Established in 1993, the hospital will continue providing tertiary and quaternary cancer care while expanding into cardiology, neurology and neurosciences, gastroenterology, pulmonology, spine and orthopaedics, urology, critical care and internal medicine. 

The upgraded facility has 300 beds, including 51 critical care beds, five operating theatres and a Cath Lab. It also features an advanced Cath Lab, a 24/7 dedicated stroke care unit, Tamil Nadu's first Zoom Endoscopy system, an advanced bronchoscopy suite and a specialised Sleep Lab. Existing oncology services, including CyberKnife, TrueBeam, bone marrow transplant (BMT), CAR-T Cell Therapy and Da Vinci robotic surgery, will continue to operate. 

Health Minister Dr KG Arunraj was the chief guest at the event, and Health Secretary Dr Darez Ahamed was the guest of honour. Dr Arunraj stressed the need for integrated healthcare systems, noting that patients with complex conditions often require coordinated, cross-speciality care. He also thanked Apollo for being among the first organisations to contribute Rs 1 crore to the government’s ‘Nalam TN’ initiative. 

Apollo Vice Chairperson Dr Preetha Reddy said that the expansion would extend the hospital’s legacy of specialised cancer care to comprehensive healthcare for entire families. Managing Director Suneeta Reddy said that bringing multiple specialities under one roof would facilitate seamless multidisciplinary care and improve patient outcomes.

Hussain ran a travel business and there were also financial transactions between the duo. Recently, the woman had cut contact with him, after which he sent audio recordings of their conversation and threatened her. A police team traced Hussain to Guntur and arrested him.

Police said that the victim, who lived with her husband and a three-year-old son, had been distressed after she received messages on her phone from different numbers, in which the person threatened to share her obscene pictures to her husband.

She had informed her husband about the calls and blocked the numbers. On Tuesday, the husband left for work and had called her in the afternoon to check on her. Since, he did not answer or return his calls, he alerted his neighbours who found it locked from inside.

Neighbours broke open the door, entered the house and found her unconscious. Virugambakkam police reached the scene on information and moved her to a hospital where she was declared as brought dead.

Upon examining the woman’s phone, police found that she was in contact with Hussain, who ran a travels business and there were also financial transactions between them. Recently, she cut contact with Hussain after which he sent audio recordings of their conversation and threatened her.

The deceased were identified as Ravi (55), and his son Ayyanar (25), both natives of Tiruvannamalai. Police said the duo had been engaged by Sowcarpet-based businessman Prashanth to clean and desilt the well at his house.

Ravi entered the well using a temporary staircase to remove the silt. While working inside, he inhaled the gas, fainted and fell into the water. On seeing his father collapse, Ayyanar entered the well in an attempt to rescue him. He too inhaled the gas and collapsed, police said.

On receiving information, police and personnel from the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) reached the spot. Fire personnel entered the well wearing safety equipment and brought both men out.

They were rushed to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead.

Police sent the bodies for postmortem. Elephant Gate police have registered a case and are investigating.

What happened at the first meeting?

The first tripartite meeting was held in Chennai on July 9 to discuss revised fares. More than 30 trade union representatives and 90 representatives from passenger organisations participated in the meeting.

What are the fare demands?

Trade unions demanded that the minimum fare be increased to Rs 70, while representatives of passenger organisations sought a minimum fare of Rs 50.

What will happen at tomorrow's meeting?

Following the first meeting, the government has prepared a final report on the proposed new fares. The second tripartite meeting will discuss the report before the new fares are finalised and announced.

Traders attributed the price surge to the El Niño conditions, unseasonal rains in Maharashtra, and a shortage in the supply of goods from neighbouring states. Ahead of the festival season and with the shortage continuing, prices may surge up to Rs 80 and even Rs 100 per kilogram.

SS Muthukumar, president of the Koyambedu Semi-Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association, told DT Next, "We were getting 1,400 tonnes of onions per day from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh; on Tuesday, we received only 700 tonnes.”

"Usually whenever there had been a shortage, the state government, through the Horticulture and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection departments, used to procure vegetables from Maharashtra and sell to traders. The TVK government will now have to take similar steps."

According to the Department of Consumer Affairs’ statistics, India's national average retail onion price has reached Rs 42 per kg, a 19% increase from July and a 45% jump from last year. Onions were sold for just 33 per kg in Chennai last year. Wholesale prices have surged to Rs 2,897 per quintal, compared to last year.

This spike is driven by severe supply chain disruptions across the crop calendar; in the rabi crop, a shortfall, harvester damage from El Niño, unseasonal rains, and hailstorms halved onion production in key states like Maharashtra, severely depleting the government's primary buffer stocks harvested in March and April.

Following the delay in kharif, supply arrivals from Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh typically bridge the seasonal supply gap before the main October harvest. However, delayed monsoons slowed fresh supply, causing arrivals from major hubs like Nashik and Kurnool to plummet and wholesale prices to reach Rs 500 per 10 kg.

To boost supply, the central government raised its procurement price to Rs 26.45 per kg. Yet, rapidly escalating prices in Nashik caused official procurement to fall short of its 2-lakh-tonne target. To mitigate the deficit and stabilise retail rates, the government is now transporting onions via special ‘Kanda Express’ trains from Nashik to major consumer centres, including Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, and Guwahati.

With demand expected to rise during the upcoming September to October festival season, average onion prices will be high until the new Kharif crop arrives, said traders at the Koyambedu market.

The same couple is also accused of duping two other persons of Rs 9.19 crore, police said. CCB registered a case based on a complaint from a senior executive at Repco Home Finance Limited.

In 2016, the couple, Sasikala and Devendran of Anna Nagar, had approached Repco’s Anna Nagar branch and obtained two mortgage loans totalling Rs 3 crore by pledging original documents of eight houses on September 29, 2016.

During an audit in 2026, Repco found the original documents missing.

Investigation revealed that while Rs 2.26 crore loan was still pending, Anna Nagar Branch manager RG Harinath Karthik had issued a fake receipt showing full repayment and cancelled the mortgage.

The couple then pledged the same documents in another private bank and obtained Rs 21 crore.

In two other cases, the same couple cheated N Navaneeth of a real estate firm of Rs 6.19 crore after taking his property documents on the pretext of business development and obtaining a third-party collateral loan.

They also cheated another businessman of Rs 3 crore by giving him unregistered agreement of already sold houses.

After investigations, a police team arrested the accused, Devendran (51), his wife Sasikala (43), and Harinath Karthik (51) of Perungudi. All three were produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.

Complaints were received that the employees were demanding money for new connections to houses and commercial establishments, transfer of service connections and replacement of faulty electricity meters.

Based on that, a DVAC team conducted a search and secured Rs 59,000 from an assistant divisional engineer and Rs 10,000 from another employee. The duo were directed to appear before DVAC and explain the source of the cash. As they failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, DVAC recommended departmental action against them.

The meeting, scheduled at the transport commissioner’s office on August 27, follows consultations held by the transport department with autorickshaw unions, drivers, consumer organisations and officials. The department had also directed regional transport offices to obtain representations from unions and drivers on the proposed fare revision.

Federation coordinator, S Balasubramanian, said, “All major autorickshaw unions have submitted a common proposal of Rs 60 for the first 1.5 km and Rs 30 for every subsequent kilometre.”

They have also sought a waiting charge of Re 1 per minute and a night-time fare of 1.5 times the normal tariff. “The meter fare has remained unchanged for 13 years despite a substantial increase in fuel, maintenance and other operating costs. All the unions have arrived at the same demand after considering the expenses involved in running an autorickshaw,” he added.

He pointed out that the government had earlier convened a tripartite meeting involving unions, consumer organisations and officials after the transport minister indicated that the chief minister wanted the fare issue addressed. The unions had submitted detailed representations covering drivers’ working hours, income, expenditure and vehicle maintenance costs.

The federation has also approached legislators, including MLAs from CPI and CPM, seeking their support for the fare revision. Balasubramanian said that the unions expected the government to take a decision during the ongoing Assembly session.

The second major demand is a clear policy on bike taxis. Balasubramanian said that the government had previously approached the court seeking restrictions on bike taxis, citing passenger safety and the absence of mandatory third-party insurance. “Bike taxis continue to operate through app-based aggregators despite the lack of a regulatory framework. We want the government either to enforce the existing restrictions or regulate the sector by making permits, driver badges, vehicle fitness and third-party insurance mandatory,” he stated.

Transport department had recently seized 52 vehicles allegedly operating as bike taxis and registered cases, he said, but added that enforcement alone would not resolve the issue. The unions have also proposed a government-backed app for autorickshaws to ensure transparent fares and reduce commissions charged by private aggregators.

Balasubramanian ensured that the unions were ready to cooperate with meter-based operations if a realistic tariff was notified and strictly monitored. “Nearly five lakh families depend on autorickshaw driving. The government should recognise this as a livelihood issue and announce the revised fare without further delay,” he appealed.

The final pier, P814, was cast near Medavakkam-I Metro station.

The stretch around Medavakkam includes some of the tallest piers in the package, reaching about 29 metres. The alignment crosses the existing Medavakkam Flyover at this height and includes a 57 metre steel girder span along a 125 metre radius curve.

Medavakkam-1 and Medavakkam-2 Metro stations are also being built at about 29 metres above road level. CMRL is now progressing with the erection of the remaining U-girders and construction of station buildings.

The stretch around Medavakkam includes some of the tallest piers in the package, reaching about 29 metres. The alignment crosses the existing Medavakkam Flyover at this height and includes a 57 metre steel girder span along a 125 metre radius curve. Medavakkam-1 and Medavakkam-2 Metro stations are also being built at about 29 metres above road level.

CMRL is now progressing with the erection of the remaining U-girders and construction of station buildings.

The yellow metal is currently priced at Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign and Rs 15,010 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 20 per gram.

Earlier on August 25, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign and Rs 15,010 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices also remain stable, continue to sell for Rs 265 per gram (Rs 2,65,000 per kg) on August 26.

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

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 74,680 per sovereign (Rs 9,335 per gram) on August 26, 2025, to Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign (Rs 15,010 per gram) on August 26, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 45,400 per sovereign or about 60.79 per cent.

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

August 25, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,20,080 | 1 gram - Rs 15,010

August 24, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,20,240 | 1 gram - Rs 15,030

August 22, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,19,600 | 1 gram - Rs 14,950

August 21, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,18,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,850

August 20, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,16,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,600

Silver price over the last five days:

August 25, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 265

August 24, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 275

August 22, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

August 21, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

August 20, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

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:

August 25 - Rs 107.77

August 24 - Rs 107.77

August 23 - Rs 107.77

August 22 - Rs 107.77

August 21 - Rs 107.77

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

August 25 - Rs 99.55

August 24 - Rs 99.55

August 23 - Rs 99.55

August 22 - Rs 99.55

August 21 - Rs 99.55

According to police, Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) Karuppasamy was on duty at NSK Nagar signal junction on Sunday night, when he noticed an unclaimed bag lying on the road.

Upon inspection, he found the bag contained Rs.34,000 in cash, a purse with a bank ATM card and 40 small books related to jewellery chit scheme collections. The SSI waited for some time at the spot for the owner to return, and when no one turned up, he secured the bag and handed it over to the Arumbakkam Police Station.

Probe revealed that the bag belonged to Mohan (26), a collection agent working in the marketing section of a jewellery shop in Anna Nagar. Mohan had collected chit funds from customers on Sunday and was riding his two wheeler on his way back to the office when the bag fell on the floor.

Senior police officers appreciated SSI Karuppasamy for his prompt action.

We speak to them about their favourite Onam memories and how they are celebrating this year.

‘Making Onam special with the people around me’

My memories of Onam are all about being with my family. All my relatives would come together, so it always felt like one big family get-together. We would play games, make the pookkalam and prepare the Onasadya together.

Everyone would dress up in traditional clothes and there was so much fun and excitement throughout the day. I love the tradition and belief behind Onam that our beloved King Mahabali comes to visit us once a year.

That makes the festival even more special and meaningful. For me, Onam has always been about family, traditions, food, laughter and togetherness.

Since I’m staying away from my family, this year feels a little different and honestly, a little difficult. It won’t be as colourful or grand as the way we celebrate it back home. But I’m lucky to have my friends and a few Malayali families here in Chennai, so we’re planning to get together, cook a proper sadya and celebrate Onam together.

I’m trying to make it just as special and colourful with the people around me.

Even though I can’t celebrate with my entire family this year, I’m looking forward to creating new memories with the people I have here.

One thing I love about celebrating Onam in Chennai is how welcoming and comforting everyone is, even when you’re away from your family.

There are so many Malayalis here, and you can see people celebrating Onam with the same warmth and enthusiasm as they would back home. I’ve also seen different Malayali communities coming together to celebrate, which is really beautiful.

And I love seeing Tamil people joining in and cheering along with us. Chennai makes you feel at home during Onam, even when your actual home and family are far away.

- Sneha Haridas, lifestyle influencer

'I look forward to inji puli and appam'

My mom is from Kannur and my dad is from Palakkad, and I have been celebrating Onam in Chennai.

This is my favourite festival and we look forward to the celebrations every year.

We make a pookkalam with a different design each day for all 10 days of Onam. We also keep a Thrikkakara Appan (or Onathappan) in the centre of the pookkalam.

Getting dressed in my favourite kasavu mundu, decorating the pookkalam and preparing the special dishes for sadhya are some of my favourite parts of the festival.

We invite friends and family home for the sadya and my mom prepares all the dishes. We usually have vendakka pachadi, sambar, aviyal, olan, upperi, unniyappam and several other dishes.

I especially look forward to the inji puli and appam. After the sadhya, we make something called 'pulinchoru' for dinner. We mix leftover dishes such as olan, inji puli, rice, kalan, upperi and sambar in a kadai and have it for dinner. It may sound unusual, but I love it!

For dessert, ada pradhaman is my favourite. My mom also makes jackfruit payasam, which is another special treat during Onam.

- Nikitha M Babu, entrepreneur

'I continue Onam traditions with my daughter'

We invite friends over for Onasadya every year, and I continue the tradition with my mom and daughter.

Everyone looks forward to sitting down and sharing a meal together. We start the morning by making the pookalam and I always look forward to the sadya too. Aviyal is one of my favourites, but I love inji puli the most.

And when it comes to payasam, it has to be palada. Growing up in Chennai, I feel our traditions have remained much the same. As I grew older, my role changed too. I started helping my mom with the preparations and now I take more responsibility for setting things up.

My daughter is growing up watching us and becoming part of these traditions too. That, for me, is what makes Onam special.

- Varsha Menon, architect

'What is Onam without your chosen family?'

This Onam, I couldn’t make it to Kerala for the festivities. With the holidays falling in the middle of the week, getting a ticket home was akin to winning a lottery.

While my family back home was sad that I wouldn’t be joining them, I’m glad to have my Chennai Malayali gang here to make up for it.

Thankfully, our Onam celebrations began at the office with a pookalam and the much-awaited sadya. Our HR team did not disappoint the food felt surprisingly homely.

We spent the rest of the day playing games, celebrating with our non-Malayali colleagues and sharing the spirit of Onam with everyone around us.

But what is Onam without celebrating with your chosen family? My friends and I got together at home and, working together, pulled off our own little Onam celebration, a home away from home.

To wrap up the day, we went to catch Nivin Pauly’s latest film, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. Two hours of laughter later, I felt like I had ended my Onam exactly the way I wanted to, surrounded by my Chennai family.

- Gouri, PR professional

‘Onam has taken on a new meaning in Chennai’

I never imagined not being home, not being in Kerala for Onam.

But adulthood has a way of surprising you. Growing up, I spent every Onam with my family, enjoying the usual traditions like homemade sadya, making DIY pookkalams, dressing up in traditional attire and having photoshoots with cousins.

Even during my initial years in Chennai for work, I held on to that tradition. I would book my train tickets well in advance and plan my Onam holidays around being back home in Kerala.

But after marriage, over the last couple of years, moving our base here and slowly starting to build a home here meant our circle of friends grew too. With it, the excitement around Onam took on a new meaning.

Hosting friends at home has now become one of the best parts of celebrating Onam in Chennai.

An early morning ride to the Koyambedu flower market to pick out flowers, setting up the onapookkalam together, cooking the sadya as a group and trying our best to recreate the taste of home, this has become our new way of celebrating Onam.

Onam, whether back then in Kerala or now in Chennai, is something we always try to make special, holding on to all its charm, warmth and happiness.

- Gopika, Communication professional

--- As told to Merin James

Major General Luong Dinh Hung, Vice Commandant of the Vietnam Coast Guard, called on Director General of the Indian Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani, AVSM, PTM, TM, during the ongoing visit of the Vietnamese delegation to Chennai.

The meeting was subsequently held at the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters in Chennai. The Indian delegation was led by DG Paramesh Sivamani, while the Vietnamese delegation was headed by Major General Luong Dinh Hung.

The meeting provided a platform for the two maritime forces to discuss matters of mutual interest and explore ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Discussions focused on enhancing professional cooperation, expanding maritime engagement and improving operational coordination between the two Coast Guards.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to sustained engagement and closer cooperation to contribute towards maintaining a safe, secure and sustainable maritime environment. The meeting is part of the ongoing bilateral maritime engagements between India and Vietnam aimed at strengthening cooperation between their respective maritime security forces.

The complainant, Chitra (28) of Bojarajan Nagar, Old Washermenpet, works as a contract nurse at the Government Kasturba Hospital in Triplicane.

In June 2025, one of the accused, Sasikala had visited hospital for treatment and after interactions with Chitra, Sasikala promised her a staff nurse job at a government hospital. Sasikala also managed to convince her friend, a male nurse at a private hospital in Bangalore, that he could get a Health Inspector job. Through him, she contacted a woman promising her a teaching job.

Believing Sasikala, the three victims paid Rs 20 lakh in cash and online transfers since January 2026. However, Sasikala stopped attending Chitra’s phone calls and dodged her and threatened her when she demanded the money back after which the victims filed a police complaint.

Police arrested Sasikala (40), her husband, Hussain alias Kumar (43) and their daughter, Divya Darshini (22). Enquiries revealed she was a clerk at a lawyer’s office and Kumar works as an online food delivery executive. All three were produced before a magistrate and remanded to prison.

Based on a tip-off, officials stepped up surveillance at the international arrival terminal on Sunday (August 23).

Customs officials monitored passengers and noticed a woman passenger from North India (35), who had travelled to Thailand as a tourist and was returning to Chennai.

Her behaviour raised suspicion, and officials stopped her for questioning. As she gave evasive answers, she was taken to the Customs office for examination.

Women Customs officials searched her fully and found many packets of processed Thai food products inside her luggage. On examining the packets, they discovered that the packets had been used to conceal high-grade hydroponic ganja.

A total of 14.5 kg of the contraband was recovered, with an estimated international value of 14.5 crore. The woman was arrested, and the drugs were seized.

During questioning, Customs officials found that she was a carrier for an international drug trafficking network. Officials also suspected that she had previously similarly transported drugs and managed to pass through Customs without being detected.

Officials are now investigating who was supposed to receive the consignment after it was brought to Chennai.

Police said that she died by suicide as she was stressed about an unidentified caller threatening her with obscene photos and videos on the internet. The deceased woman lived with her husband at Mathiazhagan Nagar in Saligramam.

The couple lived in a rented house in Saligramam. Probe revealed that the woman received phone calls on Monday evening from two phone numbers. The caller claimed that he had obscene video clips of her and threatened to send them to her husband.

The woman informed her husband about the calls and blocked the numbers. On Tuesday (August 25), the husband left for work on Tuesday morning and he called her in the afternoon to check on her. Since, he did not return his repeated calls, he alerted his neighbours who went to the house and found it locked from inside.

Neighbours broke the door open and entered the house and found the woman unconscious. Virugambakkam police reached the scene on information and moved the woman to a hospital where she was declared as ‘brought dead’.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to her death and examining the calls and the two mobile numbers used to threaten her.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102.

The accused, Saravanan, is the son of the house owner. The three women, who work at a private company in Vanagaram near Maduravoyal, had been staying in the house arranged by their company.

According to their complaint, Saravanan had been looking at them inappropriately whenever they left for or returned from work. Suspecting that something was wrong, they checked the rooms and found a hidden camera inside an electrical switch box.

The women alleged that Saravanan had connected the camera to his mobile phone and was monitoring the footage. They subsequently lodged a complaint with Vanagaram police.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case and arrested Saravanan. During the investigation, police found that the camera had allegedly been installed inside the switch box and connected to Saravanan’s mobile phone.

Police seized the mobile phone and the hidden camera from the house. Further investigation is under way.

Organised by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the inaugural conclave also witnessed the launch of the Centre of Excellence on Biodegradable Packaging Materials (BioPack) at IIT-M.

Department Secretary Tejveer Singh, who inaugurated the event, said, “Stronger industry-academia partnerships are crucial to translating laboratory research into market-ready products as India pursued the Viksit Bharat@2047 goal. Import substitution and greater domestic value addition are need of the hour. More products should be processed within the country to strengthen self-reliance. Targeted R&D and industry-backed research clusters can help expand India’s global footprint.”

Singh also announced that CHEMCONNECT would become an annual event, to be held during July-August to review progress across the Centres of Excellence established by the department.

IIT-M Director V Kamakoti said that institutional collaboration was essential to taking technologies from laboratories to practical applications. “The chemical sector of the institute will provide support through reverse pitching, under which industry will present its challenges to research institutions,” he added.

The BioPack facility will focus on sustainable innovation, capacity building and research in eco-friendly packaging materials. Singh and Kamakoti also released the CHEMCONNECT 2026 compendium.

The protest followed a dispute over access to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) headquarters.

Workers said that they had been granted permission by GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran during a meeting with School Education Minister at Kalaivanar Arangam on Monday (August 24).

However, when they arrived at the Ripon building on Tuesday, police blocked the gates.

According to the workers, they attempted to approach the Commissioner to seek clarification, but the main gate was closed again.

Protesters then pushed open the gate and entered the campus, where they continued their demonstration.

Speaking to DT Next, union member K Suresh said that the workers were not seeking to cause inconvenience to the police and were willing to hold a peaceful protest near the east gate, close to Victoria Hall.

“We only want permission to hold a two-hour attention-seeking protest inside the campus, where other unions had gathered earlier,” he added.

Workers also alleged that they had been unable to stage protests at different locations as the police had detained them whenever they assembled.

The UUI has submitted an 11-point charter of demands, including extending one-year maternity leave for women cleanliness workers having a third child and providing menstrual leave to local body and rural school workers.

It has also sought an increase in the daily wage from Rs 751 to Rs 832, reinstatement of 13 workers among the 1,400 workers whom the Corporation had earlier agreed to take back, office space for the union and a food allowance.

Workers said that 7 more demands, including permanent jobs for contractual cleanliness workers, a weekly day off, quality housing with basic amenities, withdrawal of the Supreme Court case challenging HC orders in favour of cleanliness workers, and withdrawal of criminal cases filed against workers and their leaders during the 2025 protests, had not been considered.

An ICICI bank ATM is located near Puthupedu village along the Sriperumbudur-Kundrathur Road, within the limits of Somangalam Police Station.

Police said that the robbers arrived in a vehicle at around 2.45 am and began cutting the ATM using a welding machine. After accessing the cash compartment, they stole the money and fled from the spot in the same vehicle. The ATM did not have a security guard. Instead, it was monitored through CCTV cameras connected via the internet the bank’s central control room in Mumbai.

When the robbers began tampering with the ATM, an alarm was triggered at the control room, which immediately alerted the Tamil Nadu Police, who informed the Somangalam police.

However, the police were not given the exact location of the ATM. As a result, the night-duty patrol searched several ATMs in the area before reaching the targeted ATM. By then, the robbers had completed the operation and escaped with the cash.

Senior police officials and bank representatives rushed to the spot and initiated an investigation. The ATM had been replenished with cash only on Monday evening. Hence, the stolen amount is suspected to be more than Rs 10 lakh.

The robbers have sprayed a chemical substance on the CCTV cameras to prevent their faces from being recorded. However, police are examining the available footage with the help of technical and forensic teams to identify the suspects.

Preliminary CCTV footage shows one person entering the ATM while covering his face with a shawl. Police are investigating whether other members remained outside to keep watch or whether only one person entered the ATM during the robbery. The possibility of the involvement of a gang from northern India, including the suspected Bavariya gang, is also considered.

Special teams from the Tambaram City Police Commissionerate have intensified the investigation.

Launched from the Secretariat, the 130 low-floor AC e-buses are among the first batch of phase two of the World Bank-supported procurement of 750 AC e-buses.

The MTC procured them for Rs 1,337 crore under the Gross Cost Contract model. Of the 130 buses, 80 will be operated from MTC’s Alandur depot and 50 from its Central depot.

As part of efforts to reduce vehicular pollution in Chennai, MTC is operating 625 low-floor electric buses, procured at a cost of Rs 697 crore, through five depots.

The new services will connect key destinations including Chennai airport, Kilambakkam bus terminus, Siruseri IT Park, OMR, Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Mamallapuram, Guindy, Anna Nagar, Pattabiram, Kundrathur and Poonamallee, and ply from Alandur and Central depots.

The 80 buses from Alandur depot will operate on 15 routes: MAA1 (Chennai Airport-Kilambakkam), MAA2 (Chennai Airport-Siruseri IT Park), MAA3 (Chennai Airport-Adyar bus stand), 113 (Red Hills-Guindy Thiru Vi Ka Estate), 76V (Koyambedu-Siruseri IT Park), D70 (Ambattur Industrial Estate-Velachery), 500P (Pallavaram-Chengalpattu), 570R (Alandur Court-Siruseri IT Park), 114R (Red Hills-Guindy Thiru Vi Ka Estate), 515P (Pallavaram-Mahabalipuram), 119 (Guindy Thiru Vi Ka Estate-Semmancheri TNUHDB), 170C (Thiru Vi Ka Nagar-Guindy Thiru Vi Ka Estate), 9M (Thyagaraya Nagar-AGS Officer’s Colony), 70V (Koyambedu-Kilambakkam) and 105 (Tambaram West-Siruseri IT Park).

The 50 buses from Central depot will operate on 10 routes: 2C (K Kannadasan Nagar-K Kannadasan Nagar), 7H (Island Ground-JJ Nagar East), PP21 (Island Ground-Kilambakkam), 29A (Perambur BT-Anna Square), 40H (Anna Square-Pattabiram), 40A (Anna Square-Pattabiram), 88Kct (Parrys Corner-Kundrathur bus stand), 221 (MGR Central-Tiruporur), 72 (T Nagar-Tiruverkadu) and 25 (Anna Square-Poonamallee).

Separately, 1,614 new buses are being procured for the six STUs at an estimated cost of Rs 756 crore. As the first phase, 120 new buses procured at a cost of Rs 55.58 crore were launched on Tuesday.

Transport Minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, Chief Secretary M Saikumar, Transport Secretary L Nirmalraj, MTC managing director T Mohan and senior government officials were present at the event.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign and Rs 15,010 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 20 per gram.

Earlier on August 24, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,20,240 per sovereign and Rs 15,030 per gram.

Silver prices decrease

Meanwhile, silver prices decreased by Rs 10 to Rs 265 per gram (Rs 2,65,000 per kg) on August 25.

On August 24, silver was sold at Rs 275 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 74,440 per sovereign (Rs 9,305 per gram) on August 25, 2025, to Rs 1,20,080 per sovereign (Rs 15,010 per gram) on August 25, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 45,640 per sovereign or about 61.31 per cent.

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

August 24, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,20,240 | 1 gram - Rs 15,030

August 22, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,19,600 | 1 gram - Rs 14,950

August 21, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,18,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,850

August 20, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,16,800 | 1 gram - Rs 14,600

August 19, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,640 | 1 gram - Rs 14,205

Silver price over the last five days:

August 24, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 275

August 22, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

August 21, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 270

August 20, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 19, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 250

Beans prices alone has decreased by Rs 10, and is now at Rs 80 when compared to August 25 market price.

According to traders, tomatoes, potatoes and other vegetables continue to be sold at the same prices as on August 25 (Tuesday).

What are the prices of essential vegetables?

Onion - Rs 60 per kg

Tomato: Rs 20 per kg

Potato: Rs 35 per kg

Ginger: Rs 180 per kg

Coconut: Rs 56 per piece

Shallot: Rs 70 per kg

What are the prices of other vegetables?

Green chillies: Rs 60 per kg

Beetroot: Rs 60 per kg

Snake gourd: Rs 30 per kg

Spinach: Rs 5 per bunch

Drumstick: Rs 50 per kg

How much do herbs cost today?

Coriander: Rs 5 per bunch

Mint: Rs 5 per bunch

Curry leaves: Rs 25 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 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:

August 24 - Rs 107.77

August 23 - Rs 107.77

August 22 - Rs 107.77

August 21 - Rs 107.77

August 20 - Rs 107.77

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

August 24 - Rs 99.55

August 23 - Rs 99.55

August 22 - Rs 99.55

August 21 - Rs 99.55

August 20 - Rs 99.55

Karthik was employed as a car driver at a private company. According to the police, Karthik met with the accident on his way to Tiruvanmiyur on East Coast Road (ECR) from Palavakkam early on Monday.

As he approached Vembuli Amman Temple at Kottivakkam, he reportedly lost control of the motorcycle and hit the metal barricade. Karthik sustained severe head injuries that killed him on the spot.

Alerted by passersby, the Adyar traffic investigation wing personnel (TIW) recovered the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination to a government hospital. The police have registered a case and are investigating whether overspeeding caused the accident. 

The guests of honour were Vivek P Dhanda, Chief Traffic Warden, TN Police Traffic Wardens Organisation. International basketball player and I-Tax official PN Bopanna and SuperOps Technology senior accounts manager M Sebastian Richard, both alumni, were special invitees.

Principal and Correspondent Reverend Brother G Louis Alex led the event. The programme began with flag hoisting, parade inspection and a March Past by the Thomas, Gabriel and Montfort houses, followed by an Olympic Torch Relay. Mayilvaganan formally declared the meet open.

The inaugural ceremony featured the symbolic release of pigeons and balloons. LKG and UKG students also presented a Montfort Olympic Parade, delighting the audience.

Mayilvaganan highlighted the importance of sports, particularly athletics, while Dhanda stressed the role of sports and road safety. The alumni shared their school experiences and encouraged students to uphold discipline and perseverance.

Track events including the Tiny Tots Run, 100m, 1,500m and 4x100m relay saw enthusiastic participation. Primary students presented a Mass Drill, Floral Dance and Tribal Dance.

The prize distribution honoured students who excelled at national, state, district and international levels. Individual and Overall Championship awards were also presented.

An announcement to this effect was made by PWD and Highways Minister Aadhav Arjuna during the Assembly session.

The department will initially prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) for both projects at an estimated cost of Rs 20 lakh each.

The 1,720-metre-long, Rs 88.65-crore Y-shaped Vyasarpadi ROB was taken up by the Highways Department in 2010 and was originally scheduled for completion in 2013. However, land acquisition issues delayed the project and it could be completed only in 2017.

The four-lane ROB starts at Basin Bridge Road and splits into two two-lane arms, one leading to Erukkancheri High Road and the other to Sathyamurthy Nagar Main Road near Kalyanapuram.

However, traffic approaching the ROB from Moolakadai gets choked near Vyasarpadi market, as vehicles have to enter the narrow Kalyanapuram Second Street to reach the Sathyamurthy Nagar arm. Vehicles coming from Basin Bridge also face congestion after landing and are forced to take Muthu Mudali Street to reach Erukkancheri High Road.

A senior Highways Department official said traffic near Vyasarpadi market remained congested throughout the day. "We will conduct field studies to understand the traffic pattern and carry out a feasibility study before preparing the DPR. We will examine various alignment options to extend the existing ROB," the official said.

The proposed extension towards Madhavaram is expected to improve connectivity between Vyasarpadi and Madhavaram, Puzhal, and the northern suburbs.

Basin Bridge widening

The Basin Bridge has been a longstanding bottleneck for vehicles from North Chennai proceeding towards Central and Broadway.

During question hour in the State Assembly on April 16, 2025, Perambur MLA RD Sekar of the DMK had urged the government to widen the bridge, citing severe congestion caused by vehicles heading towards Central and Broadway.

Responding to him, the then Public Works Minister EV Velu had said that the government would examine whether the Basin Bridge could be widened or a new bridge constructed. He had said work would be taken up that year if found feasible.

Traffic diversions have also been in place on the stretch for several years to ease congestion. Vehicles from Basin Power House Road are barred from proceeding towards Mint and have to turn left towards Basin Bridge-Erukkancheri High Road before taking a U-turn under the Vyasarpadi flyover.

Similarly, vehicles travelling from Vyasarpadi cannot take a right turn towards Basin Power House Road and have to travel up to Moolakothalam junction to make a U-turn. The diversions have added to travel time, as motorists have to cover additional distance to reach their destinations.

The Highways Department has now proposed widening the narrow bridges at Basin Bridge junction, which serves as an important link between Korukkupet and Vyasarpadi and central Chennai.

The GNT Road corridor connects the areas with Mint, Walltax Road and other parts of the city.

The railway bridge, the bridge across the Cooum, and the bridge across Otteri Nullah restrict the carrying capacity of the road at the junction. A DPR will be prepared for widening these structures, with the initial cost estimated at Rs 20 lakh.

"Traffic has been choking at Basin Bridge for several years. It should have been done much earlier. Now it will be taken up," the official said.

With the second airport delayed further, the real question isn’t how much Meenambakkam can be stretched in the short term, it’s why Chennai has been planning a second airport for years, and how soon that requirement becomes unavoidable.

A proposed Terminal 5 at Meenambakkam could eventually push capacity to about 55 million passengers a year. But the city has been planning a second airport regardless, not just to handle more passengers, but to expand cargo capacity and keep pace with competing metros.

“While upgrading the existing facility buys crucial operational runway, Chennai undeniably needs a second airport to support its expanding industrial, manufacturing, and services footprint long-term,” P Ravichandran, chairman, CII Southern region.

An AAI forecast had projected the city’s traffic rising to 46.49 million by 2032-33, with aircraft movements reaching 3.24 lakh. The same projections put Chennai at 50.97 million by 2031-32. TN’s own 2023-24 policy note said that the Chennai airport was expected to reach saturation by 2028.

Separately, aviation consultancy CAPA India has stated that Chennai and Kolkata were likely to breach saturation by 2032, calling this an indicator of urgent need for secondary greenfield airports at both cities.

The gap is clearest when Chennai is set against the other major southern metros. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport handled 44.47 million passengers in 2025-26, up 6.2%, with international traffic alone growing 23.9%. The airport’s Terminal 2 was built with a 60 million capacity ceiling.

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport handled roughly 30.5 million passengers, growing 10.5%; its existing terminal has a 34 million capacity, with expansion planned to take that to 80 million in next five years.

Chennai, by contrast, handled 23.02 million passengers in 2025-26 against a capacity of roughly 30 million, and moved 3.79 lakh tonnes of cargo in FY24-25; well behind Bengaluru’s 5.32 lakh tonnes. Chennai’s 1.56 lakh aircraft movements trailed Bengaluru’s 2.81 lakh.

“Chennai has historically competed with these cities for investment, industrial relocation and talent, and sustained momentum on airport infrastructure will be important to protect that competitive position,” Mehul H Doshi, president, CREDAI Chennai.

The city’s cargo traffic is tied directly to the manufacturing and industrial base built up around the city; electronics, automobile components, machinery and other high-value goods form the core of its air freight. The state’s policy documents have specifically cited growing freight movement and the needs of time-critical industries while making the case for a greenfield airport.

The Parandur plan, developed by TIDCO with Louis Berger envisaged a dual-airport system operating alongside the existing one, with an initial capacity of 20 million passengers by 2029, scaling to 50 million by 2036, 70 million by 2043 and 100 million by 2047. The master plan included a 2.3 lakh sq m cargo terminal and truck-docking area, 28 Code-C cargo aircraft stands with 14 more Code-F stands planned for the future, and dedicated MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) infrastructure.

The search for Chennai’s second airport has already consumed years. Now the government has to run that process again: identify a new site, and take it through feasibility, technical and environmental assessments before construction can even begin.

The upcoming art show 'Legacies: Memories, Culture, Traditions: Madras to Chennai', opening at InKo Centre on August 27, brings together eight artists who look at these inheritances through their experiences and artistic practices. Curated by Dr Ashrafi S Bhagat, the exhibition features Dilip Kumar Kesavan, Karthikeyan Pitchaimallian, Kirubakaran N, Preethi Umapathy, Rajesh RV, Ramesh, VR Raviram and Sathya N Prabhu. Working across mediums including printmaking, painting, sculpture and collage, the artists explore different aspects of the city and its transition from Madras to Chennai.

“There are different aspects to the narrative of Madras, in terms of art, architecture, sculpture, cuisine and everyday life. All of these are legacies,” says Ashrafi.

For her, the change in the city's official name did not mean that its earlier identity disappeared. “Chennai has grown into a cosmopolitan city, but its inheritances continue, often in changed forms. For eg; Madras checks is a tradition we have always had and which developed from colonial times. It is about the intersection of various legacies, how they meet, how they differ, how they have developed and transformed into what they are today,” she says.

The changes are most visible in the city itself. Buildings and neighbourhoods have changed, the skyline has been transformed and many familiar landmarks have disappeared. “Yet, the memories attached to these spaces remain. The entire skyline of Chennai has changed over the decades. It is the memory that we still carry,” points out Ashrafi.

The same is true of food and textiles. “Dosa has changed with time, while Kancheepuram sarees and Madras checks continue to be part of the city's cultural vocabulary, albeit in newer forms. The eight artists interpret these changes differently.”

One of the artists uses abstraction, colour, texture and materials to convey how the city has transformed. Two printmakers use the medium to explore different stages of the city's evolution. Artist Rajesh RV works with collage, reflecting his sensibility and perception of Chennai, while Sathya N Prabhu approaches the city through her interpretation of its transition. Watercolourist Kirubakaran N looks at Chennai's shrinking water bodies, while also capturing the sea and fishing, both of which are connected to the city's identity. Another work turns to an older Chennai, featuring the Central Station and a cycle rickshaw in monochrome.

For Ashrafi, the strength of the exhibition lies in these different perspectives. “The artists are not attempting to present one version of Chennai, but responding to the city through their memories and experiences. Each one of them has interpreted what they have felt and what they have to say,” she says.'

Legacies: Memories, Culture, Traditions: Madras to Chennai' will be on display from August 27 to September 22 at The Gallery, InKo Centre.

The Safe Route to Schools programme will be implemented by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) in Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Washermenpet and KK Nagar, with child-friendly street networks covering around 5 km in each neighbourhood.

The school-zone streets will be redesigned with traffic-calming measures, continuous footpaths, protected crossings, raised junctions, improved signage, adequate street lighting and universal accessibility features. The interventions aim to make daily commutes safer for schoolchildren and their caregivers.

The initiative is part of the Chief Minister's Integrated Urban Development Mission (CMIUDM), outlined in the 2026-27 Policy Note of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, tabled in the assembly on Monday by School Education Minister Rajmohan on behalf of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who holds the portfolio.

The mission has a wider focus on pedestrian-friendly streets, climate-resilient infrastructure, public spaces and unlocking the value of underutilised civic assets.

As part of this, the GCC will implement an asset monetisation programme through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. It envisages the development of modern commercial and office complexes, mixed-use developments, and community infrastructure on underutilised civic land and assets.

The government expects the programme to generate sustainable municipal revenue, attract private investment, create jobs, and spur local economic activity, in addition to improving urban infrastructure and public services.

Better Amenities

Bio-mining: 28.70 lakh tonnes of legacy waste at Kodungaiyur and Perungudi will be cleared at Rs 276 crore to reclaim land and improve public health

Sports grounds: Ten GCC sports grounds will be upgraded at Rs 10 crore under CMIUDM

Stormwater drain: A Rs 41-crore drain from Otteri Nalla to the Cooum via Jawaharlal Nehru Salai will address flooding in northwest Chennai

CBG production: CMWSSB will convert sewage sludge biogas into CBG for commercialisation, reducing emissions and dependence on petroleum

The airport, which is already plagued by the stray dog menace, is now seeing an increasing number of birds flying into the departure lounges.

Passengers have complained that pigeons and crows enter the food court and restaurants and hover around tables even when people are having food. At times, the birds are audacious enough to pick food from plates, forcing passengers who paid for their meals to abandon the food and the table.

Meanwhile, passengers at the international arrival section have been complaining about delays in receiving their checked-in baggage. Passengers arriving from Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and London have been forced to wait for hours before their luggage reaches the conveyor belts.

And when passengers finally collect their baggage, they are faced with the next big task of transporting them using airport trolleys, as several trolleys are in poor condition and damaged wheels, making them difficult to push.

Some trolleys even tilt or overturn when they are pushed. Passengers are then forced to search for another trolley and transfer their baggage, causing further inconvenience after a lengthy wait.

Official sources at Chennai airport said measures had already been taken to prevent birds from entering the terminal by installing protective nets.

However, some sections of the nets had become damaged or loose, allowing birds to enter. Authorities said steps were being taken to repair the damaged nets.

Regarding the damaged trolleys, the airport officials expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers. They said their teams regularly identify damaged trolleys, isolate them and take them for repairs.

They also assured passengers that the process of identifying and removing defective trolleys will be intensified.

The woman, identified as M Kalavathi, was found unconscious in 1.5-foot-deep stagnant water on 5th avenue, Anna Nagar. She worked as a housekeeping staff at a sweet stall in Anna Nagar.

The incident happened on Sunday (August 23) evening when she was returning from a church. Her daughter Sangeetha (28) told mediapersons that her mother called her on the phone around 9 pm and told her she would return home late.

"About 11 pm, I received a call and the caller, who claimed to be a policeman, said he would send a photograph on WhatsApp and asked me to confirm if it was my mother," Sangeetha recalled.

She said the policeman told her that her mother seemed to have suffered an electric shock, as the rescuers reported feeling an electric shock while moving her.

According to police personnel, onlookers saw the woman lying unconscious in water and alerted the police. The police with the help of people pulled Kalavathi out of the stagnant water and moved her to a hospital, where she was declared as brought dead.

Her body was then sent to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

A senior official from the Chennai municipal corporation said, "The storm water drain works on that stretch were completed two months ago. The man who retrieved the woman's body mentioned feeling an electric shock when he touched her."

However, no exposed cables were found at the spot, where the woman was found.

Officials from the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited and police personnel have inspected the scene and gathered CCTV footage, while the police are awaiting the post-mortem result to ascertain the cause of death.

Organised by Tamil Perayam, the celebrations featured a series of community-oriented initiatives under the Service Day programme.

These included blood and eye donation drives, free medical camps, temple cleaning activities, tree plantation drives, student competitions and distribution of educational materials to underprivileged students.

A key highlight was the inauguration of the SRM Rehab Centre–Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, by Dr Parivendhar in the presence of Pro-Chancellor (Academics) Dr P Sathyanarayanan.

Mrs Easwari Ammal also inaugurated a hostel facility spanning more than eight lakh square feet on the SRMIST campus.

The event also witnessed the release of LEGACY, the Medical Faculty magazine, highlighting its academic, healthcare and research contributions.

The researchers used large language models (LLMs) to extract and organise decades of scientific knowledge from more than 10,000 research papers, creating two databases with over 1,85,000 structured records. The databases are freely available through Alloy Tattvasar and GitHub.

The platform addresses a key challenge in materials research, where valuable experimental information is scattered across scientific papers, tables, and figures. Its automated pipeline extracts alloy compositions, manufacturing processes, testing conditions, and more than 350 material properties, enabling systematic comparison of materials.

"Instead of spending years manually collecting data from thousands of publications, our framework automatically builds structured databases that can be used to identify sustainable materials much faster," said Rohit Batra, assistant professor, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.

The system also incorporates environmental, economic, and social indicators, enabling researchers to assess alloys on performance as well as sustainability. It uses retrieval-augmented generation to retrieve relevant examples during extraction, improving the accuracy of information drawn from scientific text and tables.

The researchers demonstrated the platform's utility by identifying promising high-entropy alloys for lightweight structural applications in automobiles and aerospace, soft magnetic materials for electric motors and transformers, and corrosion-resistant alloys for marine infrastructure, offshore engineering, chemical processing, and energy systems.

The study was carried out by Aravindan Kamatchi Sundaram, Mohit Chakraborty, Sai Mani Kumar Devathi, and doctoral scholar B Pabitramohan Prusty under Batra's guidance. It received funding from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, DRDO's Directorate of Industry and Academia and IIT-Madras's Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, with computational support from the Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and AI.

Published in Advanced Science, the research could help reduce duplicate experiments, support greener manufacturing and reduce dependence on critical materials.

The team plans to extend the platform to extract information from figures and microstructural images and apply the framework to polymers, ceramics and composites.

Why have onion prices increased at Koyambedu Market?

Wholesalers said heavy rains in Maharashtra and increased onion exports have reduced the supply of onions from northern states to Koyambedu Market. Onions from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are sold at the market.

How much has onion supply fallen at Koyambedu Market?

Traders said the daily arrival of onions, which usually stands at 70-80 trucks, has fallen to around 50 trucks.

The terminal, being developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, will be built in two phases. The first phase will add 1.1 million TEUs at an estimated Rs 2,429.32 crore, while the second will add another 0.9 million TEUs at Rs 1,858.94 crore. The project will be implemented on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis, with a 40-year concession for the private developer.

It will have a 900 metre continuous quay, with 500 metres coming up in phase I and the remaining 400 metres in phase II, and will be capable of handling ultra large container carriers of up to 24,346 TEUs.

The terminal is intended to handle both gateway cargo, which moves to and from the port's hinterland, and transshipment cargo, where containers are transferred from one vessel to another at an intermediate port. The facility will have container yards, pile berths, internal roads, a customs gate complex, administrative buildings and utility infrastructure, besides ship-to-shore gantry cranes and other container-handling equipment.

The expansion comes as KPL seeks to build up its container business as part of a much larger long-term capacity push. Its master plan 2047, released in December 2024, envisages increasing the port's capacity from about 57.44 million tonnes to 254.52 million tonnes and expanding the number of berths from nine to 27 by 2047.

The Chennai-Kamarajar-Cuddalore port cluster has separately been identified by the Union government for development as a mega port by 2047, with the cluster targeting more than 300 million tonnes of annual capacity.

The KPL currently has nine operational berths with a total cargo handling capacity of 58.44 million tonnes. Its berths handle coal, liquid cargo, including petroleum, LPG and LNG, automobiles, containers and multi-purpose cargo. The port handled 49.08 million tonnes in 2025-26.

The second container terminal will occupy 111.19 acres, with 61.77 acres earmarked for phase 1 and 49.42 acres for phase 2. The construction is scheduled to take 48 months, with 24 months allotted to each phase.

The incident occurred when breakfast was served to students under the Tamil Nadu government's Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme. While the students were eating the pongal, teachers reportedly noticed a lizard in the food and immediately stopped the children from consuming it.

Students who had already eaten the food complained of mild vomiting and dizziness. Eleven students were taken to the Poonamallee Government Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment and remain under medical observation.

Five students of a government girls' school located behind the Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Poonamallee also consumed the same food and developed similar symptoms. They too were taken to the hospital for treatment.

The food was prepared at a municipal cooking centre and supplied to more than 1,300 students in 12 government and government-aided schools in Mangadu, Kundrathur and Poonamallee. After the incident came to light, officials alerted the other schools supplied by the centre and stopped distribution of the breakfast.

Teachers and doctors are monitoring the other students to determine whether anyone else has been affected. The incident has raised concerns over food safety under the breakfast scheme.

Sivagamisundari is a close associate of deceased Sri Lankan gangster and drug trafficker, Angoda Lokka, NCB stated.

According to the NCB, they received a tip off about movement of the contraband and intercepted the couple near Porur toll plaza early this week and secured the contraband from them. The value of the seized contraband is about Rs 75 lakh.

Probe revealed that Sivagamisundari had earlier been arrested by Tamil Nadu Police's CBCID in connection with a case registered in 2020 for her alleged involvement in the fabrication of

identity and other supporting documents for Angoda Lokka and facilitating his illegal stay in India.

She was among the associates arrested and investigated in connection with his activities in Tamil Nadu, an official release stated adding, "The present seizure is significant as a person with an established association with a Sri Lankan organised-crime and drug-trafficking network has now been apprehended in possession of Hashish allegedly destined for Sri Lanka.

NCB is further investigating the source of the contraband, the intended recipients and the wider network involved in its transnational trafficking.

Since the beginning of the year, NCB Chennai has seized approximately, 2,916.4 kg of Ganja, 77.7 kg of Hashish Oil, 1.8 kg of Amphetamine, 13 kg of Hashish and 2,799 LSD Blots and have arrested 48 persons. Total estimated value of the seized drugs being approximately Rs 27.80 crore.