In Sholinganallur, he inspected a Rs. 73 crore stormwater drain project on the OMR in Thoraipakkam, where the Highways Department is working to connect water flowing out of the Pallikaranai marsh to the Buckingham Canal. The project is being carried out in an area where Chennai Metro Rail works are under way.

The inspection also covered the drainage network in Perungudi, where canal improvement works are under way in Mylai Balaji Nagar. Work has been carried out over 235 metres at a cost of Rs. 6.48 crore and over 207 metres in the fourth-block canal at Rs. 8.68 crore. The channel will carry rainwater through the drainage network along the Velachery-Medavakkam road towards the Pallikaranai marsh, helping drain the surrounding residential areas of Ram Nagar (South), Kubera Nagar and Sadasivam Nagar.

He also inspected water-hyacinth removal at Narayanapuram Lake and reviewed the sluice and canal arrangements for releasing water. Along the Radial Road–Perungudi dump yard stretch, officials were directed to clear water hyacinth and desilt 17 culverts to ensure that water can flow towards the Buckingham Canal without obstruction.

In Adyar, he inspected a Rs. 13.52 crore stormwater drain at Tidel Park being constructed over 660 metres to carry rainwater from the IIT area to the Buckingham Canal. At the Okkiyam Maduvu canal, he reviewed ongoing Chennai Metro Rail works and directed officials to expedite them and remove water hyacinth to facilitate the free flow of rainwater.

The Chief Secretary directed the Greater Chennai Corporation, Water Resources Department, Highways Department, Chennai Metro Rail Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to coordinate the monsoon preparedness works and complete them by the end of September.

According to reports, one litre of petrol is being sold at Rs 107.77, while diesel costs Rs 99.55 per litre in Chennai on Sunday.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The increase took cumulative hikes since May 15 to nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

Until May, fuel prices had largely remained unchanged since April 2022, except for a Rs 2 per litre reduction announced in March 2024 ahead of the national elections.

Why have fuel prices been increased?

Global crude oil prices had surged more than 50 per cent since late February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.

State-run retailers had delayed passing on higher input costs for weeks, a move the government said was intended to shield consumers from inflation. Opposition parties, however, accused the administration of holding back price increases until after key state elections.

The May 15 increase came after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expanded its electoral footprint by winning three of five state and UT elections, including West Bengal.

Retail fuel prices were first raised by Rs 3 per litre on May 15, followed by a 90-paise increase on May 19 and another hike on May 23, when petrol prices rose by 87 paise and diesel by 91 paise per litre.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The cumulative increase since May 15 stands at nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

The increase varies across cities due to differences in local taxes.

Petrol rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

September 5- Rs 107.77

September 4- Rs 107.77

September 3- Rs 107.77

September 2- Rs 107.77

September 1- Rs 107.77

Diesel rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

September 5 - Rs 99.55

September 4 - Rs 99.55

September 3 - Rs 99.55

September 2 - Rs 99.55

September 1 - Rs 99.55

The 23-year-old from Kargil was becoming the first woman Army officer from the district, a journey that began in the mountains of Zanskar in Ladakh.

“I was completely lost during classes 11 and 12,” she said, recalling that her career choices then seemed limited to engineering, medicine or law. She eventually chose engineering, pursuing Mechanical Engineering.

It was while in college, through the NCC, that she learnt more about the Indian Army. The more she learnt, the more convinced. “I knew from inside that this is what I want to do,” she said.

The Army’s active lifestyle and the scope to remain physically fit appealed to her.

Coming from a civilian family with no military background, she said the idea of becoming an Army officer was not something she had grown up around.

“There are many who are in the Army in Ladakh, but they are not officers,” she said.

Earlier, youngsters may not have known about the routes into the officer cadre or may have hesitated because of the difficult selection process and limited vacancies.

Stanzin also pushed back against a perception she said was sometimes held outside Ladakh that there is an inherent friction between the Army and local people.

“People of Ladakh respect the Indian Army too much,” she said. “Living close to the borders, residents understood the Army’s role in protecting their home.”

Colonel OPN Kalyan (retd) knows what it takes to enter the Army. His father joined in 1940; Kalyan himself was commissioned in 1969.

This time, it was his grandson Lt Rashwant preparing for the uniform. Originally from Orathy, a small village in Chengalpattu, he was so proud in continuing his family legacy. “It’s always been my dream to wear a uniform,” Rashwant said.

He was among 29 women and 313 male officer cadets commissioned into the Indian Army at OTA Chennai. Another 17 cadets from seven friendly foreign countries including Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Bhutan and Lesotho completed their training.

The 122nd Passing Out Parade was reviewed by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan who congratulated the newly commissioned officers and urged them to uphold the values of selfless service and the pursuit of excellence.

On the parade ground, many roots converged. Officer Cadet Mohit Arora from Phagwara in Punjab had spent seven years pursuing his Army ambition.

The son of an Army Postal Service veteran, he turned down admission opportunities at three IIMs to pursue his long-held goal of joining the Army.

Battalion Under Officer Sagar Bhadana came from an agrarian family near Faridabad with no military background. For another cadet, the uniform represented a family legacy. Officer Cadet Prashant Gurung grew up with the stories of his grandfather and father, both associated with the Gorkha Rifles.

And for Ritika Dubey, from a small village in Gorakhpur, the route involved scholarships, athletics and volunteering before she became the first member of her family to pursue a military career.

The stretch is used by thousands of college students, office-goers and residents every day. With several commercial establishments, marriage halls and party halls in the vicinity, the junction witnesses heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic throughout the day.

Pedestrians crossing the affected stretch are forced to wade through the stench and dirty water.

College students and office-goers said they often get splashed with sewage water when vehicles pass through the stagnant water. Motorists passing through the stretch also end up splashing the sewage water on pedestrians.

Residents said the stagnant sewage water had also resulted in an increase in mosquitoes, raising concerns among people living in the surrounding residential areas.

Ramanathan, a regular commuter, said repeated blockages in the roadside drainage system were causing the problem. Though officials clear the blockages whenever complaints are made, the sewage overflow returns within a few days.

“They clear it temporarily, but the sewage starts overflowing again after a few days. We need a permanent solution," he said.

When contacted, Tambaram Corporation officials said plastic waste and garbage dumped into stormwater drains by the public were causing blockages and resulting in sewage overflow.

Officials said the drains were being cleared periodically and steps were being taken to find a permanent solution.

The victim, Kirupal of Perambur, was living with a friend and had no immediate family in the city. The accident took place at around 5.30 am on a bylane off the Old ECR Link Road.

A private sewage lorry had entered the narrow street for sewage collection when a water tanker came from the opposite side, officials said. Due to Metro Rail construction work, the stretch has become constricted, leaving little space for two heavy vehicles to cross.

While trying to negotiate the narrow passage, the sewage tanker reportedly brushed against the roof slab of the security booth, bringing the structure down. Inside the cabin, Kirupal died trapped under the debris.

Teams from Fire and Rescue Services, along with Pallikaranai Traffic Investigation police rushed to the spot, cleared the rubble and retrieved the body and sent it to Government Hospital for autopsy.

The truck driver, Manikandan (37), was arrested on charges of rash and negligent driving causing death.

PANJIRI

INGREDIENTS

1 cup wheat flour

½ cup cane sugar

2 tbsp cashews

2 tbsp almonds

1 tbsp pistachios

1½ tbsp raisins

2 tbsp dried coconut

½ cup

makhana

¼ cup + 2 tbsp ghee

2 tbsp edible gum (gond)

¼ tsp dry ginger powde

HOW TO MAKE

Heat a little ghee in a kadai. Add the cashews, almonds and pistachios. Fry until crisp and golden. Remove and set aside

Add the raisins and fry until they puff up. Transfer them to the same bowl

Add a little more ghee and fry the edible gum. Add it in batches, frying until it puffs up fully. Remove and set aside

Add a little ghee and roast the makhana until crisp and golden. Break one to check that it is crisp, then remove and set aside

Fry the dried coconut until golden. Remove and set aside

Add the remaining ghee to the kadai and add the wheat flour— roast on low heat, stirring continuously, until golden and aromatic. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly

Coarsely grind the fried gond

In a bowl, combine the roasted wheat flour, nuts, raisins, crushed makhana, cane sugar, dry ginger powder, gond and fried coconut

Mix everything well. The panjiri is ready

PAAL POHA INGREDIENTS

1¼ cups aval | ¾ cup milk | 1½ tbsp jaggery | 2½ tbsp condensed milk | 1/3 tsp cardamom powder | 1 tbsp broken cashews | 1 tbsp grated coconut | 1 tbsp ghee

HOW TO MAKE

Add the milk and condensed milk to a saucepan. Add the jaggery, ensuring it is free of impurities, and whisk well.

Bring the mixture to a boil. Switch off the flame and remove from heat.

Add the cardamom powder and mix well. Set aside.

Add the aval to a mixing bowl. Rinse it once and drain.

Pour the prepared milk mixture over the aval, mix well and let it soak for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the ghee in a pan. Add the broken cashews and fry until golden brown. Remove and set aside.

Add the grated coconut to the same pan and fry until golden brown. Remove and set aside.

Add the fried cashews and coconut to the soaked aval.

Mix well and serve.

But his kritis also carry stories of temples, mythology, language and philosophy. Singing the Wind: Four Essays on Muttuswami Dikshitar brings together scholar David Shulman and vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan to explore these different aspects of his music.

For those unfamiliar with Carnatic music, the event will offer a chance to understand Dikshitar’s compositions through both discussion and performance.

David will talk about the literary, cultural and spiritual aspects of the selected kritis, while Sikkil will perform them.

“We naturally and correctly privilege Dikshitar’s music its remarkable musical structures, phrases, modes of emphasis, melodies, lyricism and so on,” David says.

But the kritis also have a strong verbal element, he adds. “Mostly in Sanskrit, a somewhat idiosyncratic Sanskrit with complex syntax,” the lyrics are an important part of the compositions. “When we listen well, we can feel the strength and clarity of the verbal text resonating in the singing.”

For David, one of the world’s leading scholars of South Indian culture, knowing the background of a composition can add to the experience.

This could be knowing which deity is being addressed, the temple associated with it or how a kriti fits into the Sri Vidya tradition. But he says this knowledge is not necessary to enjoy the music. “The music speaks for itself, no less so today than a hundred years ago,” he says.

The four essays focus on the Abhayamba kritis, Sri Kalahastisa, Akshayalingavibho and Srirajagopala. David says the selection is personal, especially since Dikshitar composed more than 400 kritis.

The chapter on Akshayalingavibho came after he and his wife heard Sikkil perform it in full at Raga Sudha Hall in Mylapore.

“It awakened a kind of ecstasy in both of us,” David recalls. Sri Kalahastisa, meanwhile, “appeared in my dream one night and asked me to write something about it”, while the Abhayamba kritis “simply reached deep into my heart or mind.”

David has loved Dikshitar’s music since he lived in Mandavelipakkam in 1975-76. He says repeated listening and reading the texts have helped him develop “a profound connection” with the music.

He also remains hopeful about the future of Carnatic music, pointing to young musicians who are developing their own styles.

For Sikkil, the music comes first. “It is the musical architecture first, the raga and the world of ideas behind it, and the lyrics,” he says. Learning a Dikshitar composition, he adds, means understanding its raga and musical structure, while the lyrics offer an insight into Sanskrit and the emotions of the period.

Sikkil does not feel that one needs to know the cultural background of a composition to perform it. “It was the music that attracted me towards a composition,” he says. However, scholars such as David can make musicians curious to learn more.

“They pique our interest towards learning something more about that kriti,” he says. This process, he adds, has “made me intellectually a better person”.

The format of Singing the Wind also gives Sikkil more freedom than a regular concert. He describes it as “a more free-flowing and adaptive manner”. Sikkil compares learning Dikshitar to peeling a jackfruit - difficult at first, but rewarding once one reaches the fruit inside.

“The more we age as a musician, not in terms of physical years, but in terms of repertoire that we learn, even of other composers, the more we perform Dikshitar’s songs, the more I’ve sung Akshaya Linga Vibho or Ehi Annapurna, I feel I’m getting closer to the original bhava in which Dikshitar intended the song to be performed.”

For Sikkil, another strength of Dikshitar’s compositions is their structure. He says Dikshitar varied the format of his compositions while maintaining a strong rhythmic framework.

“If you preserve that integrity in a very honest way, I think the composition is already accessible for everyone who is encountering his music for the first time,” adds the musician. He believes Dikshitar’s work is 'as contemporary as it is traditional'.

Singing the Wind: Four Essays on Muttuswami Dikshitar, jointly organised by The Music Academy, Madras and Prakriti Foundation, will be held on September 6 at 10.30 am at the Music Academy. Entry is free and open to all.

“The idea came from wanting to create the kind of dining experience we felt was missing in Chennai. We noticed that dining out had increasingly become about speed, convenience and moving on to the next thing. There is absolutely a place for that, but we felt there was room for something more intentional,” says Ishani Mehta, founder of Ameretti.

Her brother, Ishant Mehta, is also one of the chefs at Ameretti. The brother-sister duo runs the café together.

“For us, food is not just about what is on the plate. It is about conversation, anticipation, hospitality and being present. The reservation-led format allows us to create an environment where guests can settle in, take their time and experience the meal at a comfortable pace. We wanted dining to feel like an occasion again, even on an ordinary day,” Ishani tells us.

Beyond the signature dishes we tasted, Ameretti’s menu brings together a range of Italian vegetarian plates, from pastas such as Rigatoni con Salsa Romesco with roasted red pepper and charred almond sauce, and Risotto alla Milanese con Asparagi, with saffron-infused risotto and grilled asparagus, to pizzas including Margherita, Primavera and Truffle & Mushroom Bianca.

The dessert selection also includes Fig and Honey Panna Cotta and chocolate cake, among other offerings. We sampled some of the kitchen’s signature dishes, which offered a glimpse into the restaurant’s ingredient-led approach.

After a long day, there is a particular anticipation that comes with finally sitting down for dinner. The first dish to arrive was the arancini. As the chef explained the preparation, the risotto rice is slow-cooked before saffron water is infused into it, along with chilli and mozzarella.

The mixture is then left to set before being crumbed and fried. It was served with marinara sauce, topped with olive oil and basil leaves.

But it was the marinara sauce that immediately demanded attention. Made with Senmarisa tomatoes sourced from Italy, it was simple yet intensely flavourful, with the kind of depth that made the first bite feel like a proper heads-up a green signal that this dinner was going to be a hit.

Rather than functioning merely as the usual starter, the arancini set the tone for what followed.

Next came the aglio e olio, which the chef described as one of their best. The spaghetti is made in-house, with long strands carrying a strong garlicky flavour, while crushed breadcrumbs sprinkled over the top added texture. It was creamy and full-bodied without losing the character of the pasta.

The meal ended with a tiramisu creamy layers balanced by coffee powder and, importantly, not overly sweet. It was a fitting finish to an unhurried dinner.

The decision to make Ameretti vegetarian was personal. “We wanted to create a restaurant where vegetarian food wasn't treated as an alternative but as the main narrative,” says the founder.

When asked why she chose Italian cuisine, Ishani shares, “Italian cuisine felt like a natural fit because it celebrates ingredients rather than complexity for the sake of it. Some of the most beautiful Italian dishes are built around vegetables, grains, herbs and simple techniques. The cuisine taught us that restraint can be powerful.”

For Chef Ishant Mehta, the connection between Italian cooking and Chennai comes through seasonality.

“Italian cooking is built around the idea of using the best ingredients available at a given moment, which makes it surprisingly compatible with Chennai. We work closely with local suppliers and seasonal produce whenever possible. Rather than trying to recreate Italy ingredient for ingredient, we focus on applying Italian techniques and philosophies to what is available around us,” says Chef Ishant.

The menu is not simply an exercise in replacing meat with vegetables. The kitchen works with slow roasting, fermentation, handmade pastas, careful stock-making and vegetable-focused preparations. “We hope people leave with the understanding that vegetarian Italian food is far more diverse than pasta, pizza and cheese,” says Ishani.

Ameretti began with conversations, experiments and small gatherings before becoming a restaurant. “Knowing exactly how many guests are arriving allows the kitchen to work in small batches, prepare around the day's produce and pay closer attention to each table,” says Ishani.

For Chef Ishant, the format offers creative freedom. “It allows us to focus on precision rather than volume. Creatively, it is liberating because we can build dishes around quality and craftsmanship rather than operational efficiency alone. It creates a closer relationship between the kitchen, the dining room and the guest,” he adds.

“We want guests to feel that every detail was considered with them in mind. If they leave feeling calmer, more connected and already looking forward to their next visit, then we have achieved what we set out to do,” concludes Ishani.

Published in Bioinformation on August 31, the study covered 60 women aged 21 and above in Choolai, a densely populated urban locality in the Greater Chennai Corporation. Researchers were from the College of Nursing, Madras Medical College, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University.

Emotional and verbal abuse was the most prevalent form, reported by 70% of the participants, followed by physical abuse (53.33%), financial abuse (41.67%), isolation tactics (28.33%) and sexual abuse (21.67%). Constant criticism and humiliation were among the most frequently reported forms of emotional abuse.

Researchers assessed DV, conflict-related behaviour and psychological distress using the Domestic Violence Worksheet, Conflict Tactics Scale and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). While 48 women (80%) fell in the study’s low domestic-violence category and 12 (20%) in the moderate category, none was placed in the high category.

The picture was markedly different for psychological distress: 44 women (73.33%) recorded high distress and 16 (26.67%) moderate distress, with none recording low distress. Restlessness was reported by 96% of the women, followed by symptoms of depression (95.6%) and hopelessness (94.4%).

The study recorded significant positive correlations between DV and conflict tactics, DV and psychological distress, and conflict tactics and psychological distress. Researchers described this as an ‘important paradox’, saying the psychological footprint of abuse extends beyond observable physical aggression.

Education was significantly associated with both DV scores and psychological distress. All women with no formal or only primary education reported high distress, while 95.24% of those with undergraduate education had low domestic-violence scores.

Researchers called for mental-health screening, educational support and trauma-informed care for women facing DV. They also cautioned that the study's small convenience sample, single-site design and reliance on self-reported data limited its generalisability, and recommended multicentre longitudinal research.

SHOCKING REVEALS

Emotional/verbal abuse: 70%

Physical abuse: 53.33%

Financial abuse: 41.67%

Isolation tactics: 28.33%

Sexual abuse: 21.67%

DV severity: 80% low, 20% moderate

Psychological distress: 73.33% high, 26.67% moderate

Greater domestic violence and conflict-related behaviour were associated with greater psychological distress

Important paradox – psychological harm can be severe even when overt violence appears relatively low

Mental-health screening, educational support and trauma-informed care crucial

SYMPTOMS

Restlessness – 96%

Depression – 95.6%

Hopelessness – 94.4%

The deceased was identified as Srinivasan, a native of Andhra Pradesh. He worked at a bar attached to a Tasmac outlet in Surapet.

Investigations revealed that Srinivasan had an argument with another worker, Sasikumar, over cleaning duties at the bar.

During the altercation, Sasikumar hit him on the head with a liquor bottle. Srinivasan collapsed and sustained serious injuries.

When customers waiting outside the outlet to buy liquor went in to check, they found him lying in a pool of blood and alerted the police.

Police reached the spot and rushed Srinivasan to a GH, where doctors declared him 'brought dead'. Police registered a case and have launched a search for Sasikumar, who fled.

Varadaraju, a resident of Andhra Pradesh, arrived at the airport and was undergoing routine immigration checks when officials examined his passport and travel documents.

During verification, immigration officials found that the Andhra Pradesh Economic Offences Wing had registered a financial fraud case against him around two years ago.

As he had remained absconding, he was declared a wanted accused and a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him at international airports.

After confirming his identity, officials prevented Varadaraju from boarding the flight and detained him at the immigration office. The Andhra Pradesh Economic Offences Wing was subsequently alerted.

A special team from the Andhra Pradesh Economic Offences Wing is reportedly on its way to Chennai airport to take custody of Varadaraju and produce him before the authorities concerned in Andhra Pradesh.

Anna Salai: Executive Engineer’s office on Laporte Street, Chintadripet.

Anna Nagar: Executive Engineer’s office at H-Block, 11th Main Road.

Guindy: Executive Engineer’s office, 2nd floor, 110-kV KK Nagar substation.

Ponneri: Executive Engineer’s office, 33/11-kV substation, TH Road, Vengapakkam.

The Superintending Engineers of the Central, South, West and North circles have appealed to consumers to participate in the meetings and utilise the opportunity to get their grievances addressed.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,14,960 per sovereign and Rs 14,370 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 135 per gram.

Earlier on August 29 morning, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,16,040 per sovereign and Rs 14,505 per gram.

Silver price unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices remained unchanged at Rs 255 per gram (Rs 2,55,000 per kg) on September 5.

On September 4, silver was priced at Rs 255 per gram.

Gold rate today vs gold rate on this day, last year

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. The price of 22-carat gold has increased from Rs 8,310 per gram on September 5, 2025, to Rs 14,190 per gram on September 5, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 5,880 per gram or about 70.76%.

Gold price (22-carat) over the last five days:

September 4, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,880 | 1 gram - Rs 14,360

September 3, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,920 | 1 gram - Rs 14,240

September 2, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,11,600 | 1 gram - Rs 13,950

September 1, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,15,080 | 1 gram - Rs 14,385

August 31, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,960 | 1 gram - Rs 14,370

Silver price over the last five days:

ASeptember 4, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 3, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

September 2, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 1, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 31, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 26065

A Corporation Higher Secondary School and a fair price shop are located on Venkatachalapathy Street, while an Amma Unavagam is functioning on Subbarayan Street. As a result, a large number of residents and students use the area every day. However, garbage has accumulated not only around the bins but also along the roadside beyond them.

Various types of waste, including old plastics, food remains, and discarded clothes, have been dumped along the roadside. Rain that lashed the city on Thursday has also led to water stagnation, worsening the filth and smell. Residents said the stagnant water and uncleared garbage could also lead to an increase in mosquitoes and flies.

“Some people dump garbage on the roadside at night instead of putting it in the bins. Cows and dogs rummage through the garbage, scattering it across the road and worsening the foul smell,” said Babu, who resides in the area.

Mohana, a street vendor, said, “The garbage piled up along the roadside is causing inconvenience not only to motorists but also to school students and their parents who use this route.”

A Greater Chennai Corporation official said, “Waste from roads and garbage bins will be cleared daily. Immediate steps will be taken to remove garbage from places where it has not been cleared.”

According to reports, one litre of petrol is being sold at Rs 107.77, while diesel costs Rs 99.55 per litre in Chennai on Saturday.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The increase took cumulative hikes since May 15 to nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

Until May, fuel prices had largely remained unchanged since April 2022, except for a Rs 2 per litre reduction announced in March 2024 ahead of the national elections.

Why have fuel prices been increased?

Global crude oil prices had surged more than 50 per cent since late February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.

State-run retailers had delayed passing on higher input costs for weeks, a move the government said was intended to shield consumers from inflation. Opposition parties, however, accused the administration of holding back price increases until after key state elections.

The May 15 increase came after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expanded its electoral footprint by winning three of five state and UT elections, including West Bengal.

Retail fuel prices were first raised by Rs 3 per litre on May 15, followed by a 90-paise increase on May 19 and another hike on May 23, when petrol prices rose by 87 paise and diesel by 91 paise per litre.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The cumulative increase since May 15 stands at nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

The increase varies across cities due to differences in local taxes.

Petrol rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

September 4- Rs 107.77

September 3- Rs 107.77

September 2- Rs 107.77

September 1- Rs 107.77

August 31- Rs 107.77

Diesel rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

September 4 - Rs 99.55

September 3 - Rs 99.55

September 2 - Rs 99.55

September 1 - Rs 99.55

August 31 - Rs 99.55

Founded in 1857 during the British era, the university has played a significant role in the growth of higher education and research in the country and has produced several scholars, leaders and professionals.

The year-long celebrations will involve heads of departments, faculty members, staff and students across the university’s five campuses.

As part of the programme, ‘UoM – Acumen 170’ will feature an e-poster competition, while sports activities, including cricket and badminton competitions, will be held under the same theme.

The cultural segment, ‘UoM – Mosaic 170’, will provide students a platform to showcase their talents through dance, music and literary events. ‘UoM – Thirai 170’ will focus on media and encourage participants to create reels and short videos.

The university will also organise an ‘Education for All Awareness Marathon’ under ‘UoM – Awaken 170’, aimed at highlighting the importance of education and social awareness.

Through ‘Legacy 170’, the university seeks to celebrate its rich heritage while engaging its academic community in activities reflecting its present achievements and future aspirations.

University of Madras Registrar Prof Dr Rita John said a 25-member team had been formed to coordinate and organise the events scheduled throughout the year.

‘All we need is a mentor who believes in us’

When I was in Class 11 at DAV, I once stayed up the whole night studying for a Physics exam. The next morning, I had low blood pressure and was unable even to get up. I was scared and, for a moment, I doubted myself.

My principal told my mother, “Let her write whatever she can.” I went to the examination hall, wrote for an hour and passed the exam.

Those few words stayed with me, not because they helped me pass one exam, but because they taught me something much bigger: an obstacle should never stop us from moving forward or facing a challenge.

Sometimes, all we need is someone who believes that we can still try.

During college, I was hesitant to initiate conversations or interact with people outside the institution. My teachers always gave everyone opportunities to interact with outsiders, take responsibility and be at the front.

They did not always say, ‘Go through the proper channel’ or ‘Let the head handle it.’ Instead, they gave us the space to learn, take initiative and grow.

This built my confidence.

Today, as a teacher myself at the Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, I consciously try to give my students the same opportunities. I encourage them to initiate, interact, take responsibility, face people and situations and not always wait for someone else to lead.

Perhaps that is what teachers leave behind: not just lessons from textbooks, but words, opportunities and moments that students carry with them long after they have left the classroom.

- Krupa, Teacher, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology

‘My father (my best teacher) taught me to follow what I love’

My father was my best teacher. He used to say, “Do what you like.”

I learned a lot from him. Integrity is key in life. I chose to be a librarian and think it is one of the best decisions I have made in my life. Living with books is a blessing.

“Do not bother about what others do. If it is wise and makes you happy, go ahead,” was his advice. Happiness is more important than running after money.

He used to tell my brother and me lots of stories every night when we were young. Many of them were about science, Thomas Alva Edison, the environment and more.

He was a big inspiration to many people who worked with him. He retired as the postmaster at the Besant Nagar Post Office and used to cook for his staff once a week.

I learned a lot from watching him. Our house was always full of people.

- Indumathi Mohan, Senior Manager, Library, Collections and Conservation, DakshinaChitra

‘My teacher told me I could shape my own story’

Teachers usually hear from us when we need them.

Rarely do we go back and tell them what actually stayed with us, sometimes for decades. I've carried three sentences with me. Not lessons, not marks, not moments, just three impactful sentences that shaped my life.

A school teacher once told me I was a people's person, genuinely talented and creative, and that I should build my career around those qualities. She said it was a rarer gift than anything in the textbooks we were being taught from.

She probably said it and moved on with her day. I never did. It quietly told a young girl that her worth wasn't going to be decided by the marks on her report card.

Another teacher mentioned that I'd make a good teacher someday, that I already had it in me. I laughed it off; I genuinely didn't see it. Now, years into mentoring people and building spaces for others to learn, I think about that a lot.

But the one that actually changed things came later, during my master's. A professor said, almost as an aside, “You're the director of your story; shape it the way you want.” I nodded like it was just professor talk. It wasn't. I've thought of that line every time I've had to choose between the safe option and the one that actually felt like mine.

They probably don't remember saying any of this, but I remember all of it. That's the thing about teaching; you rarely find out where your words end up. I know that now because I'm on the other side of it too.

This Teachers' Day, I just wanted to say it: thank you for something you don't even remember giving me. And to anyone I've unknowingly said the right thing to at the right time, I hope it stays with you the way theirs stayed with me.

- Priya Banik, Photographer and Educator

'My teacher taught me to keep my soul alive'

I can only think of my late dance teacher, who taught me ten years ago.

She always told me I could be anything I wanted as long as I kept dancing, because that is what keeps the soul alive. She was my role model for the longest time.

She was everything I wanted to be. I wanted to learn and teach dance just like she did, to stay alive metaphorically.

Ever since she passed away, I have found a new dream. It is to become a doctor and save lives, literally.

I still have much time to decide which speciality to choose, but I know that whatever I do, I will always be dancing to keep my soul alive.

- Akshara Chitty Babu, medical student

- As told to Merin James

However, the issues that formed the centre of the agitation — permanent employment, paid weekly leave and higher daily wages — have been kept aside for the next round of talks scheduled for October 3.

The decision to call off the strike came hours after ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, Rajmohan and R NirmalKumar met hundreds of protesting workers at the corporation headquarters. The delegation persuaded the workers to give the government time to address their demands. "We will discuss and do whatever can be done. You don't worry at all," Anand told the workers.

Aadhav pointed to the previous regime’s extensive outsourcing of government responsibilities as one of the difficulties in immediately bringing contract workers under the regular establishment.

"We have temporarily withdrawn the protest and are awaiting talks with the CM," said K Bharathi, state president of UUI.

The government agreed to provide the workers with daily food allowance of Rs 50 from October 1, 200 toilets for women workers across wards by September 30, and withdrawal of criminal cases filed against those who had fought for sanitation workers’ rights during the previous government's tenure.

The government also agreed to set up a sanitation workers' welfare board office within the Chennai corporation premises, with an officer to be appointed. Officers will meet sanitation workers every two months, while the GCC commissioner will hold discussions with the workers' unions every four months. The Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam will also be given a union office.

A total of 160 new BOV vehicles in zones 4, 7 and 8, and jobs and death compensation to the next of kin of sanitation workers who die in service were also agreed upon.

Meanwhile, permanent employment, paid weekly leave, maternity leave, menstrual leave and the demand for a daily wage of Rs 832, the rate fixed by the district collector for unskilled workers, will be taken up in the next round of talks.

The models cover speech recognition, speech generation, machine translation and optical character recognition, with support ranging from 22 to 27 Indian languages

Developed in partnership with AI4Bharat, the models cover speech recognition, speech generation, machine translation and optical character recognition, with support ranging from 22 to 27 Indian languages. They are being offered through open-weight releases and APIs on sovereign digital infrastructure, enabling users to adapt the technology without developing models from scratch.

The models are part of the Bharat EduAI Stack, envisioned as sovereign digital public infrastructure for education.

"India's AI journey cannot be built on technology alone. It must be built on technology that understands India," said IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti.

Bodhan AI Principal Investigator Mitesh Khapra said the initiative aimed to build with the ecosystem, not compete with it, creating a common AI layer and reducing duplication.

The launch also includes Student TutorBot and Teacher Assistant Bot.

TutorBot is designed for students in Classes 6-12 and supports text and voice in 22 Indian languages, using textbooks for explanations, practice and assessment. The Teacher Assistant Bot can help educators prepare lesson plans, worksheets, quizzes and assessments, while leaving teachers in control of reviewing or discarding AI-generated outputs.

The models were trained and optimised using NVIDIA Nemotron open models and are intended to support AI applications across India's linguistic and educational landscape.

The accused, Isakki Muthu of Courtallam, came in contact with the woman at Besant Nagar beach last week, where she had approached him for a parrot astrology consultation.

The woman, a Sri Lankan Tamil who had obtained Canadian citizenship, had been staying in Kodambakkam for the past few months.

She was interested in spirituality and had appeared on a television programme and posted videos on spiritual subjects.

During the consultation, she told Muthu about her plans to participate in a singing audition for a television channel.

Muthu subsequently contacted her and allegedly told her that an adverse planetary position was affecting her prospects and claimed that a special puja would remove the dosha.

He reportedly quoted Rs 70,000 for the ritual and instructed her to perform it without clothes in a video call around midnight, claiming that he would perform the puja at a temple in Tamil Nadu at that time.

Believing that she was taking part in a genuine spiritual ritual, the woman complied.

The following day, Muthu allegedly told her that he had recorded the video and demanded Rs 5 lakh, threatening to circulate it online if she failed to pay up.

Initially, she transferred Rs 20,000 to an account linked to him. Latest, when he continued to seek more money, then approached the Mambalam All-Women Police Station and lodged a complaint.

The police traced Muthu using his mobile number and the bank account details, and located him hiding in his native Courtallam.

He was brought to Chennai, produced before a court, which remanded him in judicial custody.

The police identified the accused as Sreerekha alias Kotti (26), wife of Kamesh, a resident of SS Puram, B Block, Purasaiwalkam.

According to officials, the victim, Gunaseelan (45), a daily wage worker residing in the same locality, had undergone heart surgery a few months ago and had not resumed work. He had recently started going for walks near his house.

On Thursday morning, while Gunaseelan was out for his usual walk, Sreerekha allegedly showered abuses on him.

Later, when Gunaseelan was returning home after his walk, she allegedly intercepted him and picked an argument, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about her.

Officials said Sreerekha allegedly attacked Gunaseelan with a stone and also hit him on his chest, where he had undergone surgery. Gunaseelan reportedly lost consciousness following the assault.

The woman allegedly threatened to kill him before leaving the spot, while Gunaseelan was rushed to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

Based on a complaint from Gunaseelan's wife, the Secretariat Colony police registered a case and launched an investigation. A police team led by the station inspector subsequently arrested Sreerekha on Thursday.

The police said she already has two criminal cases registered against her at the same police station. She was produced before a court on Thursday and remanded in judicial custody.

The deceased was identified as Savithri (70), who lived on the roadside at Kannappar Thidal in Periamet and sold fruits along the roadside on Demellows Road.

According to the police, Savithri was crossing the road near the roundabout when she was hit by an MTC bus (Route No. 242B) travelling from Puthagaram towards the Secretariat. She suffered severe injuries and died on the spot.

The motorists who witnessed the accident alerted the traffic police, and personnel from the Kilpauk Traffic Investigation Wing rushed to the spot, recovered Savithri's body and sent it to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The traffic police subsequently registered a case and arrested the bus driver, Sekar (42), a native of Tiruvallur. He is being questioned in connection with the accident.

According to the police, around 35 workers from Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar are employed and residing at the under-construction, four-storey building on Vivekananda Main Road in Senthil Nagar. The incident occurred around 11 pm on September 3.

Officials said three youths, all aged around 20, arrived at the site on two-wheelers and allegedly demanded a beedi and Rs 100 from Ashraful, a worker from West Bengal, who was standing outside the building. When he refused, they allegedly assaulted him.

Hearing the commotion, other workers came out. Two of the youths fled, while the workers allegedly caught one of them and locked him up inside a room at the construction site.

The two youths who escaped returned with more than 10 others on two-wheelers.

The group allegedly entered the building, attacked the workers with knives and wooden pieces found at the site, and took away the youth who had been detained by the workers.

During the clash, Rajani Sarkar (34), from Malkangiri district in Odisha, suffered injuries to the back of his head, requiring three stitches, and a bleeding injury above his right eyebrow.

He was admitted to the Periyar Nagar Government Hospital for treatment.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, New Delhi Railway Station topped the list with Rs 3,337 crore, followed by Howrah Railway Station in West Bengal with Rs 1,692 crore.

The figures reflect the growing passenger traffic and increasing train operations amid the implementation of modern infrastructure and long-term development projects in the railway sector, said Zafar Ali, a member of the Southern Railway Passenger Amenities Committee.

According to Ali, the increased revenue generated by Chennai Central indicates the positive response to the various development works being undertaken by the Railways.

Chennai Central is one of the key railway hubs in southern India, handling a large number of long-distance and suburban passengers every day. The station connects Chennai with several major cities across the country and serves as an important gateway for passengers travelling to and from Tamil Nadu.

Several infrastructure and passenger amenity projects are also being undertaken to improve the overall travel experience at the station. The continued growth in passenger traffic and revenue is expected to further strengthen Chennai Central's position as one of the country's major railway terminals.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,14,880 per sovereign and Rs 14,360 per gram, after an increase of Rs 120 per gram.

Earlier, on September 3, the yellow metal was priced at Rs 1,13,920 per sovereign and Rs 14,240 per gram.

Silver prices decrease

Meanwhile, silver prices have decreased by Rs 5, selling for Rs 255 per gram (Rs 2,55,000 per kg) on September 4.

On September 3, silver was priced at Rs 260 per gram.

Gold rate today vs gold rate on this day, last year

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. The price of 22-carat gold has increased from Rs 9,795 per gram on September 4, 2025, to Rs 14,360 per gram on September 3, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 4,565 per gram or about 46.60%.

Gold price (22-carat) over the last five days:

September 3, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,920 | 1 gram - Rs 14,240

September 2, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,11,600 | 1 gram - Rs 13,950

September 1, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,15,080 | 1 gram - Rs 14,385

August 31, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,960 | 1 gram - Rs 14,370

August 29, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,16,040 | 1 gram - Rs 14,505

Silver price over the last five days:

September 3, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

September 2, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 1, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 31, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 29, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

The deceased was identified as Muneeswaran of Charles Nagar.

On August 30, his brother, Sunil, was talking with a female friend near the Annamalai Nagar Railway Gate when a gang made objectionable remarks.

This led to a heated argument after which onlookers pacified the gang. Later in the day, they came looking for Sunil and on seeing his brother, they beat up Muneeswaran and fled the scene.

For the past two months, road cuts on the busy street connecting Arcot Road with Periyar Pathai, Anna Nedunpathai, and surrounding localities have remained covered only with gravel and wet mix macadam.

With thousands of vehicles using the road every day, the temporary surface dries up and generates dust, which settles on nearby commercial establishments and triggers dust allergies among shopkeepers and pedestrians.

Praveen Kumar, a resident of Choolaimedu, said the temporary patchwork had also compromised road safety and contributed to traffic congestion during morning and evening peak hours. Loose gravel frequently causes two-wheeler riders to skid and lose balance while braking, he said.

“At least two accidents occur on this stretch every day. Victims are forced to spend heavily on medical treatment for injuries that could have been avoided if the road had been properly relaid,” Kumar said.

Vegetable shop owners said they were forced to wear masks throughout the day and repeatedly clean their racks because of the dust.

Residents have urged the CMWSSB and GCC to improve coordination and complete the work at the earliest.

A GCC official said the sewage pipeline installation covered 150 metres, of which only 50 metres had been completed so far. “Wet mix will continue to be filled as a temporary measure. Full road resurfacing will commence immediately after Metro Water completes the remaining 100 metres of pipeline work,” the official.

According to reports, one litre of petrol is being sold at Rs 107.77, while diesel costs Rs 99.55 per litre in Chennai on Friday.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The increase took cumulative hikes since May 15 to nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

Until May, fuel prices had largely remained unchanged since April 2022, except for a Rs 2 per litre reduction announced in March 2024 ahead of the national elections.

Why have fuel prices been increased?

Global crude oil prices had surged more than 50 per cent since late February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.

State-run retailers had delayed passing on higher input costs for weeks, a move the government said was intended to shield consumers from inflation. Opposition parties, however, accused the administration of holding back price increases until after key state elections.

The May 15 increase came after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expanded its electoral footprint by winning three of five state and UT elections, including West Bengal.

Retail fuel prices were first raised by Rs 3 per litre on May 15, followed by a 90-paise increase on May 19 and another hike on May 23, when petrol prices rose by 87 paise and diesel by 91 paise per litre.

On May 25, petrol was raised by Rs 2.61 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.71. The cumulative increase since May 15 stands at nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.

The increase varies across cities due to differences in local taxes.

Petrol rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

September 3- Rs 107.77

September 2- Rs 107.77

September 1- Rs 107.77

August 31- Rs 107.77

August 30 - Rs 107.77

Diesel rates (per litre) in Chennai across last 5 days:

September 3 - Rs 99.55

September 2 - Rs 99.55

September 1 - Rs 99.55

August 31 - Rs 99.55

August 30 - Rs 99.55

Two police personnel were reportedly injured while trying to prevent the protesters. The incident occurred around 10.01 am when the Chief Minister's convoy was arriving at the Secretariat. According to police, more than 100 people had gathered near the in-gate to meet the Chief Minister, and eight of them suddenly crossed the barricade and ran towards the convoy.

The group, including parents of the victim, reportedly said Aakash died in police custody at the Manamadurai police station in March. Though cases had been registered against six police personnel in connection with the death, they alleged that no further action had been taken. CB-CID, which probed the case, had filed a chargesheet confirming that the police personnel had tortured him to death. So far, no policeman has been arrested in the case.

During the commotion, constable Muthuganesan, part of the lead vehicle security team, fell while trying to stop the protesters and suffered an elbow injury as the convoy stopped. Another constable, Ramkumar, was allegedly manhandled and later received first aid at a hospital after complaining of chest pain, police said.

The Chief Minister's convoy reached the Secretariat portico safely at 10.02 am. The eight protesters were detained and are being questioned.

According to the people there, several people, including children, suffered from vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhoea.

That is when Ashik, a resident of PKS Garden on Periyar Road, took to social media to raise the issue, which eventually led the authorities to rectify the issue.

In an Instagram post, which subsequently went viral, he said several homes in Periyar Street and nearby areas were affected and that families were experiencing health problems.

Speaking to the DT Next, he said roads in the locality had been dug up at several places since last Thursday.

The residents realised that the water supply had been contaminated only on Friday, after noticing sewage-mixed water coming from taps in their bathrooms and kitchens.

Ashik said his family was among those affected, with his daughter Riya vomiting continuously, while another member of the family had to be taken to hospital after developing diarrhoea and vomiting.

"My 60-year-old father and I suffered severe vomiting, I had to admit my father in the hospital for two days," said Regina who had to deal with black water for the past one week.

The Metro Water Assistant Engineer from the zone said the issue happened after a water pipeline was damaged during GCC's stormwater drain work in the area.

"It was rectified on the same day of the complaint," he said, adding that the officials inspected several streets in Palavakkam after complaints and checked water samples which are found to be drinkable now.

The festival, being held on September 3 and 4, features over 140 events and is themed ‘Inclusive Innovations’.

Aleksandr Fomin, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Chennai, was the chief guest, while Arulselvam Harikrishnan, Vice-President – Operations & Logistics, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, was the guest of honour. VIT Founder-Chancellor G Viswanathan presided over the inaugural function.

Fomin said technoVIT brings together students and young professionals in engineering, robotics, coding, design, and other fields. He stressed that innovation should be accessible to people across disciplines and backgrounds and should ultimately improve lives.

“Technology should help us address shared challenges such as energy security, healthcare, environmental sustainability, transportation, food security, and access to education,” he said, adding that such challenges transcend national borders.

Harikrishnan said innovation and inventions would not be sustainable without a clear purpose, which should be centred on humanity.

Viswanathan said science and technology were essential for economic growth and called for greater use of technology to improve productivity in sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing.

VIT Vice-President GV Selvam said technoVIT was organised “by the students, of the students and for the students”, providing them opportunities to develop leadership skills.

Central School Road, Gill Nagar 1st, 2nd and 3rd Streets and Gill Nagar 1st Cross Street are among the worst-affected stretches, residents said. They alleged that despite repeated complaints, enforcement has largely remained token.

Tennyson Samuel Pushparaj, executive committee member of the Gill Nagar House Owners’ Welfare Association (GHOWA), said, “Vehicles from areas including Arumbakkam and Kodambakkam are being parked on Gill Nagar streets.

With vehicles parked on both sides of the narrow interior roads, the carriageway shrinks drastically, choking traffic flow.”

Tennyson added that he had filed 5-6 complaints a week with the police regarding violations on Central School Road alone. “The police do attend, but stern action is rare,” he said.

GHOWA secretary Sandeep said that the encroachment by parked vehicles had left little space for pedestrians. “Senior citizens and children are forced to walk in the middle of the road,” he pointed out. “Parked vehicles provide cover for public drinking and urination. Gill Nagar 1st Cross Street, which is barely 20 feet wide, is particularly affected, with school vans parked on both sides.”

Association members alleged that police action following complaints was often limited to issuing fines or clamping vehicles, with wheel locks later removed without addressing the recurring problem. They also said complaints posted on X were forwarded to the local police station but often stalled there.

Sandeep said that the association would continue escalating the issue until visible action was taken on the ground.

A traffic enforcement official told DT Next that action had been taken against vehicles parked opposite Gill Nagar Park on Central School Road following complaints. “I’ll direct the team to inspect vehicles parked on the other streets and take necessary action,” the official said.

It is this sense of discovery and togetherness that Nivedita Ganeshram, founder and curator of Vizha by Madras Finds, hopes to bring into a contemporary setting.

The curation deliberately refuses to ask whether something is traditional enough. Instead, the question is whether it captures the spirit of the city today.

That is why kili josiyam, valaiyal kadai and kuchi ice find themselves alongside photo booth strips, independent homegrown brands, design-led businesses, freshly brewed coffee and bakers bringing their specialities to the gathering.

The idea for Vizha had been sitting in Nivedita’s mind for years. A visit to a thiruvizha in her native place left her thinking about the peculiar magic of these gatherings the music, food, little shops, crowds and the sheer joy of simply being there.

Each stall, she recalls, almost felt like a pop-up of its own, but together they created a much larger experience.

“I wanted to recreate that feeling, but through the lens of the Chennai we live in today,” she says. Vizha, therefore, is not intended as a replica of a traditional thiruvizha, but as an interpretation rooted in nostalgia while looking ahead.

Rather than creating another marketplace where visitors shop and leave, the intention is to build a space where people linger meeting old friends, sitting down for coffee, eating, wandering and perhaps spending three hours without having planned to.

The visual identity of the space has received just as much attention. Nivedita, along with her team members Maryam and Yutika, spends considerable time brainstorming colours, materials, signage, decor and nostalgic themes, with the aim of making the entire space feel like one cohesive world.

This year, visitors can look out for an installation featuring neon hair ribbons, one of the elements the team is particularly excited about.

Food is another highlight, with a selection of bakers expected to bring their best to the gathering. Vizha will be held on September 5 and 6, from 11 am to 8 pm, at My Bungalow, Eldams Road, Teynampet.

Entry is free and valet parking is available.

The move comes amid renewed attention to the absence of menstrual hygiene facilities at the airport after actress Latha Rao shared her experience of struggling to obtain a sanitary napkin when she unexpectedly started bleeding while waiting to board a flight to Hyderabad.

Rao said she usually carries sanitary napkins while travelling but had forgotten to pack one on this occasion. On enquiring with women airport employees, she was told that the vending machines previously available in women’s restrooms were no longer operational.

She then rushed from Gate 1 to a pharmacy near Gate 7, but had to wait for the staff member to return to the counter before she could purchase a napkin. By the time she returned, boarding had begun.

Rao later said menstruation was a natural occurrence and should not be considered embarrassing to discuss. She also urged women to include sanitary napkins in their travel checklist.

Responding to the complaint, airport authorities claimed that providing pads through vending machines was discontinued following complaints of misuse. As an interim measure, phone numbers have been displayed inside women’s restrooms.

Passengers requiring sanitary napkins can call the number and a female airport employee will deliver one within about two minutes, according to the Airports Authority of India.

Officials said the temporary arrangement will continue until the 36 new vending machines are installed. Once operational, the machines will allow women passengers to access sanitary napkins directly from the restrooms, they said.

Around 50 workers gathered at the Ripon Building on Thursday, pressing the State government and Greater Chennai Corporation to scrap the contract system and make them permanent employees.

They are also demanding timely payment of salaries, paid weekly leave, and social security benefits.

Maheswari (56), who has been working as a NULM worker for nine years, said the demand was not merely about job security but about basic employment rights, particularly salary and leave.

The lack of leave has become a major grievance among workers. Anandhi (51) questioned why workers performing essential civic duties were being denied even the basic right to take leave, asking whether they were not entitled to the same consideration as other workers.

The unions have also demanded that NULM, SHG, sanitation, malaria, computer assistant, and other contract workers be paid their monthly wages by the fifth of every month and be given weekly leave with pay.

They also sought payment of arrears from 2017 in accordance with GO (2D) No 62 and implementation of the revised dearness allowance-linked wages from April 1, along with arrears.

Other demands include uniforms in adequate quantities, payment of earned-leave benefits in the same month in which they are sanctioned, restoration of the old pension scheme, and immediate settlement of retirement benefits.

The agitation had intensified earlier this week when sanitation workers entered the Ripon Building during a flash protest.

The police were alerted of the over-speeding bikes on Sunday (August 30) night after the group rode in a rash and dangerous manner.

One of the bikes hit a motorist, Sathish, near Kasi Theatre and fled the spot. Sathish suffered injuries and got treated at a hospital.

On information, officials from the Adyar Traffic Investigation Wing (TIW) registered a case. The police teams checked CCTV footage and zeroed in on the bikes and traced the riders.

After investigations, the police arrested Jayavel Radha (19), Sujith (20), Calvin Ronaldo (19), Kameshwaran (18), and Gowtham (20) on Monday (August 31), while another youth, Lokeshwaran (18), was arrested on Wednesday (September 2).

The arrested persons were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

Last week, the police had arrested ten youths for over-speeding and racing near Vadapalani.

The Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) warned that it would initiate severe action against those who indulge in racing and over-speeding on city roads, posing danger to other motorists and vehicle users.

Metro trains will operate from 5 am to 11 pm on the day. During the peak hours of 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm, the trains will be available at a frequency of every six minutes.

Between 5 am and 8 am, 11 am and 5 pm and 8 pm and 10 pm, the trains will run every seven minutes.

During the final service hour, from 10 pm to 11 pm, trains will operate at a frequency of every 15 minutes, the operator announced.

The three channels, including Ambattur Sidco canal and DTP Colony channel, are micro canals that are part of the drainage network connecting the Ambattur and Korattur water systems.

The Ambattur Sidco canal carries surplus water from Ambattur lake as well as rainwater from the surrounding catchment, including Ambattur, SIDCO, Ambattur Estate, Pattravakkam and Menambedu. Earlier assessments had flagged blockages and capacity constraints in the network.

As part of the monsoon preparedness, 28 culverts in Railway-owned waterways within the Greater Chennai Corporation limits will also be desilted.

The elevated bridge being constructed at Ganeshapuram and Ambattur railway level crossing No 6 are also to be expedited quickly ensuring proper co-ordination between the agencies.

The three channels, including Ambattur Sidco canal and DTP Colony channel, are micro canals that are part of the drainage network connecting the Ambattur and Korattur water systems. Earlier assessments had flagged blockages and capacity constraints in the network

The railway foot overbridge at Alandur will be taken up on priority, while at Nobel Street in Alandur, pre-cast slab work for an additional canal in the railway area has already been completed. The push-through work will be taken up once approval is received from Railway Headquarters.

To ensure smooth progress of the works, a coordination meeting was held at the Divisional Railway Manager's office on September 2, by Divisional Railway Manager Shailendra Singh, with Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran, Corporation Joint Commissioner (Works) C Saravanan and other officials present.

The technologies comprise a machine learning model that uses clinical and laboratory data to predict the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD); a deep learning system that automatically analyses CT scans and classifies them into four categories: normal kidney, kidney cyst, kidney stone and kidney tumour; and a 3D imaging platform that recreates kidneys from CT scans to precisely assess tumour volume and the percentage of kidney involvement.

The CT image classifier has been trained with more than 12,000 images and can distinguish healthy kidneys from cysts, stones and tumours.

The 3D imaging framework developed using open-source software offers a low-cost and repeatable method of assessing tumour burden, providing information that could assist treatment planning.

According to GL Samuel, professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, kidney diseases are often asymptomatic in their early stages and are not diagnosed until substantial damage has occurred.

The AI tools aim to assist physicians by delivering consistent results quickly, in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

"These tools can reduce the need for expensive interventions like dialysis. We used machine learning along with clinical knowledge to develop tools that would assist in the earlier detection of kidney diseases and give more detailed information specific to the patient," Samuel said.

Jennifer Delighta, research scholar at IIT Madras, emphasised that early detection is of paramount importance when dealing with kidney diseases.

"These AI tools can help detect at-risk patients early and plan their treatment more effectively. The CKD model has been developed as a user-friendly prototype, with further work aimed at improving its accuracy and interpretability for clinicians," Delighta said.

Supported by IIT-Madras and the SPARC project, the study is also a step toward developing a kidney digital twin.

The researchers plan to validate the models using larger patient datasets and explore their integration with wearable sensing systems for personalised kidney health monitoring.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,13,920 per sovereign and Rs 14,240 per gram, after an increase of Rs 290 per gram.

Earlier, on September 2, the yellow metal was priced at Rs 1,11,600 per sovereign and Rs 13,950 per gram.

Silver prices increase

Meanwhile, silver prices increased by Rs 5, selling for Rs 260 per gram (Rs 2,60,000 per kg) on September 3.

On September 2, silver was priced at Rs 255 per gram.

Gold rate today vs gold rate on this day, last year

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. The price of 22-carat gold has increased from Rs 9,805 per gram on September 3, 2025, to Rs 14,240 per gram on September 3, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 4,435 per gram or about 45.23%.

Gold price (22-carat) over the last five days:

September 2, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,11,600 | 1 gram - Rs 13,950

September 1, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,15,080 | 1 gram - Rs 14,385

August 31, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,960 | 1 gram - Rs 14,370

August 29, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,16,040 | 1 gram - Rs 14,505

August 28, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,17,200 | 1 gram - Rs 14,650

Silver price over the last five days:

September 2, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

September 1, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 31, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 29, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 28, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265