. Asked about the possible arrest by the investigating agency, Sunny said that there was no precedent in Kerala politics requiring an MLA to resign or to be expelled solely because of an arrest. There is a sexual harassment case against CPM MLA M Mukesh, who has even been chargesheeted. Yet the CPM did not seek his resignation, he noted. Congress sources said Rahul is likely to file an anticipatory bail application. The party and UDF were expecting complications after a new screenshot of alleged chat and an audio clip surfaced. While opinion remains divided within the Congress on how far action should go, the leaderships argument for maintaining the status quo has been bolstered by unexpected support from the IUML. The IUML is of the view that Congress should not shift its stance according to the ball. In Kerala, CPM has set the precedent in similar cases, said IUML state general secretary PMA Salam. Did they remove M Mukesh MLA or expel A Padmakumar after the latters arrest. If Rahul has committed an offence, he should be punished. But due process must be followed, he said. A section of Congress leaders pointed to earlier cases involving MLAs M Vincent and Eldhose Kunnapally, who were arrested in similar circumstances, but they were not expelled or asked to resign. KPCC president Sunny Joseph, working presidents A P Anil Kumar, P C Vishnunath, and Shafi Parambil, and UDF convenor Adoor Prakash and a majority of leaders believe that any impulsive action would harm the party and give an advantage to political opponents. The CPM has no moral authority to criticise Congress. Their own track record is far worse, said a leader. However, a section led by Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and K Muralidharan are of the view that Rahuls involvement in the Palakkad local body campaign could damage UDFs prospects. Some UDF allies have also warned of a possible political blowback. The Congress leaders in Palakkad said that Rahul had a major say in selecting candidates. DCC president A Thankappan and V K Sreekandan, MP, were of the opinion that since the candidates insisted on Rahuls presence, the party has nothing to do. For Rahul also this is a time to express gratitude to the local leaders who had worked for him in the by-election. How could he stay away when these ordinary workers expected a major role from him? sources close to Rahul asked.

Rahul stays away from campaign; leaders keep mum

PALAKKAD: As in the past one week, on Thursday evening, Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil was all set to hit his unofficial election campaign trail once again this time for his party candidates contesting in Kannadi grama panchayat. His loyal entourage had prepared the route, UDF local leaders and supporters had gathered, and the door-to-door march was minutes away from starting. But at 4.30pm, everything collapsed in an instant. News broke that a woman had directly submitted a sexual harassment and misconduct complaint against Mamkootathil to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Secretariat. The announcement spread like wildfire in Palakkad and the MLAs entire plan for the evening crashed on the spot. He cancelled the campaign without a word, went completely incommunicado, and within minutes his MLA office was shut tight, signalling a full-blown political crisis. His MLA office was immediately shut, phones went unanswered, and the once-all-visible legislator suddenly became unreachable. A close aide offered just a one-liner: The MLA is in Palakkad. No decisions yet. Moments later, Mamkootathil attempted damage control through a Facebook post, insisting he had done no wrong and vowing to prove innocence before the court of law and the court of the people. No more escape routes The political fireworks intensified as BJP leaders moved rapidly to corner the Congress. Prasanth Sivan, BJP Palakkad district president (east), who has led persistent protests against Mamkootathil, declared that the last remaining excuse used to shield the MLA had collapsed beyond repair. For months, the ruling and opposition fronts hid behind one scripted dialogue - no complaint, so no action. Today that shield is gone, he wrote, accusing the Left and the Congress of jointly denying justice to the survivor. Sivan added that only the BJP had consistently challenged the silence and stood against the injustice everyone else tried to bury. Leadership in disarray The Congress local leadership already rattled by AICC general secretary K C Venugopals recent firm reminder that Mamkootathil remains suspended, and that the questions about the Congress MLAs campaign activities for the UDF should be directed to local leaders in Palakkad was thrown into further disarray. While Mamkootathil had been freely campaigning despite his suspension, district leaders now rushed into full defensive mode, refusing to answer questions and insisting the state leadership will respond. With the local body poll campaign set to reach its peak next week and the UDF desperately trying to wrest control of the Palakkad municipality from the BJP the latest controversy surrounding the Palakkad MLA has plunged the front into a full-blown crisis.

Married off at 14, Binziyas search for self-respect drives pursuit of learning

MALAPPURAM: Married off at 14, confined within domestic boundaries for decades, and once ashamed to admit she had studied only up to Class 9, a woman from Malappuram has now rewritten her destiny through education. After 29 years of marriage, Makkaraparambha native Binziya has emerged with a postgraduate degree in psychology, proving that dreams delayed are never dreams denied. Binziya was forced to abandon her studies when her family arranged her marriage in 1997. One year later, she became a mother. As the eldest daughter-in-law in a large joint family, she was tasked with looking after her husbands younger siblings and managing all household responsibilities. I was still a child. But I had to act like a grown woman because everyone expected me to be one, she recalls. Education became a distant memory as cooking, cleaning and childcare took over her life. There was no space for my wishes. My daughter and later my son became my world. But deep inside, I always missed learning. A turning point came when the family shifted to their own home. She came to know about the governments literacy mission and decided to ask her husband if she could attempt the Class 10 equivalency examination. My husband supported me without hesitation. When I passed with good marks, I cried. I felt alive again, she says. She went on to complete her higher secondary education next before enrolling for a BA English programme through distance education in 2020. But her heart was always set on psychology. I have gone through many emotional struggles in life. Who understands pain better than a woman? I wanted to learn psychology so that I could help others like me, she says. The biggest driving force behind her educational pursuit was her own self-respect. Whenever someone asked me how much I had studied, I felt ashamed to say Class 9. That shame pushed me to continue learning. I wanted to feel proud of myself, she explains. Her years of effort finally came to fruition as she completed her MA in psychology. Binziya says she hopes her story encourages other women who were denied opportunities. There are many women like me in Malappuram who are married off too early and remain confined to their homes. I want them to know that education is still possible. She is also proud of the change within her own family. My daughter completed her Plus-II before marriage. She has finished her degree and is preparing for postgraduate studies. It makes me happy that she will not have to carry the same regrets I once had. Binziya now dreams of becoming a practising psychologist and providing support to homemakers who struggle.

Kerala youth, 23, electrocuted in Puzhal while drying clothes as line hits low-hanging cable

CHENNAI: A 23-year-old man was electrocuted when he accidentally came in contact with a low-hanging electricity cable while drying clothes on the terrace of his house at Puzhal on Monday. The police suspect the clothesline must have accidentally brushed against the power line over the terrace. The deceased has been identified as Atul Krishnan, a native of Kozhikode in Kerala, working at a private company near Puzhal for the past few months. He was staying in the rented house along with seven other men, the police said. Atul was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. Upon information, the Puzhal police registered a case and sent the body for postmortem at Government Stanley Hospital. We have not registered a case of death due to negligence as of now. We will submit a report to the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL), and based on their departmental inquiry further action will be decided, a police source said.

KSRTC records third highest collection with H9.29 crore

KOCHI: The KSRTC has achieved its third-highest operational revenue in history with the collection touching Rs 9.29 crore on November 24. The significant achievement, coupled with the record-breaking success of its Royal View Double Decker sightseeing service in Munnar, signals a new era of growth and self-sufficiency for the corporation. The upward trajectory is the result of several strategic reforms implemented across the organisation, especially the introduction of attractive buses equipped with modern amenities for enhanced passenger experience in long distance routes. The corporation recorded its highest daily collection of Rs 10.19 crore on September 8, 2025, and the second highest Rs 9.41 crore on October 6, 2025. The remarkable success reflects the collective hard work and dedication of its employees, supervisors, and officers. Despite challenging conditions, their concerted effort in operating all existing services and a committed push from unit staff to maximise performance proved pivotal. What is considered impossible can be achieved through collective effort, P S Pramoj Sanker, chairman & managing director, said. Pampa special service: No cut in buses on demand routes What has aided the corporation in achieving the high operational revenue is that unlike previous years, it didnt withdraw buses conducting regular services on demand routes this time for operating Sabarimala special services. The corporation has readied 327 buses for the special trips by utilising vehicles that previously operated loss-making services. Further we have reduced the number of off-road buses. As many as 550 buses, which were in the garage, have been repaired and redeployed for special services. They are in good operational condition and have been deployed for Pampa-Nilakkal services. Additionally, new buses are also being deployed for Sabarimala services, said Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar. Besides, other initiatives that reaped rich dividends include maximising staff deployment, ensuring precise schedule planning, and making timely, beneficial changes in all departments such as online reservation and passenger information systems. Royal View Double Decker collects over L1 cr in 9 months Meanwhile, the KSRTCs Royal View Double Decker sightseeing service in Munnar has turned out to be a huge hit, collecting over Rs1 crore since its launch on February 9, 2025. Part of the successful KSRTC Budget Tourism initiative, the Royal View service has been overwhelmingly embraced by both domestic and international tourists visiting Munnar. The bus, which was custom-built in the KSRTCs own garage, offers a unique travel experience. Its two levels and extensive glass panelling allow passengers to fully immerse themselves in the limitless beauty of Munnar, making the journey truly wondrous. Three services are being operated daily-- at 9 am, 12.30 pm and at 4 pm, a senior BTC official said.

Inter-state buses remain off road, continue strike over unfair taxes

KOCHI: The inter-state private bus sector continues to reel from a major crisis, with a significant number of services, especially those connecting Kerala, remaining off the road, making the lives of hundreds of commuters difficult. Operators are now demanding that the governments of Kerala and Karnataka follow the example of Tamil Nadu by offering a tax exemption to make operations financially viable. Tamil Nadu has provided a glimmer of hope by verbally instructing border officials to exempt tax for buses from neighbouring states like Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, prompting a slow resumption of services to destinations like Chennai and Coimbatore. The services to these destinations are being conducted without any issues for the last four to five days. Kerala and Karnataka too should adopt a relief stance similar to that of Tamil Nadu, Rijas A J, vice-president of Intercity Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India and owner of Sona Travels, told TNIE. A significant number of interstate luxury private buses conducting services to Bengaluru and Hyderabad from various points in Kerala remain off the road. Only a small section of operators who were forced to pay the quarterly tax until December are plying buses now, but they warn that a failure by the governments to act swiftly would force a complete industry shutdown. The issue is yet to be solved. Many, who have not yet paid the quarterly taxes, are not operating, he stated. Highlighting the impact on the key Kochi-Bengaluru route, Rijas said that a number of operators including big players like FlixBus and Shyamoli Paribahan continue to suspend all their trips to Kerala. Industry sources confirm the severity, pointing out that out of 152 night services in the Ernakulam-Bengaluru sector, 72 are non-operational. The core of the crisis is the unfair taxes levied by the state governments. Operators argue that the financial burden is immense and unsustainable. An operator needs to pay Rs 12 lakh tax for running a single service (two buses) for a 90-day period, an operator explained. This crippling cost is pushing bus owners toward a financial cliff, with fears of asset seizure by lending institutions looming early next year. The demand for tax relief is amplified by competitive pressures. Operators cannot increase ticket prices for fear of driving away passengers, especially with the introduction of new alternatives like the Vande Bharat train service on the Kochi-Bengaluru sector. The services cant be operated with the huge tax being levied, another operator stressed. The protest was initially triggered by Tamil Nadu bus operators opposing what they termed illegal tax and levying of fine by Kerala authorities. Now, the focus has shifted to urging Kerala and Karnataka to adopt a similar relief stance to that of Tamil Nadu. ] The disruption is causing major inconvenience, as these luxury buses normally transport an estimated 4,000 people daily to major hubs like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Madurai. As private bus travel remains largely unavailable, travellers are increasingly dependent on KSRTC and rail alternatives. A senior KSRTC official confirmed they are operating additional services to Bengaluru to manage the surging demand. Swift action urged Operators are demanding the governments of Kerala and Karnataka to follow the example of Tamil Nadu by offering a tax exemption Warn that a failure by the governments to act would force a complete shutdown They argue that the financial burden is immense

At Sannidhanam post office, letters get a divine touch

PATHANAMTHITTA: As postal codes go, 689713 extends beyond the mundane to the divine. In India, only two individuals have dedicated pin codes the President and Lord Ayyappa. This distinction alone places the Sannidhanam post office in a league of its own. But its significance doesnt end there. Established in 1963, the post office at Sabarimala opens only for three months a year, exclusively during the annual pilgrimage season. Its postmark is treasured by devotees and philatelists alike. The seal featuring Ayyappa seated above the 18 sacred steps makes every envelope stamped here a spiritual keepsake. This season too, the post office has been witnessing heavy footfall. Hundreds queue up daily just to send a letter bearing the revered seal. For many, it is a way of sending the experience of darshan back home -- a postcard to their own address to preserve the memory. Others write to relatives and friends, conveying blessings from the shrine and wishing divine grace upon them. To meet growing demand, the post office introduced advanced postal technology (APT), a digital initiative of India Post, this year, enabling it to offer most of the services available at any operational post office in the country. The facility is a boon not only for devotees but also for thousands of staff on duty. Additionally, prasadam from Sabarimala can now be booked from any post office in India, expanding the spiritual network far beyond Keralas borders. Postman Vishnu engaged in work at the Sabarimala post office Since the start of the pilgrimage season, nearly 6,000 postcards have been dispatched, says postmaster Shibu V Nair. Devotees from every corner of the country come here to send letters. Some are regulars who write every year, while many are first-timers, he adds. The post office is run by a compact team including the postmaster, one postman, and two multi-tasking staff. Vishnu Ayyappas own postman Among the unique features of the Sannidhanam post office is its postman. For the past three years, G Vishnu, who hails from Adoor, Pathanamthitta, has been serving as Ayyappas own postman a role no other employee has held continuously for this long. Sabarimala was Vishnus very first posting, and he has chosen to remain here out of devotion. No one has been on this duty for three straight seasons. I continue here purely out of personal faith, Vishnu says with a smile, adding that he is ready to serve at the hill shrine as long as he get opportunity. The emotional weight of the letters he receives is immense. Devotees send first wedding invitation cards to Ayyappa as a mark of gratitude. Some write letters of sorrow and personal struggles, addressing them to the Lord. Many send money orders from small amounts to large expressing their offerings through the postal channel.

UDF-Welfare split sets stage for high-voltage fight in Mukkam

KOZHIKODE: Five years ago, Mukkam municipality stood balanced, 15 seats on one side, 15 on the other, and a single rebel tipping the scales of power. This time, the picture is far more chaotic. The UDF-Welfare Party alliance has snapped, the LDF is on a stronger footing, and rebels old and new are back in the spotlight. With 34 divisions and no clear favourite, Mukkam is heading into an election where every ward has its own drama and each vote can rewrite the councils future. For years, the UDF-Welfare pact played a decisive role in Mukkam politics. In 2020, both LDF and UDF secured 15 seats each, the BJP won two, and a League rebel clinched one seat. UDF secured 15 seats only because of Welfare Partys support, which contested four seats and won three. This time, it demanded five divisions, while the Congress-led UDF was willing to concede only two. With negotiations failing, Welfare Party moved ahead with its own candidates, weakening UDFs prospects, especially in areas like Chennamangallur, where the former enjoys overwhelming influence. The LDF, which managed to form the council in 2020 with the support of League rebel Muhammed Abdul Majeed, is performing strongly on the ground this time. Front leaders expect to win more than 10 seats, which could shift the political balance and potentially deny UDF power. With UDF and Welfare Party contesting separately, the biggest question now is: whom will the latter support after the results? This single factor could determine who forms the next council. Preparations have begun in full swing by the Welfare Party in different parts of Mukkam region. Party workers have launched various activities including candidate photoshoots and flag installations. UDF has also initiated its campaign, announcing K V Jabbar as an independent supported by it in Division 19. UDF leaders in Chennamangallur have criticised the Welfare Party, claiming that the area saw only small municipal-funded developments in the last term. They argue that Welfare Party councillors lacked the political reach to secure substantial state or central development funds, unlike traditional mainstream parties. League leader K P Ahammedkutty from Chennamangallur says future negotiations with UDF will be impossible for the Welfare Party if it is not ready to understand the political situation in Mukkam. Senior political leaders from the region agree that failing to reach an understanding with Welfare Party could prove a major setback for UDF in a municipality known for tight races. The wild card in this election is once again Muhammed Abdul Majeed, the League rebel who supported the LDF in 2020. He won the Irattakulangara ward in 2020 by defeating UDFs Shereef Vennakkode by 16 votes (328 vs. 312). Last year, Majeed withdrew his support from LDF and joined UDF in tabling a no-confidence motion, which failed due to lack of quorum. This time again, he is contesting as an independent. He maintains that development work worth `2.5 crore completed in his ward will earn him support. Interestingly, Shereef Vennakkode has again been named the UDF candidate in the ward, setting the stage for a rematch. Adding further complications for UDFs regional prospects, in ward 7 (Punnakkal) of the neighbouring Thiruvambady panchayat, Youth Congress mandalam secretary Jithin Pallat has decided to contest as a rebel against Tomy Konnakkal, the official UDF nominee. This internal conflict may ripple into the Mukkam political atmosphere as well. With the extra division added and shifting alliances, no front is expected to secure a clear majority on its own.

No vote from home for elderly and PwD voters

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unlike the Lok Sabha and assembly polls, there will be no vote from home facility in this local body elections for voters aged 85 or above and those in the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category. Instead, the State Election Commission (SEC) will ensure that such voters receive priority access and necessary support at all 33,711 polling stations. The Kerala Panchayati Raj Act and Kerala Municipalities Act that govern the conduct of local body elections do not have any provision for home voting, State Election Commissioner A Shajahan told TNIE. He said it was made available in the previous local body elections only for Covid-positive voters, since the polls were held under the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act. Various associations representing PwDs had given representations to the state poll panel to provide the facility in the local body elections. However, SEC sources said its introduction would require amendments to the two Acts by the assembly. Prajith P, co-founder of Mobility in Dystrophy Trust, said home voting would be beneficial to PwD electors, especially those with severe disabilities such as muscular dystrophy or fragile bone disease. They would require the help of at least two people to vote, he said. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 17.3% of PwD category voters availed the facility. However, it was effectively utilised by elderly voters. For a large section of the elderly with mobility issues, the facility was a boon. The laws should be amended to incorporate the facility in the local body polls, said A Salahuddeen Kunju, president, Senior Citizens Welfare Association, Thiruvananthapuram.

Lord Ayyappas gold stolen, CPM reluctant to take action

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the state heads for the local body elections, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala exudes confidence about the partys prospects. In a candid conversation with TNIE, he discusses the prevailing anti-incumbency mood, Congresss emphasis on youth empowerment, the handling of the Rahul Mamkoottathil controversy, and the UDFs stand on the Welfare Party. Congress has fielded over 1,000 young candidates. What message does the party want to convey? We have consciously decided to give priority to the youth. Even in the last Assembly elections, we offered seats to 55 young candidates, though the political climate then was not favourable. Do you think the controversy surrounding MLA Rahul Mamkootathil will affect the Congress in this election? The party took a clear stand and kept him away as soon as the allegations surfaced. In contrast, two CPM leaders who served as Devaswom Board presidents were arrested and jailed, yet they were not removed from their party. Everyone is aware of CPMs double standards. Lord Ayyappas gold has been stolen. Yet they hesitate to take action because they fear those arrested might reveal more names. Will the increase in welfare pensions help the LDF in the polls? Not at all. People know that the pension hike was purely an election gimmick. Voters are not swayed by such tactics. The LDF manifesto had promised a pension of Rs 2,500, but they have failed to deliver. The UDFs alignment with the Welfare Party is being debated even within the front. What is your position? The UDF has no formal connection with the Welfare Party; they are not part of the front. At the regional level, there may be minor adjustments with individuals or organisations, as is common in panchayat politics. But beyond that, there is nothing. How is the campaign progressing? It is going very well, and we expect a big upswing. When I was KPCC president, Congress achieved a historic victory in 2010. A similar situation exists now. There is a strong anti-incumbency sentiment and a clear mood for change. In Thiruvananthapuram, Congress has taken a bold step to regain power. How do you plan to counter BJPs influence in urban areas? We have done commendable work in Thiruvananthapuram, and our candidates were announced well in advance. The atmosphere is favorable for a Congress comeback.

RGCB to be national metagenomics project hub

Programme aims to address the challenge of undiagnosed acute febrile illness, encephalitis, diarrhoeal diseases, and respiratory infections

Review tender issuing methodology to prevent loss to State exchequer: Kerala HC to Chief Secretary

PIL claims that tenders awarded by the Irrigation department for desilting reservoirs of the State were causing substantial loss to the public exchequer

Kerala's Big Move Against Drivers Who Violate Zebra-Crossing Rules

The department has ordered the cancellation of driving licences for drivers who violate pedestrian safety norms, citing a dangerous driving culture contributing to hundreds of deaths.

Kerala Police Officer's Suicide Note Names Top Cop, Alleges Harassment

A 32-page suicide note by SHO Binu Thomas accuses a senior DSP of sexual exploitation, intimidation, and harassment, turning his death investigation into a probe of institutional abuse.

Munambam holding: BJP urges Centre to implead in Waqf Vedhis appeal against HC order

The party to implead in case, while Munambam native Philip Joseph has already filed a caveat, says BJP leader

Kallara Sarasamma dead

She used to be associated with the Congress and is the mother of actors Ambika and Radha

571 booked as Ernakulam Rural police launch special drive against miscreants

Renjith Johnson murder: Kerala HC upholds life term

Life term awarded to five persons by trial court for the murder committed in August 2018.

LDF exudes confidence of winning a majority of local bodies in Ernakulam

The manifesto, titled Our District, Our Dream, proposes comprehensive development of the district based on a policy upheld by the LDF and rooted in foundational productive sectors

Taking a greater test in camaraderie

Dance by 15 women candidates in Anthoor seeking votes goes viral

The Left Democratic Front candidates came together to perform an Oppana set to the tune of a Mappila song as part of seeking votes

Sexual misconduct charges against Mamkootathil cast shadow over Cong. during poll campaign

Kerala HC issues directions to prevent over crowding at Sabarimala

Court asks authorities to ensure that only persons with genuine virtual queue or spot-booking pass corresponding to specified date and time slot are permitted entry to the Sannidhanam

Take history to the people to counter Sangh Parivar narrative, says Kerala CM

Heinous attempts are being made in Kerala to spread divisive mentality and bring back regressive practices which had been eradicated, Pinarayi says at the international annual session of Kerala History Congress

Death of pregnant woman in Varandarappilly: family accuses husband of murder, abuse

BJP accuses LDF, UDF of stalling development in Kannur Corporation

Woman Files A Sexual Harassment Complaint Against Suspended Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil With Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan refused to comment when asked about the complaint filed by the woman against the MLA, even as reporters approached him at a function venue in Thiruvananthapuram.

Congress rebel redraws battle lines in Chullikkal

The division was once a UDF stronghold until the LDF wrested it in 2015; this years contest features a sitting councillor contesting as an Independent, past players returning to the fray, and a larger electorate after delimitation

Meet Asha Sobhana, the first crorepati from Kerala at WPL auction

The action began innocuously, after the Delhi Capitals kicked things off at the base price of Rs 30 lakh. But the tempo surged swiftly as Delhi and UP Warriorz traded bids up to Rs 55 lakh.

Thottappally sand-mining: Kerala HC directs Chief Secretary to submit suggestions on expert panel

Kerala HC reserves its order on plea by Catholic Congress against scenes in Malayalam film Haal

Order reserved on the appeal filed by the Catholic Congress against a single judges order to the CBFC to grant A-certification for the film

Kerala local body polls 2025: When an LDF Independent flaunts a Maudany connection

The posters of Nishad Nadakkal, an LDF Independent in an Erattupetta ward, display the image of PDP founder Abdul Nasir Maudany. LDF leaders say Nishad has resigned from PDP, while PDP leaders insist that he is a loyalist for three decades

Calicut narsity V-C selection faces further delay over search panel status

The Kerala High Court has ordered the senate to select its nominee within 30 days. Selection process for the V-Cs post can only commence when the search-cum-selection committee is in place.

Local body polls in Kerala: dry days declared

Kerala Woman Files Sexual Harassment Complaint Against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil Before CM

Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil was suspended from Congress in August after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

No 'Vande Mataram', 'Jai Hind' slogans in Parliament: Congress slams BJP

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday hit out at the BJP after the Rajya Sabha Secretariat reminded MPs not to use slogans like 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind' in Parliament to maintain decorum, and said those who did not lose anything in the freedom movement and sided with the British have problems with slogans associated with the independence struggle. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said earlier the British had problems with these slogans which were used in the freedom struggle and now the BJP is having problems. On November 24, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat reminded members not to use slogans like 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind' inside or outside the House to maintain decorum, citing them as a breach of parliamentary etiquette. I am shocked. What on earth is the objection to these slogans - the British had a problem with them, and now the BJP folks have too? What kind of people are they made of, those who find it difficult to utter the two most famous slogans of the freedom struggle in the House, Shrinate said in a video message. She said 'Jai Hind' means the victory of Hindustan - may India always be victorious and this was the most powerful slogan of the freedom struggle as it beats in the heart of every Indian. It was composed in 1907 by the revolutionary Chempakaraman Pillai from Travancore, Kerala. Between 1914-1918, Pillai was active in the Indian freedom movement in Germany. He was the first to use 'Jai Hind' as a greeting and slogan among Indian revolutionaries living abroad, she said. In 1943-44, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj made 'Jai Hind' their official greeting and slogan, making it even more popular. Netaji would end all his speeches and radio messages broadcast from South East Asia and Germany with 'Jai Hind'. Netaji chose it because it was secular and united everyone, the Congress spokesperson added. Shrinate said after independence in 1947, 'Jai Hind' was adopted by the Indian armed forces as their official greeting and salute and even today, it instills a sense of patriotism in the army, paramilitary forces, and every Indian. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru made it even more popular. He would often end his speeches with 'Jai Hind', she noted. Talking of 'Vande Mataram', she said, it is that glorious slogan and song in our history that gives India the status of a mother and pays homage to her, while bowing to her. Written in 1870 by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, it was first sung by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Indian National Congress session and in 1905, during the Swadeshi movement, it became the political and nationalist slogan of the masses, she said. Between 19061910, the British regime repeatedly banned it, leading to arrests for singing it. Whether it was protests for Swaraj or marches for independence, 'Vande Mataram' was always on the lips of the great heroes of freedom. Revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and Khudiram Bose raised the slogan 'Vande Mataram' during their trials and at the time of hanging. On 24 January 1950, India's Constituent Assembly declared 'Vande Mataram' as India's national song. Now think about it: who could possibly have a problem with these slogans? Only those who didn't even lose the tiniest bit of a little fingernail in the freedom movement. Those who were slaves and informants to the British, the Congress leader said. The advisory, mentioned in the 'Handbook for Members of Rajya Sabha', was issued ahead of the commencement of the parliamentary session on December 1. The decorum and the seriousness of the proceedings of the House require that there should be no 'Thanks', 'Thank You', 'Jai Hind', 'Vande Mataram' or any other slogans raised in the House, the Rajya Sabha notification said, while reminding MPs to observe the parliamentary customs and conventions. Sources in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said that this is not the first time such an instruction has been issued. A similar circular was released during the UPA-led government in November 2005, also emphasising that raising slogans like 'Jai Hind' and 'Vande Mataram' was inconsistent with parliamentary customs and etiquette.

TDB probes lapse after honey supplied in acid containers

The stock, which passed inspection by the Food Safety Laboratory at Pampa, is primarily used for performing the Ashtabhishekam ritual and is not for devotees consumption, say officials.

Woman meets Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and files a complaint of sexual exploitation and coerced medical termination of pregnancy against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil

Pinarayi Vijayan forwards the complaint to State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar for further action. The police may seek the Courts sanction to record the complainants statement in camera before a magistrate under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Woman submits sexual harassment complaint with Kerala CM against Rahul Mamkootathil

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what could prove costly for opposition UDF in the locla body poll, awoman filed a sexual harassment complaint before Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against Congress MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil. The complaint, which alleges sexuaL harassment by the Palakkad MLA, was submittedd along with digital evidences. The complainant met Pinarayi Vijayan in person and handed over the complaint at the Secretariate on Thursday. Voice clips of Rahul forcing a woman to perform abortion had earlier surfaced on social media. As per reports, the CM has transferred the complaint tothe State Police Chief. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sexual harssment allegations against the MLA, will carry out further probe into the same However, following the recent developments, Rahul Mamkoottathil wrote on his Facebook wall that he is innocent, and he will proceed legally against the complaint. Earlier in the day, Youth Congress state general secretary Sajana B Sajan had filed a complaint against the leader to the Congress high command demanding organisational inquiry against the MLA. Meanwhile, news agency PTI reported that reacting to the development, the Palakkad MLA said he would fight the case legally. As long as I am convinced that I have done no wrong, I will continue to fight legally. I will prove everything in the court of law as well as in the court of the people. Truth will prevai, he wrote on his Facebook page. State Health Minister Veena George expressed solidarity with the victim, saying Kerala is with her. Dear sister, Do not lose strength. Kerala is with you, she said in a social media post. Earlier, the Crime Branch had opened a case based on the initial audio clips and the chat messages. That case was triggered by an email sent to the police headquarters by a few individuals, all of them third parties, as the woman herself had not come forward at the time. Two days ago, a new purported audio clip was released in which he was heard insisting that he wanted a child, before later urging her to undergo an abortion. He was suspended from the primary membership of the Congress on August 25 following the allegations. The Palakkad MLA had earlier resigned as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused a young leader of a well-known political party of misbehaviour, triggering protests by the BJP and the DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI(M). Subsequently, several women and a transgender person levelled similar allegations against him. Mankootathil was elected as MLA in November last year in a by-election for the Palakkad seat, following the election of party leader and then sitting MLA Shafi Parambil as Lok Sabha MP from Vatakara in the general election. (With additional inputs from PTI)

State to seek withdrawal of Labour Codes: Sivankutty

Labour Minister V. Sivankutty says he, along with trade union representatives, will meet the Union Labour Minister

Kerala Will Not Implement Centre's New Labour Codes, Says Minister

Kerala Labour Minister Sivankutty said that while most states have moved ahead with implementing the labour codes, Kerala has consistently maintained its refusal.

KFRI signs MoU with Odisha Bamboo Development Agency

The MoU marks the beginning of a long-term partnership built on scientific collaboration, knowledge sharing, and a shared vision for transforming the bamboo sector.

Travelogue: Don't tell the mountains you are coming to Nagaland

Sitting in that cozy Naga kitchen in Munirka one winter evening in Delhi, I promised the girl across the table the one who had been slipping unfamiliar flavours into my life that I would accompany her on her next trip home. To Nagaland. Until I met her, everything I knew of the place came from second-hand anecdotes, and none of it matched what she spoke of: a sweep of emerald hills stitched with terraces and mist. To the then-aspiring writer in me, this was the stuff of alchemy. A view from Kapamodzu Peak in Phek district, Nagaland The road to Dzuleke Village However, to avoid trespassing into the personal, I pitched it as an adventure holiday for our little gang a clutch of nobodies trying to find meaning in the capital. We even started a WhatsApp group: NE Chale? And as word spread, more unlikely recruits joined. The neighbourhood grocers son, whose father insisted that he see more of the world; a freelance designer who sometimes worked with our office; and the young manager of a pub in Hauz Khas. Whatever personal vectors influenced their decision, everyone was convinced that Nagaland would have between its mountain folds, exactly what they sought. Northeast chale? wed ask each other whenever we crossed paths in the office cafeteria, on Tuesday-night football, in the fruit mart queue at Khan Market, during long walks in Nizamuddin, and at house parties in GK. Soon, the answers invariably came. That was ten years ago. The backyard of the chief's house in Dzuleke Village The adventure we had poured so much heart into never materialised. Soon, it became a long-running joke, then a reminder of our collective failure. One by one, people left the group. She did too. Today, only a handful remain, stubbornly holding on to the dream, to the versions of ourselves we once hoped to become. But a decade is a long time. So much has shifted in our lives that the simple act of travelling together required us to set fire to our worlds and pack with us the smoke of that anguish. So I decided to go alone. The only school in Dzuleke Village Part of it was the quiet, persistent desire to see a faraway land. Also, to settle an old promise. But the journey did take on new dimensions as soon as I glimpsed the first mountains peeking from behind the veil of clouds. I was, to say little, galvanised. Perhaps it has something to do with living too close to the sea? Its vastness and the plateauing of its horizon renders in those accustomed to the sight a yearning to see mountains piercing the skies. An aspiration to be more. To ascend. Zhavame in Phek, Nagaland. The amphitheatre or village circle is also seen. However, as the flight descended, these very mountains seemingly conquerable from the skies were now very out of reach and too big a challenge. The adventure the girl charted out in that tiny Naga kitchen, I knew, had finally begun. One name beckoned me more than the others Kapamodzu Peak. Standing at an elevation of 2,620m, it is the fourth-highest peak in Nagaland and is nestled in the heart of Phek district, the land of the Chakhesang tribe, to which many of my friends belonged. While I had imagined scaling to the peaks summit as the arduous of my objectives here, the journey from Dimapur airport to the state capital, Kohima, turned out to be the undisputed champion. The nearly 60-kilometre journey, on roads that wound in narrow, looping ribbons, took close to three hours in the dark. Kevi, a young tour guide in Khonoma Village, poses in front of the morung, a traditional youth dormitory that serves as a center for education for young Naga men Khonoma Village Nevertheless, the decision to not remain in Dimapur that first night paid rich dividends the next morning when I, awakened by the sharp pik-pik-a-wew of an amusingly friendly Red-whiskered Bulbul (which continued this tradition for my many days since), was treated to pristine blue skies. I knew exactly what I had to do write to my friends in Delhi about the AQI levels here. It was 29. For the next few days, I, accompanied by friends of friends of friends in Kohima, navigated the length and breadth of the city; peeling away layer after layer of its storied history until all that remained was Kewhira, an old Angami village. Since one of the days was November 11 (Remembrance Day), a special stop was also made at the Kohima War Cemetery (the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II during the Japanese offensive into British India) to honour our fallen heroes. Road to Zhavame Village The paddy fields of Zhavame Village in Phek district, Nagaland On another day, a special visit was charted out by a friend to Khonoma Village, where, he was certain, I will understand from just where this stubbornness of the Nagas rose. Overlooking mesmerising paddy fields and hills covered with lush forests, this warrior village is renowned for its fierce resistance during the British colonial period. There were, of course, repercussions. The entire village and its fort was burnt down several times and had to be rebuilt each time. When asked why their ancestors didnt flee and built their lives elsewhere, the young chap who was guiding me uttered rather nonchalantly: healing cannot begin if you run away from where you lost. My friend was right. I understood now. The unofficial tour guides of Zhavame Village The next morning, I began my long ride to Zhavame, a quaint village on the foothills of Kapamodzu, on my friends scooter. While several roads had indeed undergone a makeover in the lead up to the Hornbill Festival, the one connecting Kohima to Pfutsero in Phek, and then down to Zhavame was, from reliable sources, best avoided. So I took the slightly-longer Moa Gate route through Manipur and cut north to Nagaland after passing Liyai Khunou village on the border. Even this road tested me. But coming as the balm was the hospitality of the people I met in Zhavame, which, I learned afterwards, was a major pitstop along the old trade route that connected the tribes, and later, the states, Nagaland and Manipur. Zhavame Village On one particularly cold night here and desperately in need of a hot chai, I ambled my way to the only shop here. Alas, this one had no provisions left. Overhearing my conversation with the shopkeeper, a young lady offered to run home and make me a cup. The trek began at 3am in almost pitch darkness and bitingly cold winds. A short distance into the trail and I could feel my legs giving away. While my mind was determined tocontinue, the body refused to abide. I wouldve given up entirely had had it not been for a girl navigating the same path as me. She uttered a time-old wisdom disguised as a fable. Dont let the mountains know you are coming, she said. The peaks, she continued, are inhabited by ancient spirits. If they learn you are coming, they will throw hurdles your way. Decide instead to walk till that stone, then, that big tree, until that stream... A view from Kapamodzu Peak in Phek district, Nagaland A viewpoint on the way to the summit of Kapamodzu Peak By the crack of dawn, I was on the summit and treated to a stupendous view. I stayed an entire day here, watching as clouds parted to reveal sweeps of green pastures and villages perched on impossible slopes. And from far beyond, the soft thunder of distant rain. Silhouette of mountains piercing the skies. As equally heartening as this scenery is what Nagaland is really made of: its people. Their open smiles, honest words, and a generosity that expects nothing in return. People whose friendship I will cherish as one of my lifes greatest treasures. Sunrise from Kapamodzu Peak

Draft rules notified, but no action taken in the wake of opposition from trade unions: Minister

Meeting of representatives of central trade unions in the State to be held on Thursday. The Labour department will organise a national labour conclave in Thiruvananthapuram on December 19 to draw further attention to the issue

Malaparamba sex racket case: chargesheet filed against 12, including two police drivers

The suspected inter-district racket was exposed during a check at an apartment near Malaparamba in Kozhikode city in June

Elderly voters seek dignified access to ballot box

Many of them seek introduction of home voting option for bedridden people and special queues for senior citizens on the day of polling

Pinarayi Vijayan urges Kerala MPs to secure Presidential assent for Wildlife Bill to address human-animal conflict

Chairing conference of MPs ahead of Parliaments Winter Session, CM notes that the law passed by Kerala Assembly in October envisages several provisions for expediting action against dangerous animals that injure humans and pose an immediate threat to human lives

Air pollution levels across north India are significantly higher than national average: Report

CHANDIGARH: The air pollution levels across North India are significantly higher than the national average as per the latest report released by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), an independent research organisation. The report stated that Delhi, along with Punjab, Assam and Tripura, was identified as a year-round pollution hotspot failing to meet PM 2.5 standard even during the monsoons. On the other hand, the southern states recorded the lowest values. The report titled, Beyond City Limits: A Satellite-Based PM-2.5 Assessment Across Indias Airsheds, States and Districts, stated that all the 23 districts of Punjab, 22 of Haryana and 12 of Himachal Pradesh exceeded the annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 40 ug/m3 for PM 2.5 concentration last year. During summer, winter and post-monsoon periods, PM 2.5 concentrations exceeded the NAAQS limits in these states. During the monsoon, 15 out of 23 districts in Punjab, 5 out of 22 in Haryana and 2 out of 12 districts in Himachal Pradesh exceeded the air quality limit. It read, Delhi recorded the highest pollution levels with an annual mean PM 2.5 concentration of 101 g/m, 2.5 times the Indian standard and 20 times the World Health Organisation (WHO). The pollution crisis extends across northern India, with the average PM 2.5 concentrations in all states in these regions, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir, exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This concentration of pollution aligns with their location in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The eastern and northeastern states showed similarly concerning levels, with PM 2.5 average concentrations in Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh all above the NAAQS. Among western states, the mean concentrations in Rajasthan and Gujarat exceeded the annual national standard, it added. While the southern states presented the lowest PM 2.5 values, Puducherry recorded the lowest concentration at 25 g/m, followed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Sikkim, Telangana, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. The report stated that Delhi consistently ranks as the most polluted city across all seasons, highlighting the capital's year-round air quality crisis. While Chandigarh appears in the top five during three seasons (winter, summer, and post-monsoon), West Bengal also ranks among the worst across the winter and post-monsoon seasons. Punjab and Haryana emerged as major air-pollution concerns, with Punjab during the monsoon and post-monsoon periods and Haryana during the summer and post-monsoon periods. The northeastern states present an unexpected pollution hotspot, with Assam and Tripura featuring in the top five in three seasons (winter, summer, and monsoon). Overall, 60 per cent of districts (447 out of 749) exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for annual PM 2.5. None of the districts met the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline of less than 5 g/m. The most polluted districts are heavily concentrated in a few states, highlighting regional clustering of severe air quality issues. Delhi (11 districts) and Assam (11 districts) alone account for nearly half of the top 50, followed by Bihar (7) and Haryana (7). Other notable contributors include Uttar Pradesh (4), Tripura (3), Rajasthan (2), West Bengal (2), and single districts from Chandigarh, Meghalaya and Nagaland, it reads. It further added, Several states are in universal non-compliance, where all monitored districts exceed the NAAQS. These include Delhi, Assam, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Jammu and Kashmir. Several other states show a large majority of districts breaching the norm, such as Bihar (37 of 38), West Bengal (22 of 23), Gujarat (32 of 33), Nagaland (11 of 12), Rajasthan (30 of 33), and Jharkhand (21 of 24). A second group shows mixed performance, where some districts meet the standard but many continue to exceed it. This includes Uttar Pradesh (49 of 75 districts exceeding), Odisha (22 of 30), Madhya Pradesh (27 of 52), and Maharashtra (14 of 36). In the Northeast, Arunachal Pradesh (12 exceed, 13 comply) and Manipur (five exceed, 11 comply) also fall in this transitional category. At the other end of the spectrum, several states have the majority of their districts below NAAQS, such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Sikkim, Goa, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. These contrasting patterns highlight the continued dominance of northern and eastern states in Indias PM 2.5 pollution hotspots, while southern and coastal regions remain relatively cleaner. The report stated that the states should develop district-level air quality action plans, guided by satellite data to identify hotspots, prioritise high-exposure populations, and allocate mitigation resources efficiently. The satellite-derived PM 2.5 data should be formally integrated into NCAP for spatially comprehensive assessment and performance tracking. Also, establishing protocols for validation, periodic updates, and public dissemination of satellite-based estimates will strengthen transparency and enable real-time decision-making in areas lacking ground monitors.

Woman cop injured as Naxalite-planted IED explodes in Chhattisgarhs Sukma

SUKMA: A woman constable was injured when a pressure Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Thursday, police said. The incident took place on a forested hill at around 1 pm when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and District Force, both units of the state police, was out on an area domination operation from the newly established Gogunda security camp under Keralapal police station limits, an official said. Constable Muchaki Durga of the District Force inadvertently came in contact with the pressure IED, triggering the blast, causing her injuries in her left foot, he said. After being provided preliminary treatment, she was being airlifted to Raipur for further medication, the official said, adding that her condition was stated to be out of danger. Maoists often plant IEDs along the road and dirt tracks in forests to target security personnel during patrolling in the interior pockets of the Bastar region, comprising seven districts, including Sukma. Civilians in the region have also fallen prey to such traps laid by ultras in the past. On June 9 this year, Additional Superintendent of Police (Konta division) Akash Rao Girepunje was killed and two officers were injured after an IED planted by Naxalites at a stone quarry exploded in Sukma district. The central government has resolved to make the country free of the Naxal menace by March 2026.

CM Pinarayi seeks MPs' support for wildlife bill approval, union fund disbursement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move to facilitate effective centre-state interactions, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the MPs from the state to intervene for the President's nod in the Wildlife Protection (Kerala Amendment) Bill. This permission is instrumental as the bill passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly simplifies the major obstructions in the 11th section of the Wildlife Protection Law 1972. In an online meeting convened on Thursday, the CM also asked the parliamentarians to stress for the disbursement of the central share to be provided to the victims of the human-animal conflict. The meeting was also attended by the state ministers and other officers concerned. Seeking the MP's intervention to reinstate the sum of 6,757 crores and 3,323 crores, which were cut from the state's borrowing limits in the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26, respectively, Pinarayi reiterated the stand to increase a state's borrowing limit to 3.5%. Pointing out that the centre only provided 260.56 crores for the Meppadi-Chooralmala rehabilitation against the sought support of 2,221.03 crores, Pinarayi also asked the parliamentarians to help the state avail its deserving share. Urging that the central government should increase their share in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) 2.0, the CM also asked the MPs to intervene to avoid the display of PMAY boards before them. Making an attempt to reduce the duration of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargode rail journey, the CM urged to initiate the third and fourth line survey in the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore section, along with the deployment of Namo Bharat Rapid Rail here. Other key projects, including AIIMS, Attappady Irrigation Project, and the rail projects in the Angamaly-Sabari, Thalassery-Mysore, and Nilambur-Nanjangud routes, should also be highlighted before the union government, the CM stressed. He also mentioned that the point of call for foreign airlines to begin services from the Kannur Airport had not yet been provided, despite repeated requests. The CM also asked the MPs to raise questions in the parliament regarding the central nod for the Kochi Global City (Node 2) as part of the Kochi-Bangalore Industrial Corridor. Seeking interventions to exempt all Khadi products from GST, the CM also said that kerosene must be availed at subsidised rates for fishing requirements. He further noted that the Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Right Rules 2025 were notified without consulting the opinion of states, as part of which a letter was already sent to the Prime Minister. Disbursement of other funds, including GST loss compensation and a 1000 crore package for foreign returnees, was also discussed in the meeting.

CPI(M) panchayat member accused of assaulting BLO in Keralas Kasaragod

The incident reportedly occurred during a camp organised at a booth for filling and submitting SIR forms

2 Kerala Children Killed As Auto Tries To Avoid Snake On Road, Rolls Over

Two children died after an autorickshaw carrying school students fell into a deep plantation area in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district on Wednesday.

Youth Congress leader aproaches High Command seeking organisational probe against Rahul Mamkoottathil

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the state Congress leadership is divided on the issue 'accomodating' the discredited party leader Rahul Mamkootathil , Youth Congress state general secretary Sajana B Sajan has approached the Congress high command demanding organisational inquiry against the Palakkad MLA. Sanjana had submitted the complaint to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi. She has reportedly asked the national leadership to conduct an organisational inquiry about the reported allegations of sexual misbehaviour and other issues which have surfaced in the media. Earlier, she had demanded the ouster of discredited MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from the primary membership of the Congress party. Responding to CPM allegations, she said that this is not the time for ordinary Congress workers to defend Rahul. Rahul Mamkootathil is not the problem, his mindset is the real issue, Sajana, who is also a KPCC member, said. Who wants to protect him now? Though the accused has the protection of any top leader, if the party takes a disciplinary action, protection should be provided only after realising the ground reality. Even after the details of sexual assaults were known through the media, the claims by the Congress leadership that the victims did not file a complaint is equivalent to questioning the dignity of victims, she said.She also reminded the party leadership that Rahul was asked to resign from the post of Youth Congress state president by the national leadership of Youth Congress.

SHO fires at KAAPA-listed offender in Thiruvananthapuram after machette attack

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a rare happening, the Station House Officer of Aryancode opened fire at a habitual offender, when the latter tried to attack him using a sharp-edged weapon. SHO Thanzeem Abdul Samad fired at Kiran, who was included in the Kerala Anti Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA) list and banished from the district. As per law, Kiran has been barred from entering the district. Despite this he returned to his house in the Aryancode police station limits on Wednesday night. The police got a wind off his presence and went to his residence to detain him. The police planned to take him into custody and then move him to preventive detention for violating KAAPA rules. On Thursday morning, they reached Kiran's residence and requested him to turn him in. However, Kiran did not comply. Instead, he allegedly drew a machette and charged at the SHO. The police alleged that he swung the weapon at the SHO twice , but the officer effectively evaded it by moving away. Despite warning, Kiran again charged at the officer following which he fired at the former. However, the bullet missed its target and Kiran was unhurt. The cops immediately rounded him up and took him into custody.