Addressing a press conference at the Koyambedu Omni Bus Terminus here, association secretary D Maran asserted that ticket prices have remained strictly unchanged since 2023, despite fluctuations in diesel prices.

"E-commerce companies are aggressively competing to expand their online trade volume from Rs 100 crore to Rs 1,000 crore and even Rs 10,000 crore. Because they are competing at this speed, operators like us are getting a very bad name," he said.

When confronted by reporters regarding private tracking applications displaying fares as high as Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000 for routes such as Chennai to Udangudi (Thoothukudi district), he categorically dismissed them as "dummy charts."

He challenged the media and public to proceed to the final payment stage to verify if a seat could actually be booked at those inflated figures.

Maran urged journalists to download their official fare charts and monitor the prices during peak travel dates, specifically the 23rd through October 26, to confirm that standard rates are being maintained.

Furthermore, the association issued an appeal to the Tamil Nadu government to stop Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) from intercepting and levying taxes on out-of-state buses entering Tamil Nadu to clear the festival rush.

He highlighted that over 1,200 Tamil Nadu-registered omni buses operate in neighbouring states like Karnataka and Kerala without facing harassment or sudden taxation.

He requested reciprocal leniency for inter-state buses arriving from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala to accommodate the surge in festival passengers.

The association confirmed that a formal representation requesting a halt to this inter-state tax collection during the festival days has been submitted to the Home Secretary, the State Transport Minister, and the Transport Commissioner.

In a letter dated October 14 to the National Informatics Centre (NIC), MTC chairman requested that the cancellation of the tender be revoked and it restored to its previous status. The original bid deadline was October 14.

MTC also submitted an undertaking accepting responsibility for the legal implications of revoking the cancellation, stating that the move would not violate any applicable law and that the corporation would be responsible for any legal or governmental proceedings arising from the decision.

The tender covers the procurement, supply, operation and maintenance of 1,000 low-floor, 12-metre air-conditioned electric buses. MTC had cancelled it on Tuesday, citing administrative reasons, after extending the bid-opening date multiple times.

The tender was floated in March under the gross cost contract (GCC) model, ahead of the announcement of the Assembly election schedule. The TVK government had allocated Rs 500 crore in the state budget for procuring the buses and upgrading depot infrastructure to accommodate the fleet.

Meanwhile, MTC's separate tender for 220 air-conditioned low-floor electric feeder buses has closed without receiving any bids. The proposed fleet comprises 70 seven-metre buses and 150 five-metre buses intended to provide first- and last-mile connectivity to Chennai Metro stations.

The buses were to operate as conductor-less services with onboard fare collection systems on routes identified by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) and Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) within a 5-km primary influence area of Metro stations.

The seven-metre buses were to have at least 13 seats and one wheelchair space, while the five-metre buses were to have 11 seats and one wheelchair space.

The setbacks follow the cancellation of an earlier tender for 500 electric buses funded by German development bank KfW. The previous DMK government had cited technical reasons for cancelling that tender, with officials indicating that the procurement model would be changed to GCC.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,08,120 per sovereign and Rs 13,515 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 75 per gram.

Earlier, on October 14 the yellow metal was priced at Rs 1,08,720 per sovereign and Rs 13,590 per gram.

Silver prices dropped

Meanwhile, silver prices decreased by Rs 5, to sell at Rs 240 per gram (Rs 2,40,000 per kg) on October 15.

On October 14, silver was priced at Rs 245 per gram.

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

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 94,880 per sovereign (Rs 11,860 per gram) on October 15, 2025, to Rs 1,08,120 per sovereign (Rs 13,515 per gram) on October 15, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 13,240 per sovereign or about 13.95 per cent.

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

October 14, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,08,720 | 1 gram - Rs 13,590

October 13, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,09,480 | 1 gram - Rs 13,685

October 12, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,09,760 | 1 gram - Rs 13,720

October 10, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,11,040 | 1 gram - Rs 13,880

October 9, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,10,520 | 1 gram - Rs 13,815

Silver price over the last five days:

October 14, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 13, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 12, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 10, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 9, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

The accused have been identified as SFIO deputy director Harish Kumar Tanwar, a 2017 batch Indian Revenue Service officer, advocate Bharat Sharma, and his relative Aryan Sharma.

According to the CBI, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore from the complainant in exchange for a favourable outcome in an SFIO investigation into the Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL) scam. The SFIO functions under the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

After the registration of an FIR, the CBI laid a trap and arrested Bharat Sharma who allegedly received Rs 20 lakh from the complainant, as part payment of the demanded bribe, on behalf of the SFIO officer.

The CBI also searched premises linked to the officer and the advocate and recovered incriminating material related to the case. The investigation is in progress.

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 Thursday.

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:

October 14 - Rs 107.77

October 13 - Rs 107.77

October 12 - Rs 107.77

October 11 - Rs 107.77

October 10 - Rs 107.77

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

October 14 - Rs 99.55

October 13 - Rs 99.55

October 12 - Rs 99.55

October 11 - Rs 99.55

October 10 - Rs 99.55

In the latest incidents, three workers died and another was hospitalised in separate accidents in Chennai on October 12.

Asmath Basha (38), from Periya Hasthinapuram in Arcot, Ranipet, and Naveenkumar (34), from West Tambaram, died after inhaling toxic gas while repairing a faulty electric motor in a 20-foot-deep well built for a stormwater drain pump in Kodungaiyur, under the Perambur constituency. Sewage that had entered the rainwater collection structure from nearby drains is suspected to have generated the gas.

In a separate incident on Veerasamy Street in Pallikaranai, Kesavan (29), from Nelli village in Chengalpattu district, died after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a sewage tank at a house belonging to a woman named Aishwarya. Rajesh (49), a resident of the same locality who was working with him, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

Earlier, on October 2, three workers—Ramachandran from Senthurai in Ariyalur and Bhaskar and Dinakaran from Tiruvarur—died after inhaling toxic gas while constructing a septic tank in Gandhi Nagar, Senthurai.

The TNUEF said a case under the appropriate legal provisions was registered only after its leaders and those of the CPM protested.

It demanded compensation of Rs 30 lakh for each of the families of the four workers who died in the Pallikaranai and Ariyalur incidents, along with government employment for one member of each affected family, in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling.

Urging the government to establish sanitation engineering departments in higher education institutions, TNUEF state president T Chellakannu and general secretary P Sugandhi said specialised training and modern technological interventions were essential to prevent workers from being exposed to toxic gases and hazardous working conditions.

Over the past decade, she has taken her creativity from the floor to a collection of around 108 handmade dolls that she displays during Navaratri.

Amutha has always enjoyed art and crafts. She began drawing kolams, which became popular in her neighbourhood, before trying her hand at making dolls. The idea came when she wanted to keep a golu display at home but found that the dolls available in shops were expensive and didn't match what she had in mind. “I wanted to keep golu, but when I went to buy dolls, they seemed expensive. The ones available were also not quite how I wanted them to be.

So I thought, why not try making them myself?” she says.

Her first attempt was a statue of Goddess Lakshmi. When it turned out well, she decided to make more. Amutha started with four or five dolls a year and added to the collection little by little. Today, her home has around 108 sculptures, which she arranges for the annual golu display.

Amutha uses white cement to make the dolls. She shapes the figures, works on their faces and bodies and paints them herself. The clothes, jewellery and other details are also hand-painted. She learned the process on her own, trying different techniques until she gets the results she wants. “I have never had anyone teach me how to make these dolls. I learned everything by myself; it is my interest and passion that made me continue,” she says.

Her collection goes beyond statues of deities. Amutha has also made sets depicting occasions such as a baby shower and a wedding. The baby shower set has women seated around an expectant mother, with her husband standing beside her. "The wedding set includes a bride and groom, along with a miniature marriage mandapam that I made using cardboard and fabric. I have added details such as a homakundam and a priest to complete the wedding scene," adds the artist. Each set takes shape through her own ideas, with small elements added to make the scenes look familiar.

Among the largest pieces in her collection are statues of Goddess Lakshmi and Vinayagar, both measuring about 21 inches. She has also made a statue of Goddess Saraswati holding a veena, which she crafted herself.

Her neighbours have watched the growth of the collection over the years. "Many visit our home during Navaratri to see the golu and are surprised to learn that the dolls are handmade," she says. What began as an attempt to make the dolls she could not find in shops has grown into a collection that her neighbours look forward to seeing every Navaratri.

The arrested person, a native of Pudukkottai, was working at a parotta shop in Pondy Bazaar for the past three months and was staying at the shop. The shop owner had reportedly dismissed him after he repeatedly broke items at the workplace during sudden outbursts.

Around 5 am on Wednesday, Saravanan allegedly trespassed into the mosque and damaged a CCTV camera, a Wi-Fi modem, smashed windowpanes and allegedly tore a copy of the Quran.

Following a complaint from mosque officials, Vadapalani police rushed to the spot and took nearly an hour to bring him under control. He was admitted to the Government Royapettah Hospital for treatment for his injuries.

During a preliminary inquiry, police learnt that Saravanan had been receiving treatment for a mental health condition at the IMH, Kilpauk, since November 2024. His mother told the police that the family was unable to manage his condition at their home in Pudukkottai and that he had also been admitted to a private de-addiction centre for some time. Police suspect that he had stopped taking his prescribed medication.

Police are also investigating whether Saravanan was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident. They ruled out the involvement of any religious group behind the incident.

The previous DMK regime floated the two tenders. MTC cancelled the 1,000-AC electric bus tender on Tuesday, citing administrative reasons, after extending the bid-opening date multiple times. The tender was floated in March under the gross cost contract (GCC) model, ahead of the announcement of the Assembly election schedule.

The ruling TVK government had allocated Rs 500 crore in the state budget to procure the 1,000 electric buses and upgrade depot infrastructure to accommodate the new fleet.

The second tender, for 220 air-conditioned low-floor electric buses intended to provide first- and last-mile connectivity to Chennai Metro stations, received no bids. The proposed fleet comprises 70 seven-metre buses and 150 five-metre buses.

The buses were proposed to operate as conductorless services, with onboard fare-collection systems, on routes identified by the CUMTA and CMRL within a 5-km primary influence area of Metro stations

The buses were proposed to operate as conductorless services, with onboard fare-collection systems, on routes identified by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) and Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) within a 5-km primary influence area of Metro stations in the city.

The seven-metre buses were to have at least 13 seats, one wheelchair space and a driver, while the five-metre buses were to have 11 seats, one wheelchair space and a driver. The contract stipulated assured operation of 4,200 km per bus per month. Once all 220 buses were deployed, the fleet would have clocked 9.24 lakh bus-km a month.

The latest setbacks follow the cancellation of an earlier tender to procure 500 electric buses with funding from the German development bank KfW. In March, the previous DMK government decided to cancel the tender pending KfW approval, and the KfW approved the cancellation in June. Subsequently, the procurement model was proposed to be shifted to the GCC model, officials noted.

The demonstration was organised to demand the immediate removal of street vendor encroachments from the pedestrian plaza footpaths on Monegar Choultry Road (MC Road). The protest caused significant traffic disruptions in the area.

Police personnel and Royapuram MLA K Vijay Dhamu rushed to the scene to hold talks with the demonstrators. While protesters demanded the immediate removal of vendors, Dhamu assured the merchants that vendors would be relocated from MC Road following Deepavali.

Addressing the media after discussions, Dhamu explained, “Vendors are underprivileged individuals who set up stalls using high-interest loans. So, the decision to temporarily permit street vendors to operate until Deepavali was made on humanitarian grounds. Alternative spaces will be arranged for them after the festival.”

He recalled that 133 street vendors were given shops on MC Road in 2011. “However, 29 vendors left out in the process are now demanding space. Some individuals who were allotted shops are running secondary stalls on the road through relatives, driving the total number of street stalls to nearly 100. Authorities are investigating complex occupancy, unauthorised shop re-sales, and abandoned units to find a permanent resolution,” he elaborated.

Meanwhile, merchants cited a 2020 High Court verdict and official Corporation GCC guidelines designating MC Road as a non-vending zone, similar to Khader Nawaz Khan Road and Pondy Bazaar. Despite submitting several petitions, GCC officials acted lethargically regarding enforcement.

R Mohamed Farook, association secretary, stated this was their second protest in 10 days. Vendors were cleared on October 7 and 8 after a previous demonstration, but returned by October 13. On Wednesday, around 2,000 traders closed their shops until 12:30 pm.

Association president Ashok Kumar stated: “Merchants have faced financial distress since COVID-19 and 3.5 years of continuous pedestrian plaza work. We carry liabilities in lakhs and crores. Unauthorised roadside stalls block both sides of the plaza during peak festive shopping, preventing customers and vehicles from accessing permanent store-fronts.”

GCC has floated tenders to carry out the works across two stretches: a 1.2 km section running from Napier Bridge to Periyar Bridge along Sivanandha Salai, and a 0.5 km section from Napier Bridge to the river mouth. The project includes a one-year maintenance period.

A senior official from the Corporation said, “As a pilot project, GCC will carry out tree and flower plantation work across the stretch to significantly improve greenery. More than 13,000 saplings will be planted and maintained for a year. Repairing compound walls, painting, and necessary civil repairs are also part of the scope.”

Once underway, the project will feature plant species such as Clerodendrum, hybrid shrubs, and Nerium. Supported by borewells, water setups, pumps, and fencing, the area is expected to blossom with flowers on both sides of Napier Bridge within six months. “Upon completion, the transformation will offer a refreshing view and a scenic experience for motorists and the general public, added the official.”

According to tender documents, the project encompasses jungle cutting and clearing, earthwork excavation, cement concreting, plastering, and brickwork. Additional tasks include painting plastered walls, coconut-thatched roofing, rig boring, enamel painting for grill gates, and installing booster pressure pumps and pressure compensators. The existing vegetation and bund near the left side of Napier Bridge along Sivanandha Salai can be utilised as a community space.

Spread across 5,300 sq ft, the facility has an operation theatre, laboratory, pharmacy, pet treatment room, kennels to accommodate 150 dogs, 100 rooms, a kitchen, doctors’ room and toilets. It also has facilities to perform sterilisation surgeries on 35 stray dogs a day. 

Stray dogs caught in Ambattur and Anna Nagar zones will be brought to the centre for sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination. The facility is the 14th centre operated by the Greater Chennai Corporation. 

Later, the Minister inspected SWD and desilting works going on at Ambattur, Anna Nagar and Teynampet zones. At the Ambattur Telephone Exchange junction, he inspected the SWD work carried out by the Water Resources Department from Cuckson Road to Cooum River for 5.10 km. He also reviewed SWD works going on with Asian Development Bank funding in Padi. 

In Anna Nagar, he inspected the 500-metre retaining wall strengthening work along the Otteri Nalla near Tirumangalam Road. In Teynampet, he inspected desilting works at the point where the Virugambakkam and Trustpuram canals join the Cooum at West Namachivayapuram. 

The Minister instructed officials to expedite the works before the monsoon and ensure regular removal of silt from the drains.

The revised report follows a review of the survey numbers and land parcels included in the proposed zone, taking into account hydrological connectivity, drainage pathways, satellite wetlands, existing infrastructure, land use and the wetland urban interface. The authority also examined historical satellite imagery available through Google Earth to assess changes in water spread, low lying areas, drainage channels, open lands and built up areas.

The status report, filed by Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Wetlands Authority, stated that the revision was undertaken following the court's directions and representations received from stakeholders.

The authority said it had received 23 representations from landowners, developers and others in and around the Pallikaranai Ramsar site. Their key demands included excluding privately owned patta lands from the proposed Zone of Influence or wetland-related regulatory area, reconsidering the inclusion of specific survey fields, recognising existing developments and permissions, and distinguishing between the wetland boundary, the Zone of Influence and developed private lands.

The revised proposal covers several survey numbers in Karapakkam, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Pallikaranai, Perungudi and Sholinganallur in Chennai district, besides parcels in Perumbakkam in Chengalpattu district.

In a significant clarification, the authority stated that construction activity need not necessarily be prohibited entirely throughout the proposed Zone of Influence and could instead be regulated based on site specific scientific and hydrological characteristics.

The report safeguards include prohibiting the blocking or diversion of natural drains and established inlet and outlet channels, preventing the dumping of solid waste and construction debris in drainage pathways, and restricting the discharge of untreated sewage and effluents into watercourses connected to the wetland. Permanent alteration of established hydrological connections and the establishment of Red Category industries with high pollution potential would also not be permitted.

Construction within the proposed zone would require a No Objection Certificate from the District Level Wetlands Management Committee under the proposed regulatory mechanism.

The authority said the regulatory framework was intended to protect the wetland's drainage network and ecological connectivity while balancing conservation requirements with development needs.

However, the revised Zone of Influence is only an interim arrangement and does not constitute the final delineation of the area, the report clarified. The final boundary will be determined after scientific and cadastral studies and ground truthing in accordance with the Wetlands Rules, 2017, and the relevant guidelines.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,08,720 per sovereign and Rs 13,590 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 95 per gram.

Earlier, on October 13 the yellow metal was priced at Rs 1,09,480 per sovereign and Rs 13,685 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices remain unchanged and continue to sell at at Rs 245 per gram (Rs 2,45,000 per kg) on October 14.

On October 13, silver was priced at Rs 245 per gram

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

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 94,600 per sovereign (Rs 11,825 per gram) on October 14, 2025, to Rs 1,08,720 per sovereign (Rs 13,590 per gram) on October 14, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 14,120 per sovereign or about 14.92 per cent.

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

October 13, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,09,480 | 1 gram - Rs 13,685

October 12, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,09,760 | 1 gram - Rs 13,720

October 10, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,11,040 | 1 gram - Rs 13,880

October 9, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,10,520 | 1 gram - Rs 13,815

October 8, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,09,680 | 1 gram - Rs 13,710

Silver price over the last five days:

October 13, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 12, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 10, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 9, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 8, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

According to traders, rates of onions, tomatoes, potatoes, continue to be sold at same price as compared to Tuesday (October 13).

What are the prices of essential vegetables?

Onion: Rs 60 per kg

Potato: Rs 32 per kg

Tomato: Rs 30 per kg

Drumstick: Rs 50 per kg

Ginger: Rs 160 per kg

Lemon: Rs 180 per kg

What are the prices of other vegetables?

Beetroot: Rs 50 per kg

Garlic: Rs 250 per kg

Green chillies: Rs 70 per kg

Ooty carrot: Rs 30 per kg

Peas: Rs 100 per kg

Capsicum: Rs 40 per kg

How much do herbs cost today?

Coriander: Rs 8 per bunch

Mint: Rs 8 per bunch

Curry leaves: Rs 30 per kg

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 Wednesday.

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:

October 13 - Rs 107.77

October 12 - Rs 107.77

October 11 - Rs 107.77

October 10 - Rs 107.77

October 09 - Rs 107.76

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

October 13 - Rs 99.55

October 12 - Rs 99.55

October 11 - Rs 99.55

October 10 - Rs 99.55

October 09 - Rs 99.55

A senior official from the Corporation told DT Next, “The previous 263-metre-long and 3-metre-wide wooden ramp was built for Rs 1.14 crore using multiple hardwood varieties, including Brazilian timber, and inaugurated in November 2022. Following complaints about damage to the wooden ramp that caused difficulties for PWDs and wheelchair users, we now plan to build a stronger, long-lasting pathway with a solid base.”

According to the tender document, the proposed project includes the complete construction, supply, installation, fixing, finishing, and commissioning of a timber-decked accessible pathway. Approved high-density timbers, such as Red Meranti and Babool wood, will be used for all necessary hardware.

The accessible pathway will feature handrails, sectioning, filling and levelling, retro-reflective markings, cautionary and informative signage, and reflective road studs. The scope of work also covers all incidental and ancillary tasks required to make the pathway fully functional.

“In the new accessible footpath, we’re providing crossing spaces for pedestrians, reflectors, and seating arrangements at the end of the wooden walkway to offer a better view,” the official added.

The incident occurred at an apartment complex on Veerasamy Street in Vivekananda Nagar, near Pallikaranai, where sewage had accumulated outside the building due to a blockage in the pipes. The police said Ramesh, who works abroad and whose family resides in the apartment, had informed his neighbour Rajesh (49), a plumber, about the problem on Monday morning. The latter told the family that he would inspect and repair the blockage after returning from work in the evening.

Later in the evening, Rajesh returned home and brought along Kesavan (29), his helper from Uthiramerur. At night, the two men opened the sewage tank cover and bent down to inspect the tank to find where the blockage was. According to officials, the toxic gas made Rajesh unconscious and he fell inside the septic tank. Kesavan, who attempted to rescue him, also fainted and fell inside.

The residents immediately alerted the police and Fire and Rescue Services. A rescue team rushed to the spot and retrieved both men from the tank. However, Kesavan died on the spot. Rajesh, who was in a critical condition, was rushed to a private hospital in Pallikaranai and admitted to the ICU.

The Pallikaranai police have registered a case, and further investigation is on. Kesavan was staying in Pallikaranai and working as a wage labourer, and he is survived by his wife, a three-year-old son, and a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter.

Officials said that the suspects pretended to help the victims and stole the jewellery.

The complainant, Bhavani Shankar (39) from Thoothukudi, had come to Chennai to take his wife Akhila (36), and their nine-month-old baby to their native place for Dussehra.

Akhila was staying at her father Thenraj's house in Tondiarpet.

The family left for Thoothukudi by car on Monday.

When the car was nearing Nolambur on the Maduravoyal bypass, the driver lost control and rammed a crash barrier at high speed. The impact left all three occupants injured and unconscious inside the vehicle.

The passersby who noticed the accident rescued the family and shifted them to a nearby hospital for treatment.

After regaining consciousness, Shankar checked his belongings in the car and found that a bag containing four sovereigns of jewellery was missing. He lodged a complaint at the Nolambur police station.

The police said they have secured CCTV footage from the area and dashcam footage from the car and are examining it to identify the suspects. Further investigation is under way.

They later called off the protest after officials handed over cheques for Rs 30 lakh to each family.

Tamil Nadu Housing Board chairman V Siva handed over the cheques totalling Rs 60 lakh to the families, and added that the decision on providing government jobs would be taken after consultation with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

The families had also demanded action against those who allegedly sent the workers to remove a faulty electric motor without adequate safety equipment.

Following talks with police and Greater Chennai Corporation officials, the protesters called off their agitation, and the post-mortem examinations were conducted.

Tondiarpet Zone 4 officer Rajkumar said cases had been registered against Saravanan, assistant engineer of Chennai Corporation’s Ward 34, and Hari Krishnan, assistant engineer in the corporation’s electrical wing. Both officials have been placed under suspension, he said.

The workers, M Asmath Basha (38) of Periya Asthinapuram in Ranipet district, and Naveen Kumar (34) of West Tambaram, died while attempting to remove a faulty electric motor from a 20-foot-deep rainwater sump on Third Street in Thendral Nagar, Kodungaiyur.

Kodungaiyur police registered a case, and a further inquiry is under way.

Corporation officials assured that prescribed safety equipment would be used for such work in future to prevent similar accidents.

The accused, Ramakrishnan, a resident of Kodungaiyur in Chennai, was the victim's neighbour and worked at a steel company. He allegedly abducted the girl, then aged 15, in January 2019 and confined her for six days after pressuring her to marry him.

Her parents lodged a complaint with the Ennore All Women Police Station after she failed to return. When they examined the CCTV footage, the police found that the girl had been abducted in an autorickshaw. After a six days of search, police traced her to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh and rescued the girl. Ramakrishnan was arrested.

The case was tried before the Tiruvallur District Pocso Special Court, where Special Public Prosecutor N Bhuvaneshwari appeared for the prosecution.

After hearing submissions from both sides, the court sentenced the accused to 20 years of imprisonment.

Travelling alone, she began talking to strangers, listening to their stories and sharing her own.

What initially seemed like an inconvenience became an experience that changed how she viewed human connection.

“I realised how much you can learn from someone you’ve just met and how a simple conversation can make you feel connected, even when you’re far away from home,” says Juvitta, founder of the community initiative Ulaatribe.

The experience inspired Lock & Talk, a two-hour gathering where participants put away their phones for conversations, games and activities.

With more than 10 sessions hosted in Chennai, the initiative aims to recreate the spontaneity of offline encounters.

Having been part of the pandemic lockdown batch, Juvitta recalls using earphones and scrolling through her phone to avoid conversations after quarantine. “It became my comfort zone, and I didn’t realise how much I was missing out on,” she says.

Her travels made her wonder how others could experience similar connections without having to travel alone or lose internet access. “What if we could bring people together, take phones out of the equation for just two hours, and give them the chance to talk, listen, share stories, and connect without the usual distractions?” she says.

Putting away their phones can initially make participants nervous, with some calling or texting loved ones before handing over their devices. But the silence soon gives way to conversation.

“The most unexpected part is what happens at the end. Although the sessions are planned for two hours, people often stay back for another 10–15 minutes, sometimes even 30 minutes, just to continue their conversations,” she says.

For Dilip Kumar D, a sourcing lead analyst, attending Lock & Talk meant stepping into unfamiliar territory. Initially sceptical about joining an event of this kind, he found himself drawn into conversations with people who held different perspectives.

One discussion that stayed with him involved choosing between travelling to the past to change things and knowing the future in advance. The question sparked an animated exchange, with participants explaining their choices and listening to one another.

“Firstly, I was a bit sceptical about whether to join the session since I hadn't been to such events before,” he says. “As the minutes went by, I was really drawn into the conversations between various people with different perspectives and opinions on particular topics.”

The session also prompted him to reflect on his recent phone habits. Although he does not consider himself addicted to his phone, he says he had become increasingly glued to it.

“This session paved the way for me to stay away from it for a longer period of time,” he says. “It also made me realise that having a one-to-one conversation with someone in person is the best way to express anything.”

For Juvitta, this shift from hesitation to participation is central to the experience. She believes phones often become a way to avoid the discomfort of meeting new people or navigating an unfamiliar social setting.

“Phones act as our ultimate safety blanket. Our hands automatically reach for our screens whenever we feel awkward. But when you take that escape route away, that’s precisely where the magic happens,” she says.

For Ashwin K, a venture studio consultant, Lock & Talk brought out a playful side of people. Though initially uncomfortable without his phone, he soon got into the activities.

During a discussion on “Good and Bad”, he was made a jury member and asked to deliver the verdict. “The funniest part was that I eventually managed to convince everyone that my point of view was right!” he says.

Ashwin found that being without phones allowed participants to be more spontaneous. “Without phones distracting us, we got to see the real child inside everyone,” he says.

For Ovieya, a dentist attending her first session, the highlight was debating random topics picked from a cup. Differences of opinion and friendly arguments made the activity enjoyable. “Honestly, those friendly arguments were one of my favourite parts of the event,” she says.

She was also surprised by how easily strangers found common ground. “We all came from different backgrounds, but we still found so many things to talk and laugh about. It reminded me that connecting with people isn’t as difficult as we sometimes think,” she says.

The session also made her more mindful of how often people reach for their phones out of habit. “The event reminded me how important it is to give people our undivided attention,” she adds.

Juvitta has noticed conversations moving beyond introductions to personal experiences and perspectives.

Participants often exchange contact details, plan meet-ups or stay back for dinner. For those new to Chennai, the sessions offer a chance to unwind and connect.

Lock & Talk is part of Ulaatribe’s wider community initiative, which also organises Kollywood nights, murder mystery events, ghost story nights, creative workshops and trips. For updates, visit Ulaatribe on Instagram.

Preliminary investigations have suggested that the woman, identified as V Vijaya, a resident of Balaji Nagar, Pallikaranai. fell through a gap on the second floor of the station, resulting in her death.

According to the police, the woman, accompanied by her daughter Gayathri, boarded an MRTS train from Velachery on October 8 to go to the government multi-specialty hospital at Omandurar Estate.

However, the mother and daughter got down at Mylapore station after Vijaya complained of severe stomach pain. Gayathri waited at the platform while Vijaya went to the restroom. When Vijaya took unusually long to return, Gayathri went looking for her. After failing to locate her mother, Gayathri registered a missing person complaint.

On Monday, commuters alerted railway staff about a foul smell coming from the ground floor. The Government Railway Police (GRP) launched a search of the station premises and found Vijaya’s decomposed body in an abandoned room used to dump old furniture.

Her body was sent to the Government Royapettah Hospital for a postmortem examination. The police suspect that the woman may have fallen from the second floor through a narrow opening while trying to access the restroom. Further investigations are underway.

A total of 3,126 precast elements have been cast, comprising 1,041 I-girders, 892 U-girders, 871 pier arm segments, 303 pier caps and 19 portal shells.

With 892 U-girders produced, the package has recorded the highest U-girder production among Phase II project packages.

The precast works involved 98,052 cubic metres of concrete, 18,550 tonnes of reinforcement steel and 3,010 tonnes of high-tensile strands, stated CMRL press note.

The scale was achieved through the collaboration of CMRL, general consultant AEON Consortium and contractor HCC-KEC Consortium.

“Work will now focus on installing the remaining U-girders and constructing entry and exit structures. These activities are progressing towards the timely completion of the Chennai Metro Phase II project,” added the press note.

Residents have raised concerns over defunct lifts, damaged parks, sagging pavements, small cracks in the walls, overflowing sewage and frequent supply of discoloured water. They say the lack of basic facilities makes it hard to live in the tenement, and they have urged officials to take immediate action.

The project, implemented by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) at a cost of Rs 147 crore, stands near the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital. Former Chief Minister MK Stalin had inaugurated the complex in January, which comprises two blocks of ground plus nine floors. Each dwelling unit has a built-up area of 415 square feet and includes a living hall, kitchen, bedroom, toilet and bathroom.

Dwellers are rehabilitated families who had been living for decades along roadsides and canal banks in Mannadi, Muthialpet, Seven Wells, Broadway, Valluvar Kottam Road, Jutkapuram, Kalyanapuram and Wood Wharf.

P Vasanthi, a resident, said, “We see several sags on the pavements and in the frontage zone. Two high-mast lights have also not worked for the past two months. Also, sewage overflows from manholes because of clogging. A few weeks ago, sewage flowed back into the washbasin and messed up the hall. Mild cracks are visible in several houses.”

Explaining the problem with the lifts, M Nalini said that it began two months after allotment. “There are 8 lifts for two blocks. Four months ago, a child was stuck inside a lift, suffocated and was taken to hospital, where he recovered. Last week, only 2 of the 8 lifts were functioning. Officials have rectified the issue, and 6 lifts are now working. The breakdowns force senior citizens with diabetes, including my mother, who has also undergone an angiogram, to climb and descend 8 floors.”

Another resident, R Mathiazhagi, lamented the discoloured water unfit for consumption. “Using this water for bathing has caused hair loss and skin allergies. I earn Rs 500/a day. So, a bubble-top can for Rs 35 for drinking and cooking is expensive,” she said. “Worms emerge from garbage accumulating in the corridors.”

A school student said that swings, merry-go-rounds and chairs in the children’s park are broken. “Sewage also overflows and stagnates inside the park, and uncleared plastic waste poses a health risk to children. We cannot play here. One main gate is broken, and it should be repaired. The plastic waste should be removed immediately,” the student said.

Vanessa Peter, founder of the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC), said that independent infrastructure and social audits of these tenements were the need of the hour. “Structural quality, water and sanitation, maintenance, and access to essential services such as schools, healthcare, transport and livelihoods should be examined. Housing is not merely a structure; it must ensure dignity, social inclusion and access to rights,” she added.

Responding to the issues, an official at Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) told DT Next that CMDA handed over the tenement to the board in September. “Since then, periodic cleaning of the water tanks has been carried out. Tanks will be cleaned further,” he said. “CMDA maintains lifts and high-mast lights for one year. Four defunct lifts were repaired last week, and six are functioning. The remaining lifts and the high-mast lights will be rectified.”

Officials discussed the enforcement activities undertaken to prevent the sale and use of 28 banned single-use plastic items, the awareness programmes conducted among schools, colleges and the public, and the duties and responsibilities of each member department.

They said that since the ban in 2019, and until October 8 this year, the GCC inspected 13.17 lakh commercial establishments, and seized 499 tonnes of banned plastic items.

It also collected Rs 9.40 crore in fines from violators, and distributed over 1.52 lakh cloth bags to students and the public.

The Commissioner instructed all member departments to coordinate with each other to prevent the transport of banned plastics into Chennai.

The public was urged to avoid banned plastics, use eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth bags, and cooperate in creating a plastic-free Chennai.

Deputy Commissioner (Health) Thakare Shubam Dnyandeorao, Joint Commissioner of Police (North) M Manohar, Task Force Coordinator and District Environment Engineer (Arumbakkam) P Suganthi Rani, and members from various departments attended the meeting.

Constructed around two years ago, the SWD was intended to carry rainwater from the residential area during the monsoon.

However, residents alleged that sewage from nearby houses was being discharged into the drain, causing stagnation and foul odour.

The issue has reportedly worsened after the drain was desilted around 10 days ago. Since then, sewage has allegedly been flowing into and accumulating in the drain.

As the area is low-lying, stagnant sewage has led to foul odour and an increase in mosquitoes, causing inconvenience to residents, particularly children and senior citizens.

Residents also expressed concern that untreated sewage could eventually enter Korattur Lake and affect its water quality.

Several SWDs and channels in Chennai are connected to water bodies, including Ambattur, Korattur and Retteri lakes. Sewage from residential and industrial areas is supposed to be treated before being discharged into water bodies.

However, residents alleged that untreated sewage is being discharged into SWDs through unauthorised connections at some locations.

Social activist Bhoopesh said, “We’ve informed Corporation officials about it, but no proper action has been taken so far. Residents have been affected by the foul odour for the past few days.”

Concurring with him was Mohan, another resident, who added that they had not faced such a problem before.

“This is an issue that has been continuing for the past five days. Though the drain was desilted a few days ago, sewage has been accumulating in it since. The foul odour and mosquito nuisance have increased, making it difficult for children and senior citizens to walk through the area, especially in the evenings. Officials should inspect the spot and identify the source immediately,” he opined.

Hearing these complaints, a senior Metro Water official told DT Next, “We’ll inspect the spot to identify the reason for sewage entering the SWD, and appropriate action will be taken.”

The police said that the younger brother already had resentment with his sibling after the latter allegedly behaved inappropriately with his minor daughter a few years ago.

The deceased was identified as P Shankar (57). Officials said Shankar was a widower with no children, and lived with his brother, Balasubramaniam.

About five years ago, Balasubramaniam asked his brother to leave the house after alleging that he misbehaved with his then 12-year-old daughter. Shankar then moved to his village near Tindivanam.

Four days ago, Shankar came to his brother's house and allegedly demanded that their jointly owned property be sold and his share of the proceeds handed over to him.

On Tuesday morning, an argument broke out between the brothers and Balasubramaniam, who was already harbouring anger towards his brother over his alleged misbehaviour with his daughter, stabbed him with a knife, killing him on the spot.

Balasubramaniam later surrendered at the Ambattur Industrial Estate police station. The police recovered Shankar's body and sent it to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

The market, organised by the Koyambedu Market Management Committee, will occupy 15 acres of parking space at the foodgrains market. It will cater to households, shops, offices, factories and other establishments looking to purchase items for the annual festival, when tools, machinery, vehicles and work equipment are traditionally cleaned and worshipped.

The range of commodities will include aval (flattened rice), pori (puffed rice), banana saplings, festoons, pumpkins and other pooja essentials. The 10-day window will give consumers additional time to complete their festive shopping rather than having to make purchases on the eve of the festival.

Ahead of the opening, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority Chief Executive Officer S P Karthikaa chaired a coordination meeting with officials from the market management committee, police, fire and rescue services, Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metro Rail Ltd, besides trader representatives.

Signboards will be installed at prominent locations to help shoppers locate the special market, while announcements through loudspeakers will provide information to visitors.

The committee will arrange drinking water and toilet facilities for shoppers and traders. Officials will also be deployed in shifts to monitor the premises and regulate vehicle movement to prevent congestion in and around the complex.

The arrangements are intended to facilitate festive shopping and provide traders with designated space to sell seasonal commodities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the centre to the nation on October 11 and released C-STROKE, the world's first 3D atlas of a human brain affected by an ischaemic stroke.

According to a press release issued by IIT Madras, C-STROKE is part of a global effort to generate whole-brain 3D maps at cellular resolution, covering developmental stages from the foetal stage to old age and encompassing neurological disorders.

The atlas features more than 1,000 annotated sections, linking pre-mortem MRI scans at millimetre-scale resolution with histological images at micron-scale resolution. It maps markers associated with neuroinflammation, hypoxia and axonal injury.

The computational mapping was carried out using the Param Shakti supercomputer, with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the release said.

The multidisciplinary initiative brings together more than 200 researchers and technicians, over 10 Indian medical institutions and more than 30 international collaborators.

The research has received philanthropic support from Fairfax Financial Chairman Prem Watsa and Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan.

According to traders, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and other vegetables continue to be sold at the same prices as October 12

What are the prices of essential vegetables ?

Onion: Rs 60 per kg

Green chillies: Rs 90 per kg

Potato: Rs 32 per kg

Tomato: Rs 30 per kg

Drumstick : Rs 50 per kg

What are the prices of other vegetables ?

Beetroot: Rs 50 per kg

Ginger: Rs 160 per kg

Raw Mango: Rs 130 per kg

Garlic: Rs 250 per kg

How much do herbs cost today ?

Coriander: Rs 8 per bunch

Mint: Rs 8 per bunch

Curry leaves: Rs 30 per kg

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,09,480 per sovereign and Rs 13,685 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 35 per gram.

Earlier, on October 12 evening, the yellow metal was priced at Rs 1,09,760 per sovereign and Rs 13,720 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices remain unchanged and continue to sell at at Rs 245 per gram (Rs 2,45,000 per kg) on October 13.

On October 12, silver was priced at Rs 245 per gram.

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

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 92,640 per sovereign (Rs 11,580 per gram) on October 13, 2025, to Rs 1,09,480 per sovereign (Rs 13,685 per gram) on October 13, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 16,840 per sovereign or about 18.17 per cent.

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

October 12, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,09,760 | 1 gram - Rs 13,720

October 10, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,11,040 | 1 gram - Rs 13,880

October 9, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,10,520 | 1 gram - Rs 13,815

October 8, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,09,680 | 1 gram - Rs 13,710

October 7, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,09,680 | 1 gram - Rs 13,710

Silver price over the last five days:

October 12, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 10, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 9, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 8, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

October 7, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 245

Residents of VGN Lakshmi Nagar’s Kumarasamy Street have urged the Tamil Nadu electricity board to correct the readings and issue bills based on actual consumption. Residents alleged that bills were calculated on the assumption that meters had crossed certain consumption thresholds before the corresponding units were used.

They said this pushes consumers into higher tariff slabs and increases their bills. For instance, they said a consumer who had used 480 units could be billed for consumption exceeding 500 units because of an incorrect reading, resulting in additional charges.

Residents also alleged that meter readings were not taken on the scheduled dates, leaving them with less time to pay their bills.

They said details of the electricity charges for their apartment complex were uploaded only on the 10th of the month, leaving them just six days to pay instead of the usual 15-day period.

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 Tuesday.

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:

October 12 - Rs 107.77

October 11 - Rs 107.77

October 10 - Rs 107.77

October 09 - Rs 107.76

October 08 - Rs 107.76

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

October 12 - Rs 99.55

October 11 - Rs 99.55

October 10 - Rs 99.55

October 09 - Rs 99.55

October 08 - Rs 99.55

The outage began around 11 am and affected the offices of ministers N Anand, KA Sengottaiyan, P Venkatraman, K Vignesh and RV Ranjith Kumar. The Chief Minister’s Office, located in a different wing of the same floor, was unaffected.

After videos of ministers sitting in darkened offices went viral on social media, TNPDCL said a technical fault in the B-phase supply of one of the four switches feeding the first floor had disrupted power in some sections.

The buildings wing of the PWD, which maintains the Secretariat’s internal power infrastructure, rectified the fault and supply was fully restored by 11.25 am, TNPDCL said, adding that power supply across all floors was now normal.

The group made counterfeit government seals, academic records and currency notes.

The racket surfaced last week when officers were probing a case near a shop that rents out drill machines in Wimco Nagar.

An officer noticed a student inside the shop with a transfer certificate, while a large number of rubber stamps were kept on a table nearby.

Suspicious about the document, the police sent it for verification and found it fabricated. Acting on the lead, a police team raided a premises at Ambedkar Nagar in the same locality and recovered more than 100 seals, allegedly impersonating those of government departments and institutions.

The search also yielded fake medical certificates, college certificates, transfer certificates, documents showing bogus medical qualifications, Emirates passports, suspected counterfeit Rs 500 currency, Re 1 coins and machinery allegedly used for printing and manufacturing the forged items.

The arrested accused are Karunakaran (59), Stephen alias Jayakumar (34), brothers Johnson (45) and Victor (42), Karunanidhi (60), and Sathyamurthy (60), all hailing from the Eraneeswarar Temple area in Ennore.

Karunakaran allegedly acted as the coordinator, Stephen was involved in making fake currency, Johnson and Victor prepared forged educational certificates, while Karunanidhi and Sathyamurthy handled customers.

They charged at least Rs 2,000 per document and got clients through word-of-mouth references, police said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the network was earlier headed by Jacob, a retired headmaster of a government school, who died last year. Some of the accused were also booked in forgery cases a few years ago.

While it has improved connectivity and brought relief to motorists, the absence of streetlights and congestion on the narrow exit road have raised safety concerns.

On Sunday evening, workers removed barricades at the eastern end, allowing vehicles to use the Nedunkundram route. Unlike the other three arms of the ROB, the newly opened stretch has no functioning streetlights, leaving motorists to navigate it in darkness.

Mahendra Boopathi, president, Perungalathur Peerkankaranai Residents Welfare Association, said, “Travelling along this road in darkness without streetlights is not safe. Crocodiles, Indian rock pythons and cobras have been spotted in Sadanandapuram and Nedunkundram. Forest department personnel have captured the animals on several occasions.”

He added that the road connecting the ROB to the Sadanandapuram-Nedunkundram stretch remained narrow because the required forest land had not been fully acquired, causing congestion near the exit. Proper service roads were also yet to be provided. “The

Highways and Forest departments must coordinate to resolve these issues and ensure the stretch is safe for motorists,” he added.

The ROB was conceived to ease congestion on the Chennai-Tiruchy National Highway near railway level crossing LC 32, close to Perungalathur railway station. The Highways department and railway administration had wanted to permanently close the crossing and build an ROB with a roundabout.

An initial allocation of Rs 86 crore was made in 2000, but progress remained slow. The railway administration permanently closed LC 32 in 2015 and began other related works.

The project was revised in 2018, with the estimated cost rising to Rs 235 crore. Land acquisition disputes and the COVID lockdown further delayed construction.

Work gathered pace in 2021 on an ROB featuring an oval-shaped roundabout connecting Perungalathur, Peerkankaranai, Sadanandapuram, Nedunkundram, Vandalur and Tambaram.

The first arm was opened to oneway traffic in September 2022, followed by the section crossing the railway tracks and connecting Perungalathur to Kamaraj High Road in June 2023. The third arm, on the Tambaram-Chengalpattu route, opened on August 1, 2024.

The eastern arm was delayed by the relocation of an electricity substation and the need for forest clearance. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) was allotted land at Netaji Nagar in New Perungalathur for a new substation, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) funding its construction. After the existing facility was relocated, the final arm was completed and opened to traffic on Sunday.

The sump houses two electric motors of 25 HP capacity, of which one had developed a snag recently.

A private contracting firm had taken up the repair work, after which two workers of the firm, M Naveen Kumar (34) of West Tambaram and M Asmath Basha (38) of Ranipet district, were engaged.

Naveenkumar got into the 20-feet-deep sump to remove the faulty motor. Within minutes of entering, he fainted inside. On seeing this, Asmath rushed down to rescue Naveenkumar, but he too collapsed.

Other workers standing outside immediately alerted the Fire and Rescue Services department. A team from Madhavaram fire station rushed to the spot and retrieved the two workers from the sump and moved them to the hospital, where they were declared brought dead.

An official from the Greater Chennai Corporation told DT Next that to handle rainwater flow from Thendral Nagar, two deep wells were constructed near the compound wall of the Kodungaiyur Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). The plan was to dispose of rainwater from Thendral Nagar by routing disposal pipes into a vast, adjacent open plot of land near the STP.

The cause of death of the workers is still under investigation and is alleged to be either from an electric shock or asphyxiation

"The well construction work was completed about a week before. It has not been officially handed over by the contractor; only trial testing was being conducted. During the trial, two motors were installed in the well, but one malfunctioned. The issue was reported to the contractor, who then asked the motor supplier, Sovereign Pumps, to resolve the defect.

Representatives from the supplier arrived on site around 3 pm. No municipal or local officials were present. They opened the access door and prepared to descend into the well, " said a GCC official.

It is currently unclear whether the workers died from an electric shock caused by a short-circuited motor or due to asphyxiation while inhaling toxic gas inside the well. The exact cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem.

The rally has been organised following the death of auto driver Mohammed Ibrahim, whom the federation said had ended his life over the hardships faced by drivers.

The rally will begin near the old Chitra theatre on Langs Garden Road in Egmore at 3 pm and proceed towards the Secretariat, said S Balasubramaniam, coordinator of the All Auto Workers' Trade Union Federation.

Balasubramaniam said fares had not been revised since 2013 despite rising fuel and spare parts costs and increasing expenses towards insurance, permits and vehicle fitness certificates.

App-based aggregators such as Ola, Uber and Rapido had captured a substantial share of the business, while authorities had failed to curb alleged overcharging, he said.

He said public transport concessions and the growing use of two-wheeler taxis had further hit drivers' earnings, forcing some to quit the profession.

He urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to revise fares, ban or regulate two-wheeler taxis, curb alleged corruption at welfare offices and stop the harassment of drivers by officials.

The federation had submitted petitions and organised protests over the demands but had been ignored by successive governments, he said.

The 14-year-old girl, Sama, was studying at a private school in Sholinganallur and had not been interacting much over the past few days, according to her parents, Kathiravan and Lalitha.

She was sitting alone on their balcony on Sunday night and did not respond to her parents calling her for dinner, even past 10 pm.

Around 11 pm, the girl fell from the balcony. Security personnel and apartment residents rushed to the spot. The police control room was subsequently alerted. The Kelambakkam police found the girl dead on the spot and moved her to Chengalpattu Government Hospital for autopsy.

A case has been registered, and further investigation is under way. During the inquiry, the girl's parents said she was drowsy and accidentally fell from the balcony. The police are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of her death.