The "Metro-vil Madras Day" event will be held during the midnight hours of August 21 into August 22. Billed as a first-of-its-kind experience in the city, the event will combine public transport, live music, and Madras Day festivities.

The celebrations will begin at the Koyambedu Metro station with a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the arrival of Madras Day.

Participants will then board the train, where the musical performance will continue as the train makes its way towards the Airport Metro station and returns to Koyambedu station.

The ride is expected to last 90 minutes and will feature a live performance by Chennai-based contemporary band Office Gaana.

The event is being offered free of charge. According to the organisers, public interest was immediate, with registrations closing within just 30 minutes of opening.

The initiative brings together what the organisers describe as three elements of contemporary Chennai its people, public transport and music.

With a live band performing as the train travels through the city at midnight, the organisers hope to turn an everyday mode of transport into a collective celebration of Chennai.

The event also forms part of Super Chennai and CMRL's efforts to create public experiences centred on Chennai's culture, identity and changing urban landscape.

With slots currently filled, those interested can seek additional details on https://www.superchennai.com/contest/madras-day-2026-midnight-metro-ride.

Madras Day commemorates the founding of the city and is marked annually through events celebrating Chennai's history, culture and identity.

This year's midnight metro initiative adds a distinctly contemporary setting to the celebrations, with the city's transport network itself becoming part of the occasion.

The court passed the order on Wednesday, sentencing the then DGM of Bank of India N Venkatachalam; record clerk of Sholinganallur Taluk office M Sivakumar; VAO of Puzhalavandhal T Dasarathan; another VAO M Manichavelu and private persons OP Thamarai Poo and P Thandapani.

The six were also collectively fined Rs 2.70 crore, according to the CBI.

The CBI registered the case on May 19, 2010, based on a complaint from Bank of India. The agency alleged that the prime accused, E Muthuswamy and others, in conspiracy with bank officials, fraudulently obtained various credit facilities by submitting false and fabricated documents.

The accused allegedly misappropriated bank funds and caused a loss of Rs 2.39 crore to the bank.

Following the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on December 28, 2011, against 12 persons, including five public servants and seven private individuals.

During the trial, the case against suspended senior draftsman V Umapathy of the Land and Survey Department was split up and is being tried separately in CC 18/2016.

Four accused - E Muthusamy, A Vincent, K Srikanth and M Jothi - died during the trial, following which the charges against them were abated. Another accused, Lavanya, was acquitted.

Police have arrested three persons, including the brothers of the victim’s estranged wife, for the murder. 

Police said Rathinavel was riding a two-wheeler near a private school on VOC. Nagar Street when two men waylaid him and attacked him repeatedly with sickles before fleeing the spot. Hearing his cries, locals rushed to help and alerted police.

Police rushed the injured man to the hospital, where he was declared as brought dead. The body was sent to the Government Stanley Hospital for post-mortem. 

During investigation, police found that Rathinavel was married with two sons. The family lived at Kavangarai near Puzhal. He had separated from his wife and allegedly entered into an extramarital relationship with his wife’s sister-in-law and had been living with her near Mondiyamman Nagar for the past few months. 

Despite repeated warnings from relatives, Rathinavel refused to end the relationship. Enraged over this, his wife’s brothers – Saravanan (39) and Dhanasekaran (34) – and a relative Palanisamy (45), plotted to murder Rathinavel, which they executed on Wednesday. 

All three were arrested. Two knives and a two-wheeler used in the crime were seized. They were produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. 

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,16,800 per sovereign and Rs 14,600 per gram, after an increase of Rs 200 per gram.

Earlier on August 19, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,13,640 per sovereign and Rs 14,205 per gram.

Silver prices increases

Meanwhile, silver prices also increased by Rs 10, to sell for Rs 260 per gram (Rs 2,60,000 per kg) on August 20.

On August 19, silver was sold at Rs 250 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 73,440 per sovereign (Rs 9,180 per gram) on August 20, 2025, to Rs 1,16,800 per sovereign (Rs 14,600 per gram) on August 20, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 43,360 or about 59.04%.

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

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

August 18, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,320 | 1 gram - Rs 14,290

August 17, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,160 | 1 gram - Rs 14,270

August 15, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,760 | 1 gram - Rs 14,220

August 14, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,12,320 | 1 gram - Rs 14,040

Silver price over the last five days:

August 19, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 250

August 18, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 17, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 15, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 14, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

Murali (39) of Kodungaiyur works as a cab driver. He had applied for the post of Office Assistant in the Labour Welfare Department in 2018. He came into contact with David Raja, who was working at the Government Press.

David claimed that he knew many government officials and had secured jobs for many people. He took Rs 13 lakh from Murali by promising to get him a driver position in the Education department and his wife a lab technician job.

Murali paid the amount in two instalments and a few months later, David notified them of two vacancies in the Finance department. Following this, Murali's brother Siva and his wife also paid Rs 13.5 lakh for the jobs.

However, David cited the COVID-19 outbreak for failing to provide the job and cheated them.

Based on their complaint, police arrested David Raja (34) of Government Press Quarters, New Washermenpet, on Wednesday (August 19).

Probe revealed that he used the tainted money to buy land in Pallavaram, and the property documents were seized. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

Following directives from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, multi-departmental operations are being jointly-executed by the GCC, Public Works department, Metro Water Board, and Southern Railway.

The initiative spans key structural repairs, including constructing new stormwater drains, repairing existing networks, elevating manholes, and servicing flood-pumping stations.

Desilting is under way across 1,671.39 km of stormwater drains, 1,10,082 silt catch pits, and 1,08,041 drain channels.

Over 11,790 metric tonnes of silt and invasive water hyacinth have been cleared from local water bodies over the past month.

Additionally, works cover 430 km of stormwater drains and 18,000 inspection pits under the Highways department's jurisdiction.

Targeted clearing operations are securing 815 minor subways, 16 major subways, 12 pedestrian subways, and seven critical low-lying zones to ensure uninterrupted transit during heavy rains.

GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran inspected ongoing SWD construction works on 3rd Avenue, Anna Nagar. Subsequently reviewed overall pre-monsoon preparedness and drain works across the North, Central, and South regions.

A special recruitment camp for the apprenticeship training will be held at the MTC Industrial Training School, Chromepet, on September 2 at 10.00 am.

Eligible candidates can attend the camp and submit their applications.

Candidates who have completed ITI courses in mechanical motor vehicle, diesel mechanic, auto electrician, electrician, fitter, welder, painter and turner trades are eligible to apply.

Eligible candidates are requested to participate in the special camp and make use of this opportunity.

The complainant, Revathi (33) of Sathuma Nagar in Tiruvottiyur, runs a beauty parlour.

On August 9, Revathi had kept her savings of Rs 1.2 lakh and a half-sovereign gold ring in the locker in her house.

When she checked the locker recently, the valuables were missing. After searching the entire house, Revathi filed a police complaint.

After investigations, the police detained Revathi's neighbours, Suganya (32) and her mother, Shanthi (55), for questioning based on credible proof.

The woman and her mother agreed to have stolen the items during one of their visits to Revathi's house. The police recovered Rs 42,500 from them.

Both the accused were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. Further investigation is under way.

In an interview with DT Next, she reflected on what the Jantar Mantar mobilisation represented, how it drew people in, AISA’s working relationship with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) despite differences in ideological clarity, the Left’s struggle for visibility and a class distinction between student and workers’ movements.

Do you consider the CJP’s protest different from the anti-CAA or farmers’ protest?

All the protests are the same yet different. The CAA protests were also led by youth. They were all very clear in consolidating people against the government, against the present regime. Even though some people might say the Jantar Mantar protests were just for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, that is not true. It mobilised people against whatever has been going on in this country for the past few years.

The same is the case with the CAA. It was about the Citizenship Amendment Act, but it turned out to be about people mobilising against whatever has been going on in this country for a long time. The farmers' protest was against the farm laws, but it consolidated people against the order of things and the politics and the system.

You have said that the success of this protest was also somewhat due to people not really caring who the leader was. Can you explain?

I think that is true for all of these protests. People did not care who their leader was. Not exactly in that manner, but they were excited about the fact that there was such a popular expression of disagreement with people in power who claimed to be unquestionable, who claimed to be infallible. After a certain point in time, leaders are, of course, important. But like all mass movements, people also have a say in what direction the movement will take. That was the same case here in the CJP protests.

AISA and the Left were vocal about the abolition of the NTA and the NEP. Are you satisfied with the outcome of the protest, given that it ultimately revolved around the paper leak and the resignation rather than an overhaul of the system?

I am satisfied with the outcome of the protest, but we also know that replacing one person with another who is equally bad, if not worse, is not how students will stop facing paper leaks, corruption or mismanagement in examinations. But this movement was also important for people to realise that Dharmendra Pradhan left, but they are facing the same system.

Did any conversation take place between CJP and AISA about the fact that the resignation was not the end goal?

We did talk about it, but we also recognise that mass movements do need to have certain very concrete agendas.

The people who came had left their jobs for three or four weeks. They were fired from their jobs because they refused to go back. They had come from Maharashtra, Assam, Bengal and different parts of the country.

For them to be able to stay there and fight the system is a very strong idea, but it's also a very big idea. It's a vague idea also. Dharmendra Pradhan resigning is a concrete thing you can point to. That is why often we see that mass movements have a very concrete agenda, so that it's easy for people to grab onto it, to latch their agendas and energies into that.

Tell us about the collaboration with CJP, particularly in terms of ideology.

As of now, I think the CJP has not told us what its ideology is, or we have not had enough history of the CJP to piece together and figure out what their ideology is yet. It is still very new. But as long as they are fighting for students and young people, we are ready to work with them. It's okay with us.

Student movements, particularly organisations such as AISA, have traditionally been at the forefront of mobilising people. But CJP got considerable visibility during the protest. Do you think Left organisations are still lacking when it comes to visibility?

I think CJP has a very robust system for interactions and communication with the media and social media presence. With people like Arpit (Sharma), Dhruv Rathee... they have a very big network because of their past political work. We don’t have such connections. So our social media presence is not as strong as theirs.

Do you find that people alienate themselves from the Left? How do you deal with that?

I think there has been a lot of money and years and years of propaganda to delegitimise the Left because it's the only real challenge to American imperialism in the world. There have been several regimes and leaders at different periods where the Left has been more relevant, and there has been a sustained campaign to delegitimise the Left and associate it instead with foreign influence.

Which is a funny thing because if there is any foreign influence, it is the foreign influence of fascism from Germany, from Italy and RSS ideologues. Bhagat Singh is not foreign influence. Ambedkar is not foreign influence. Savitribai (Phule) and Fatima (Sheikh) are not foreign influences.

The second thing is that we feel that this movement has already made the Left popular among people. Whatever I say, those ideas come from an understanding of the Left, from an understanding of communism, from an understanding of socialism. All of those ideas come from there. And if people connect to it, if people like it, well then they are socialists.

In the Indian context, electorally, what do you see as the next big hurdle?

I think electorally the biggest hurdle next is elections, with the advent of SIR, where people are being systematically picked, handpicked and thrown out of citizenship. That is the biggest challenge to electoral democracy, I would say.

There was considerable anger against the education system that led to the mass protest and the resignation. Do you think there is not the same amount of anger against the labour system in India? Isn’t that a bigger challenge?

It is a big challenge. There is a difference in the kind of issues that get limelight.
For the issue of paper leaks to become so popular required a lot of resources and an extensive presence of people on social media. A very big chunk of that population was invested in the paper leak movement.

When you talk about the movement against the labour codes, or the Gurugram-Manesar protests a few months ago, a majority of the participants were also young. They were Gen Z too, but they were gig workers who did not have access to social and cultural capital. Hence, a majority of their time is not spent creating content on social media. They were labelled as disruptors, as having been funded by foreign forces to destabilise India. But the Jantar Mantar protests gained immense popularity. So there is nothing but a class divide in this.

Students have a certain amount of security. They have a certain level of cushioning about institutions. But workers, if they do not spend 18 hours a day labouring in their respective professions or jobs, then it is a question of basic survival for them. There is also a difference in how the media treats workers' protests and how it treats popular, aesthetic protests like the Gen Z protest.

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:

August 19 - Rs 107.77

August 18 - Rs 107.77

August 17 - Rs 107.77

August 16 - Rs 107.77

August 15 - Rs 107.77

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

August 19 - Rs 99.55

August 18 - Rs 99.55

August 17 - Rs 99.55

August 16 - Rs 99.55

August 15 - Rs 99.55

The complainant, R Mahalakshmi, resides on Radhakrishnan Road, Valasaravakkam. Police said that she had gone to a nearby ration shop to buy groceries and was returning home on her two-wheeler when the incident happened.

When she stopped at the apartment complex to open the gate, a man snatched the 8-sovereign gold chain she was wearing, took her two-wheeler and fled the scene. Based on her complaint, Valasaravakkam police registered a case and launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the area is being examined to identify and trace the accused.

The conversation comes at a time when celebrating Madras also means looking beyond its familiar narratives. “Not all our heritage is about celebrating. We also need to introspect and ensure that exclusions based on caste or religion are not repeated,” says historian Kombai Anwar.

The panel brings together Madhavi Latha, former national para-athlete, filmmaker and founder of Yes, We Too Can; Karpagam, visually challenged advocate; Kombai Anwar, historian; Neha, trans rights activist and actress; and Miranda Tomkins, deaf-blind educator. Thirupurasundari Sevvel, architect, urban planner, historian, curator and founder of Nam Veedu Nam Oor Nam Kadhai, will moderate the discussion.

The panel also brings the question of accessibility into the conversation. Madhavi Latha recalls encountering inaccessible public infrastructure during her early years of advocacy. She says Chennai has since made significant progress, including more accessible stadiums, buses and sporting facilities. But she stresses that accessibility goes beyond ramps and elevators. “It is about agency and independence,” she says.

For Madhavi, the remaining challenge is not only infrastructure but also attitudes. She points to the “last mile” problem, inaccessible pavements and transport, and the lack of accessibility in cultural spaces. Her call is for universal design and for people with disabilities to be included in city planning rather than treated as recipients of facilities. “We do not need a separate ‘disability corner’ in history; our stories must be woven into the mainstream narrative.”

For Thirupurasundari Sevvel, inclusion must be built into how a city is conceived. Rather than prescribing one way of looking at Chennai, she hopes the conversation will open up possibilities for doing things differently. “Every voice matters, because each one adds another layer to our understanding of Madras,” says Thirupurasundari.

That multiplicity of perspectives is central to the evening. Madras, as Anwar points out, has never had just one story. “Its history is layered, and voices with greater privilege have often been recorded more easily than others. Bringing different experiences into the conversation allows more of those layers to be recognised. Madras cannot be told through one history, one neighbourhood, one community or one kind of expertise,” adds Anwar.

For Madhavi, the idea of inclusion also extends to how the city remembers its people. “The story of Chennai belongs to all of its people,” she says, arguing that the contributions of people with disabilities must be woven into the city’s mainstream history rather than placed in a separate category.

“If Anaivarum 2 makes someone look at a familiar street and ask, ‘Who else should be able to experience this place, and how?’, then I think the conversation has already begun,” concludes Thirupurasundari. The discussion will be held on August 21, from 4 to 6 pm, at Alliance Française of Madras, Chennai. A sign language interpreter will be available.

The stretch is used by thousands of commuters travelling to the bus terminus, private hospitals, commercial establishments and Vadapalani Metro station. As the road is narrow, there is limited space for a separate pedestrian walkway.

Ongoing Metro Rail and storm water drain works have further reduced the available road space. This has led to traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours, while pedestrians struggle to move safely along the stretch.

Murugan, a resident, said, “There has been no footpath here for the past four years. People face difficulties every day, especially during peak hours. From children to senior citizens, everyone is forced to walk on the road among moving vehicles. There is also no proper crossing line, making it difficult for pedestrians to cross the road safely.”

Concurring with him was another resident, Vicky, who added: “Vehicles are also parked along the pedestrian path. The road is dangerous for anyone to navigate on foot.”

A senior Corporation official told DT Next that footpaths were missing only in some narrow stretches of Arcot Road. “As the road width between Vadapalani Bus Terminus and Vadapalani Junction is limited, footpaths could not be provided at certain locations,” he clarified.

SWD works are currently being carried out for about 960 metres between Kamarajar Statue and Vadapalani Junction. Work has been completed for around 500 metres, while the remaining is under way. Officials said that steps were being taken to complete the work before the upcoming monsoon.

“After the Metro Rail works are completed, an assessment will be carried out to identify suitable locations for footpaths, following which footpath works will be taken up,” another official added.

Residents have urged the authorities to provide proper footpaths on both sides of the road after the Metro Rail and SWD works are completed to ensure pedestrians’ safety.

The deceased was identified as Venkatraman of Tiruverkadu. Police said that he was a construction labourer and an alcoholic, which led to health complications.

Venkatraman had been suffering from intense abdominal pain for the past few days and was undergoing treatment at Kilpauk hospital since Tuesday, when around midnight, he developed severe stomach pain again.

His body was found by the public on Wednesday morning. Kilpauk police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances leading to the suicide.

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.

Spread across 9.64 acres with the immediate periphery extending to 30-50 metres from the bund, the Old Goodshed Road Railway Pond has been encroached upon over the years, reducing its water spread to just 2.28 acres.

Core hydraulic works are already underway, including desilting, removal of invasive vegetation and Metro Rail construction debris, strengthening of the bund and construction. The works are aimed at increasing the pond’s storage capacity to 1.17 lakh cubic metres, providing flood mitigation for low-lying neighbourhoods including Nehru Nagar and MGR Nagar.

With the hydraulic restoration underway, the GCC now plans to add landscaping and public amenities to turn the waterbody into a neighbourhood asset. The consultant will prepare a concept master plan, layout drawings, preliminary cost estimates based on the GCC’s Schedule of Rates and an indicative phasing strategy.

The proposed amenities include a continuous walking and cycling track along the bund, surfaced with permeable pavers or gravel, along with entry plazas, directional signage, drop-off points and pedestrian ramps compliant with accessibility standards. The landscape plan will include native and riparian vegetation to stabilise slopes, marshy wetland edges and biodiversity zones with bird-nesting areas and floating vegetation islands.

The proposal also includes high-mast and solar-powered LED lighting, weather-resistant street furniture, educational signage and elevated viewing decks for birdwatching and passive recreation. An outdoor gym, an inclusive children's play area with rubberised safety flooring and open plazas for community gatherings and environmental activities are also planned.

To prevent garbage dumping and fresh encroachments, composite fencing will be provided, along with protective guardrails along steep slopes and water edges.

The selected consultant will first submit an inception report defining the study boundary and carry out physical and hydrological surveys. The agency will also map land use and informal usage patterns and document the existing baseline conditions.

The consultancy will involve consultations with resident welfare associations, local residents, Tondiarpet zonal officials, GCC’s Special Projects Department and Chennai Traffic Police to address access, traffic movement and public safety.

The project is part of the GCC’s broader blue-green infrastructure initiative. The civic body maintains 246 ponds across the city and has restored more than 230 of them.

Amenities on the anvil

• Space for walking and cycling

• Entry plazas with clear signage, bollards, and barrier-free ramps

• Native and Riparian planting to control erosion

• Wetland Edge treatment to create a natural-edge transition

• Biodiversity zones to attract local fauna and birds

• Solar-powered LED lights along the walking track

• Weather-resistant seating benches, bins and ecosystem educational signage

• Viewing decks

• Children’s play area with an open-air gym

• Open spaces for gatherings and community events

• Boundary fence to prevent dumping and re-encroachment

• Safety railings along steep slopes, water edges, and elevated platforms

The creepers have grown around the poles supporting the transformer, power cables and other electrical equipment. Residents said the creepers have remained around the transformer for more than 7 months without proper maintenance. They have now spread not only around the transformer but also towards the overhead power cables and electrical equipment.

The transformer is surrounded by dense creepers, leaving little space around the electrical equipment. Residents fear that the creepers could spread further during the monsoon and come into contact with the power cables. A pedestrian walkway is also located near the transformer, raising concerns for people who use it.

A resident, Yogeshwari, said, "The creepers have not been removed for more than 7 months, and no proper maintenance work has been carried out so far. The creepers growing from the nearby Otteri waterway have spread along the walkway and onto the transformer. It is frightening to walk on the pathway. Immediate maintenance work is needed in the area."

When contacted, a TNPDCL official noted that the transformer had been functioning in the area for more than five years and that its supporting poles had been damaged. He said, "The transformer is located inside the Hindustan Bible Institute campus. A new (Ring Main Unit) RMU converter transformer will be installed inside the campus to replace the existing transformer."

A Ring Main Unit converter transformer will be installed inside the campus to replace the existing transformer, assured a TNPDCL official

The official said the work is expected to be completed within a month. Once the work is completed, the old transformer will be completely removed, the official added.

Ramanujar, founder of Cycling Yogis, says the connection between the two places goes back several centuries. “It is said that the connection between India and Sri Lanka is like an umbilical bond. Such are the roots. The Boat Mail travelled from Chennai Egmore Railway Station to Dhanushkodi, from where boats carried passengers to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka,” he says.

For the author, food offers one of the easiest ways to see how the two cultures have influenced each other. “Kothu roti, sothi, maasi thokku and string hoppers are a few that stayed back. Not to mention the lungi on the textile front,” he says.

The links are also visible in Madras’ cultural history. Radio Ceylon was a familiar presence in homes before the days of the internet, while trade and travel between the two countries helped build connections that extended beyond commerce. Ramanujar also points to MGR’s links with Sri Lanka. “Our legendary Chief Minister, late Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR, had his roots in Kandy. From mercantile connections, cinema and music to food and textiles, the island nation has had a deep influence on Madras,” he adds.

The book brings together different aspects of this shared history. Historian Meenakshi Devaraj writes about the historical connections, Gayathri KK looks at textile history, while Prasanna S and Muhilan explore the culinary links between Chennai and Sri Lanka. Srishti Nadathur and Thirupurasundari Sevvel write about the Boat Mail service.

Ramanujar sees the book as a way of putting these connections together in one place. “Connecting cultural, social and religious entities among nations, especially in the Indian context, brings about a sense of pride. It also brings forward the sense of ‘vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, the world is one family,” he concludes.

Shah arrived at the old airport in Chennai by a special flight from New Delhi at 9.10 pm. He was received by Tamil Nadu Minister Rajkumar, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran, former state BJP president Pon Radhakrishnan, BJP functionaries and government officials.

After the reception, Shah left the old airport by road for a private star hotel at Kovalam on the East Coast Road, where the conference is scheduled to be held on Thursday morning.

Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry are expected to participate in the conference. Shah will chair the meeting.

Security was stepped up at the old airport and along the routes that Shah was scheduled to take to Kovalam, with a large number of police personnel deployed as part of the security arrangements.

According to officials, CCTV footage from Central station showed a man and a bespectacled woman entering the station with the red suitcase before boarding the Tamil Nadu Express. The couple placed the suitcase inside the general compartment and got off the train before it departed. 

The footage showed the two walking towards Park station and boarding a suburban train to Tambaram. In a footage recorded later, they were seen leaving the train without the suitcase.

Police are examining CCTV recordings from Central and Park stations along the suburban route to reconstruct the couple’s movements and establish their identities. Their identities have not yet been confirmed. 

The investigation is being coordinated with the UP Government Railway Police (GRP), which registered a case after the mutilated remains were recovered from a red suitcase abandoned in the general compartment of the Chennai-Delhi Tamil Nadu Express. Railway staff found the suitcase after the train arrived at Agra on August 5.

The unidentified body was badly mutilated, with the head and some limbs missing. The UP GRP subsequently sought assistance from Tamil Nadu Police to identify the victim and trace those responsible.

Police are continuing to analyse footage from multiple locations in Chennai as the investigation progresses.

FNCRWA urged the State government to scrap the proposed waste-to-energy incinerator project, as it posed a severe health and environmental threat to North Chennai.

According to the residents, establishing a multi-speciality hospital in Perambur has been a long-pending core demand of North Chennai residents. They had been consistently insisting on a health care facility by raising the proposal with state ministers, government officials, and relevant departments on several occasions.

FNCRWA President TK Shanmugam said, “The announcement demonstrates how collective community action can successfully bring essential issues to the attention of policymakers, driving tangible change. The State government’s decision is a major milestone for North Chennai.”

Expressing gratitude and appreciation to the State government for prioritising the healthcare needs of the north region, the federation asked the administration to hasten the project forward so that residents could access modern, high-quality, free advanced healthcare services without delay. It also urged the government to address other pressing regional concerns, such as finding a permanent solution to the long-standing Kodungaiyur landfill issue and scrapping the proposed waste-to-energy incinerator project.

Which vegetable prices increased today ?

Ooty carrot – Rs 90 per kg, up by Rs 20 (compared to August 14)

Onion – Rs 50 per kg, up by Rs 12

Tomato – Rs 30 per kg, up by Rs 5

Which vegetable prices decreased today ?

Green chillies – Rs 60 per kg, down by Rs 20 (compared to August 14)

What are the prices of essential vegetables ?

Onion: Rs 50 per kg

Small onion: Rs 70 per kg

Potato: Rs 25 per kg

Tomato: Rs 30 per kg

Coconut: Rs 60 per piece

What are the prices of other vegetables ?

Ooty carrot: Rs 90 per kg

Beans: Rs 90 per kg

Garlic: Rs 240 per kg

Ginger: Rs 180 per kg

Green peas: Rs 180 per kg

Lemon: Rs 220 per kg

Green chillies: Rs 60 per kg

Brinjal: Rs 40 per kg

Bitter gourd: Rs 50 per kg

Capsicum: Rs 50 per kg

Drumstick: Rs 30 per kg

Okra: Rs 30 per kg

How much do herbs cost today ?

Coriander: Rs 7 per bunch

Mint: Rs 6 per bunch

Curry leaves: Rs 25 per bunch

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,13,640 per sovereign and Rs 14,205 per gram, after a decrease of Rs 85 per gram.

Earlier on August 18, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,14,320 per sovereign and Rs 14,290 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices also decreased by Rs 5, to sell for Rs 250 per gram (Rs 2,50,000 per kg) on August 19.

On August 18, silver was sold at Rs 255 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 73,880 per sovereign (Rs 9,235 per gram) on August 19, 2025, to Rs 1,13,640 per sovereign (Rs 14,205 per gram) on August 19, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 39,760 or about 53.81%.

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

August 18, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,320 | 1 gram - Rs 14,290

August 17, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,160 | 1 gram - Rs 14,270

August 15, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,760 | 1 gram - Rs 14,220

August 14, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,12,320 | 1 gram - Rs 14,040

August 13, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,760 | 1 gram - Rs 14,220

Silver price over the last five days:

August 18, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 17, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 15, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 14, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 13, 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 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 18 - Rs 107.77

August 17 - Rs 107.77

August 16 - Rs 107.77

August 15 - Rs 107.77

August 14 - Rs 107.77

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

August 18 - Rs 99.55

August 17 - Rs 99.55

August 16 - Rs 99.55

August 15 - Rs 99.55

August 14 - Rs 99.55

The complainant, Tirupurasundari (75) of Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, lived with her son Gopinath, daughter-in-law Devi, and granddaughter Deepika.

According to police, Tirupurasundari alleged that her family members had been neglecting her for some time and had even denied her food, subjecting her to mental and physical hardship. Tensions escalated on Monday when an argument broke out between Tripurasundari and her son Gopinath.

Police said the argument turned violent, following which Gopinath, Devi, and Deepika allegedly assaulted her and forced her out of the house. Tirupurasundari was admitted to Periyar Nagar GH for treatment.

Based on information, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar police visited the hospital, recorded her statement, and obtained a formal complaint. A case has been registered against Gopinath and his family and further investigations are underway.

Instead of deterring jaywalking, the low dividers allow pedestrians to easily step or jump directly into fast-moving lanes. This sudden surge in mid-block crossings is forcing motorists to swerve unpredictably, leading to a rise in near-misses and minor accidents.

FOMRRA stated that these low medians undercut the massive public investment in Foot Overbridges (FOBs) by incentivising dangerous at-grade crossings rather than directing foot traffic toward designated facilities.

Highlighting past infrastructure flaws, Harsha Koda, co-founder of FOMRRA, pointed out, “FOBs were installed in low-footfall areas like Kalaignar Karunanidhi Road near the Pratyangira Temple, while critically high-density zones like Sholinganallur Junction, SRP Tools junction, BSR Mall junction, and the Sathyabama and Jeppiaar colleges were ignored. This means a high-density population still crosses at ground level, exacerbating traffic jams.”

Commuters also highlighted the disparity in infrastructure, noting that OMR, despite carrying a substantially higher daily traffic volume than the East Coast Road (ECR), but has been provided with a vastly inferior median structure.

RWAs are demanding that CMRL, Highways department, and Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC) intervene. They have urged officials to standardise OMR’s median heights to a minimum of 4-5 feet or install sturdy pedestrian guard railings before traffic along the corridor returns to full capacity.

While ongoing Metro construction has necessitated the removal of several obsolete bridges, authorities have promised that future pedestrian crossings will be seamlessly integrated into the new Metro stations. However, residents remain sceptical. Many question the overall engineering foresight, wondering why pedestrian subways, which require fewer steps to navigate than overbridges, were not incorporated into the broader Metro Rail design.

Camera makes me look longer: Srivatsan Sankaran

For Srivatsan Sankaran, photography began simply with a mobile phone and a curiosity about people, places, culture and the little stories unfolding around him. But over time, “Photography became a language for me — a way to communicate and connect beyond spoken words,” he says.

Being deaf since childhood has shaped how Srivatsan sees the world. Without relying on sound, he has become more aware of what he sees around him, from light and movement to expressions, gestures and small details. “My deafness taught me to slow down and observe. While I may not hear a moment approaching, I can see it developing.” Photography, he says, gave that visual awareness a purpose. What could have been seen as a limitation became part of his photographic language.

What began as a personal interest eventually became a profession. Srivatsan left his corporate job to pursue photography full-time, despite the financial uncertainty and the additional challenges of navigating a hearing world. He has travelled to hundreds of destinations, photographing festivals, heritage, people, and everyday life, and has found himself repeatedly drawn to the stories within them. “The camera doesn’t make me see more — it makes me look longer,” he says.

That approach has also shaped how he photographs places beyond Chennai. He believes the most memorable photographs often come from unexpected moments that reveal something about everyday life. Through Madras Photo Bloggers, he wanted to create a space where people could learn, explore, and express themselves through photography, while making the community more inclusive for those who may not always feel welcome.

For Srivatsan, one photograph that comes closest to explaining why he photographs is a portrait of Choothumani, from a tribal community. Beyond her appearance, the photograph carries a sense of identity, tradition and quiet strength.

It was like I was seeing the world in 4K: Samuel Soundararaj

For Samuel Soundararaj, photography began with a change in the way he saw the world — quite literally. In Class 6 or 7, he realised he could not see things clearly from a distance. By Class 8, he was diagnosed with -4.5 eyesight and given his first pair of glasses. What happened next stayed with him. “It was like I was seeing the world in 4K,” he recalls.

Suddenly, sunsets had colours he had never noticed. Flowers appeared sharper. He found himself wondering why people were not looking at the things he had suddenly begun to notice. That curiosity led him to his father's old film camera. Samuel began photographing sunrises, sunsets, dogs, birds, insects and people. His fascination with wildlife documentaries and programmes featuring people such as Steve Irwin and David Attenborough gradually drew him towards nature and wildlife photography.

In those early years, he also learned that printing his photographs made him look at them differently. His father's school friend introduced him to the works of Impressionist painters such as Monet, Degas and Renoir, as well as photography books featuring Kodak and Ansel Adams. Slowly, he began understanding composition and the difference between merely taking a picture and making one.

On Samuel's 21st birthday, his father told him: “If you aren't thankful and content with what you have, you will never be content or grateful with what you get.” For Samuel, that became a lesson in focusing on the photograph rather than constantly chasing better equipment.

From 2008 to 2016, Samuel searched for a tiger. He travelled to forests and went on safaris in places including Bandipur and Kabini, returning without the photograph — or even the sighting — he had hoped for. Then, in 2016, on an unplanned trip to Nagarhole, he saw his first tiger in the wild. After years of searching, the moment arrived almost when he had stopped expecting it. Another such moment came when Samuel spotted a peacock among the branches of a flame-of-the-forest tree. He noticed the bird moving towards a cluster of flowers and waited for the right moment to capture the frame.

I did it all by myself: Saravanan

“Observation is key!” Saravanan says. Even when he is not consciously photographing, he finds himself watching people and the world around him. When he does have a camera in hand, he often stands back first, observes the person in front of him and thinks about how he can present them through his vision before making the frame. His interests lie in street and fashion photography, along with portraits and conceptual portraits. But he isn't particularly interested in photographing someone simply because they look good. “Raw looks and emotions are underrated,” he adds.

Even when he sees someone interesting, his instinct is not always to immediately take out the camera. He looks for something happening around them — a story that makes the photograph worth making. And even now, he sees photography as something he is still exploring and learning through.

That willingness to experiment has taken him from street photography to portraits, models, clients and celebrities. He has also photographed friends who are Bharatanatyam dancers, using those opportunities to experiment with different kinds of frames and movements.

But photographing people comes with its own challenge: not everyone is comfortable in front of a camera. Saravanan doesn't immediately start giving them poses. Instead, he lets them move naturally and asks them to simply go with the flow. He shoots candid frames while they get comfortable, until eventually the camera becomes less intimidating.

He says he considers every photograph he takes his best in its own way. Before pressing the shutter, he observes and thinks about how he wants to make the image. Afterwards, he shows it to the person he has photographed.

If they really like it, he sometimes goes to a nearby studio, gets two physical copies printed and hands them over to them. “That is my happy core,” he says.

Many of those people, from different cities and different walks of life, have remained in his contacts. He began learning on his own, starting with street photography before gradually moving towards clients, models and celebrities. “I did it all by myself, whatever I've accomplished so far,” he concludes.

Photography chose me: Harish

For Harish, photography seems to have been around long before he consciously chose it. His mother worked as an accountant at a photo studio when he was a child. Even after she left the job, his memories of playing with film rolls and old cameras as though they were toys stayed with him. She was strict about him not taking up photography as a livelihood, but eventually, life took him back to the camera anyway. “I believe photography chose me,” he says. “That is why I always return to it, and what more could you ask for than something that continuously chooses you?”

For Harish, a portrait is not simply about making someone look beautiful. There is a relationship that develops during a shoot — between the photographer and the person being photographed, between the first frame and the hundredth, and between what is planned and what unexpectedly happens.

He believes a shoot should feel natural rather than overly created. That becomes especially important when he photographs actors and models.

One such photograph came early in his journey, when he was photographing a friend at a bookstore. The manager asked them to clear the area so the floor could be cleaned. His friend, an avid reader, picked up a stack of books and moved into another room to read. She was surrounded by scattered books when a beam of light from the window fell directly on her. Harish captured the moment without fully understanding why he was drawn to it. The resulting image looked like a painting.

“I have many photographs that came to me unexpectedly. I don't create these moments. I am simply a tool witnessing them and helping my camera capture them. Photography is an art form, and art brings out kindness and deeper perception. It makes me feel truly alive,” he concludes.

Residents of Pattalam noted that the tree, located along Strahans Road near Mahalakshmi Theatre, had remained untouched despite repeated complaints lodged via the GCC’s 1913 helpline. They added that following the publication of the news article, officials had cleared the tree the very next day.

When asked about the removal action, officials pointed to the news story as the reason. Welcoming the move, V Sathiabalan, State Secretary of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Tamil Nadu, said: “Following the news report, Corporation officials cut down the tilted tree. Removing it will prevent injuries to passersby and protect vehicles that are regularly parked underneath from being damaged during the upcoming monsoon. While cutting down trees in the city is generally regrettable, removing this particular tree alongside Strahans Road near Mahalakshmi Theatre has not harmed the green cover unnecessarily. In fact, it has eliminated a major risk to members of the public who gather under its shade daily.”

Meanwhile, residents urged civic authorities to plant at least two saplings in the nearby vicinity to compensate for the loss of the tree.

To implement the change, the State Government issued a GO 313 through the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department on October 6, which outlines guidelines for removing or changing public names that denote caste or promote social discrimination.

The letter from the Social Justice Department asked the Corporation to inspect public infrastructure and take appropriate corrective action. Meanwhile, a State-Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, is scheduled to take place soon to review progress.

A GCC official stated, “As per the directive, we have instructed officials to audit streets and submit a zone-wise report. Around 77 street names with caste references have been identified across the Kodambakkam, Valasaravakkam, and Adyar zones, with reports from the remaining zones awaited.”

According to the guidelines, if a caste title appears as a suffix, only the suffix will be removed. If the entire street name centres on a caste, it will be completely renamed. Examples of streets currently under review include Gengu Reddy Road, Brahmin Street, Vanniyar Street, Reddy Street, and Dr Nair Road in the Kodambakkam zone.

The State Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF), K Veni, said, “The TNUEF welcomes the initiative to enumerate street names containing caste references, as our state is known for its commitment to social justice compared to others in the country. While the previous government suggested alternatives for street names with caste references, it failed to include leaders like Dr BR Ambedkar and M Singaravelar, who fought tirelessly for social justice. We submitted a representation to the government to add their names to the list, and the new administration must now ensure their names are included in the revised list.”

Some streets have already changed. For instance, GN Chetty Road was renamed Gopathy Narayanan Road, and Srinivasa Iyer Street and Balakrishna Naicken Street in West Mambalam were shortened to Srinivasa (I) Street and Balakrishna (N) Street, the official added.

This is what 'Madras Reimagined: Heritage, Culture, Urban Futures' hopes to explore. Organised by Heritage Inspired, Global Shapers Community Chennai and Art Kin Centre, the day-long programme will be held on August 22 at Art Kin Centre as part of Madras Day celebrations.

“We have constantly been talking about the past. I feel like this is something that we need to concentrate on too: the urban future,” says Shalini Ravikumar of Heritage Inspired, a cultural heritage organisation that works on the concept of living heritage. Shalini has been working as a conservation architect in the city for the past seven years. For her, Chennai’s history exists in many layers. “Chennai has got a lot of heritage, but it is in multiple layers. This is something we need to uncover. Chennai was a set of villages and each village had a name and its history. It also had a lot of association with the Chola kingdom. That is one aspect that we wanted to bring in with this.”

The programme also asks a larger question: what if heritage is not something we simply preserve, but something we practise? “When we talk about living heritage, we are saying that heritage is not static. Multiple things come as part of heritage, like food, rituals, traditions and iconography. As we move, heritage is around us. But are we doing something about it?” she asks.

The main aim is to get young people involved in conversations about the city and its future. “The purpose of the one-day event is to get the youth of the city involved in the process because they are the next generation,” says Shalini, who works as the Principal Strategy & Growth expert at Heritage Inspired,

The morning programme, from 9 am to 1 pm, will feature three sessions by Heritage Inspired. ‘Madras Before Madras: From Knowledge to Experience’ will look at Chennai’s deeper historical roots, layered identities and lesser-known stories. ‘Who Are We to Madras: Reimagining the Known’ will be an interactive session exploring neighbourhoods, memory, identity and belonging. Participants will also take part in a heritage mapping exercise, looking at the neighbourhoods they have lived in and how these places have changed over time.

“We have been living in different neighbourhoods. Chennai has undergone multiple periods of change, so we want to map it and bring alive the concept of what that change is,” she says. The third session, ‘Heritage Beyond Preservation: Where Do We Go From Here?’, will look at how heritage can be carried forward rather than simply preserved.

The morning will culminate in a panel discussion, ‘From Belonging to Blueprint: Neighbourhoods Shaping Chennai’, organised by Global Shapers Community Chennai. The panel will explore how neighbourhood identity and civic participation can contribute to decentralised city planning.

The evening programme, from 4 pm to 8.30 pm, will be presented by Art Kin Centre. It will feature an Oyilattam and introductory Thappattam workshop for children and adults, led by folk artiste Dheepan, followed by an improv comedy performance by the all-women ensemble Unhinged AF. For the organisers, placing a traditional folk form alongside a contemporary performance also reflects the idea of living heritage. Heritage does not remain unchanged; it continues to evolve with the people who practise it.

Beyond the event, the organisers hope the discussions will encourage Chennaiites, particularly young people, to engage more closely with their neighbourhoods and think about their role in shaping the city.

The Railway Board’s approval brought to end the process that began on January 27, 2011, by the then Chief Secretary of the State government who proposed the merger.

The agreement provides for a 90-day handover period followed by a two-year transition/hand-holding arrangement. The immediate handover covers the assets and general operation and maintenance of the MRTS, excluding core train operations and maintenance.

The State must deploy personnel for ticketing, security and other general functions within 90 days of signing the MoU. Ticket checking stays with the Railways, and fare and non-fare revenue collected during the transition will be remitted to Southern Railway (SR).

The SR will continue core train operations and maintenance, including crew and EMU rakes, for 24 months from the MoU date without charging the State. This period is the window for Tamil Nadu to prepare to take-over train operations itself.

The State must settle payments for land, assets and infrastructure, in full or in installments, before the transition period ends. The existing EMUs will stay with SR until Tamil Nadu procures new rolling stock or the handholding period ends, whichever is later. A similar arrangement covers the traction system.

The MRTS overhead electrification system will eventually go to Tamil Nadu, but SR will continue maintaining and using the Chintadripet traction sub-station during the transition, or until alternative arrangements are made. Tamil Nadu will establish a separate SCADA system and its own facilities for OHE (Overhead equipment) maintenance.

The merger also leaves SR with an operational interface at the MRTS’s northern end. During the transition, suburban trains will continue using the MRTS section from Chennai Beach platforms 9 and 10, up to St Thomas Mount. Even after the transition, the Railways will share platforms 9 and 10 at Beach station.

At Chennai Fort, the State will develop a block/crossing station with electronic interlocking and crossovers to facilitate train movements. The agreement also flags the single-line stretch between Beach and Fort stations, which currently affects frequency and headway. SR will consider any Tamil Nadu proposal to enable doubling, subject to its operational requirements and Railway land policy.

According to CMRL sources, once the MRTS takeover is completed, the focus will shift to improving the passenger experience with more convenient, seamless travel. Existing facilities at MRTS stations will also be assessed and upgraded to ensure they are better maintained and more accessible, the sources said.

A special committee of senior officials from SR and the Tamil Nadu government will oversee the process, with the CUMTA convenor as coordinating officer.

A seperate MoU will be made for handing over of the MRTS to Chennai Metro Rail Limited by Government of Tamil Nadu. The process for handing and taking over is being coordinated by CUMTA.

The MRTS network, comprising 20 stations from Chennai Beach to St Thomas Mount, will be integrated with the city’s broader public transport system to facilitate improved connectivity and seamless multimodal travel.

As per the proposed MoU, the handover is to take place within 90 days of execution, with Southern Railway continuing train operations and maintenance during a 24-month transition period.

The accused, identified as Nagaraj (37) of Thousand Lights, was allegedly driving his autorickshaw at high speed and in a rash manner. He first hit a scooter and then a motorcycle, both driven by policemen.

Head Constable, Mahaveer (47) and an Armed Reserve (AR) Constable, Sundaramahalingam (31) were thrown off their vehicles and suffered injuries. Onlookers rescued the policemen and moved them to a hospital for treatment.

Triplicane Traffic Investigation Wing (TIW) rushed to the spot and secured Nagaraj. His auto rickshaw was seized and he was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.

Police have reiterated their warning against drunk driving and urged motorists to follow traffic rules to ensure road safety.

On Sunday night, she returned home around 11 pm after visiting a temple and parked her scooter in front of her house. The next morning, she found the vehicle missing after which she filed a complaint with the Otteri Police.

A police team conducted an enquiry and based on CCTV footage, police zeroed in on the suspects and apprehended three minor boys. The stolen two wheeler was recovered from their possession.

They were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and sent to a government observation home. Further enquiry is underway.

The flight, which was scheduled to depart from Chennai at 7.10 am, reached Tiruchy at around 8.10 am. It was then scheduled to depart at 8.30 am and reach Chennai by 9.30 am.

However, while the aircraft was being prepared for departure, a technical issue was detected. Following this, passengers were informed that the flight would be delayed and were asked to remain at the airport. They had to wait for nearly six hours at the Tiruchy airport.

After the issue was rectified, the flight departed at around 2.15 pm and reached Chennai at 3.20 pm. When contacted, Chennai airport officials said the delay was due to an operational reason.

1.Mannargudi–Egmore Express

The Mannargudi–Egmore Express will operate from September 4 to October 13. The train will depart Mannargudi at 10.50 pm and terminate at Tambaram instead of Egmore.

The Egmore–Mannargudi Express will depart from Tambaram at 11.25 pm from September 5 to October 14.

2.Tiruchy, Mumbai and Salem Express trains

The Tiruchy–Egmore Malai Kottai Express will terminate at Mambalam instead of Egmore from September 9 to 15 and again from September 21 to October 14. The train will depart Tiruchy at 10.35 pm.

The Mumbai CSMT–Egmore Superfast Express will terminate at Chennai Beach instead of Egmore from September 12 to 15. It will depart Mumbai at 10.52 pm.

The Salem–Egmore Superfast Express will terminate at Mambalam instead of Egmore from September 12 to 15. The train will depart Salem at 9.30 pm.

Meanwhile, the Egmore–Salem Superfast Express will originate from Chennai Beach at 11.30 pm from September 13 to 16.

3.Uzhavan Express to face delays

The Thanjavur–Egmore Uzhavan Express will also be affected by the redevelopment work. The train will run 20 minutes late in the Mambalam–Kodambakkam section from September 16 to 19.

From September 22 to October 15, the train will run 30 minutes late in the Mambalam–Kodambakkam section.

Passengers travelling on these trains are advised to check the revised boarding and terminating stations before starting their journey, as the changes are temporary and linked to the ongoing redevelopment work at Chennai Egmore.

Shah is scheduled to arrive at the old airport at 7.40 pm on Wednesday, and he will travel by road to a private star hotel on the East Coast Road at Kovalam, where he will stay overnight. On Thursday, he will preside over the conference of the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry at the hotel.

The Home minister will depart for Delhi at 3.45 pm Thursday.

Chennai airport authorities held a meeting at the old airport on Tuesday afternoon to review security arrangements for the Union Home Minister. Senior officials of the airport, security personnel, VIP security officials, Chennai police personnel and officers from the Intelligence Bureau participated in the meeting. Additional security arrangements will be in place at the old airport on both days.

The protest began around 11.30 pm and continued until 12.49 am, with residents refusing to leave the road until Electricity Board (EB) officials reached the spot and addressed their grievance.

However, even after police officials held talks with the residents and asked them to clear the road, they remained firm and insisted that police call EB officials to the spot. When the police tried to contact the EB officials, the officials reportedly did not attend the calls. Subsequently, two police personnel went towards the EB office and contacted the officials. Only after this did two EB officials arrive at the protest site and inspect the issue.

They then rectified the immediate fault, following which power supply was restored in the affected area. An EB official also told the residents that the existing EB pillar would have to be completely replaced and assured them that the work would be carried out the next day.

Following the intervention of the EB officials and restoration of power, the residents withdrew their protest and the road was cleared for traffic.

Power cuts disrupt residents' sleep, daily routine

The affected residents alleged that power supply would sometimes go off around 11 pm and get restored only in the morning, affecting their sleep and daily routine. They claimed this has been happening for almost a month.

The affected stretch is along Langs Gardens Road, between the police quarters and the Chennai Government Urdu School. Residents alleged that while Tyagarajan Street faced prolonged outages, nearby areas just a few metres away continued to have power supply. They pointed out that the police quarters on one side and a hotel and the CMDA building on the other side had electricity even when their street remained without power.

Residents said they had been approaching the EB office for more than a week and repeatedly requesting officials to address the problem. “When we complain online, they receive the complaint, but they do not come. When we go to their office, they do not solve the issue and do not allow us to meet a higher official,” said the father of a seven-month-old boy.

Police officials told the residents that blocking the road was not an appropriate way to raise the grievance. They advised them to submit a written complaint signed by all affected residents to the EB office and said online complaints alone would not be sufficient.

However, the residents insisted that they had already approached the EB office several times and would not withdraw the protest unless officials came to the spot. They maintained that had the EB officials not arrived, they would have continued the protest through the night and remained on the road until morning.

A resident said the issue had continued despite the new government assuming office 100 days ago. “The TVK government been in office for 100 days now, but we have been facing this issue for nearly 30 days,” the resident said.

Residents said their protest was aimed at drawing attention to what they described as repeated inaction despite several complaints. Some also urged Egmore MLA and Minister Rajmohan to visit the spot and intervene in the issue.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,14,320 per sovereign and Rs 14,290 per gram, after an increase of Rs 20 per gram.

Earlier on August 17, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,14,160 per sovereign and Rs 14,270 per gram.

Silver prices remain unchanged

Meanwhile, silver prices remain unchanged and continue to sell for Rs 255 per gram (Rs 2,55,000 per kg) on August 18.

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

Gold remains significantly higher compared to last year. Prices have increased from Rs 74,200 per sovereign (Rs 9,275 per gram) on August 18, 2025, to Rs 1,14,320 per sovereign (Rs 14,290 per gram) on August 18, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 40,120 or about 54.07%.

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

August 17, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,160 | 1 gram - Rs 14,270

August 15, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,760 | 1 gram - Rs 14,220

August 14, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,12,320 | 1 gram - Rs 14,040

August 13, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,760 | 1 gram - Rs 14,220

August 12, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,13,600 | 1 gram - Rs 14,200

Silver price over the last five days:

August 17, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 15, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 14, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 255

August 13, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

August 12, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

Several users said that parking attendants turn away vehicles citing a lack of space, while vacant slots could reportedly be seen inside the parking premises.

They alleged that some of these spaces were kept aside for frequent or regular users, making it difficult for occasional passengers to park their vehicles. The issue has caused inconvenience particularly for passengers who depend on Metro station parking to complete the first leg of their daily commute.

Those denied entry are often forced to search for alternative parking nearby, potentially delaying their journeys and adding to congestion around stations.

Passengers have called for greater transparency in the management and allocation of parking spaces at Metro stations. They have also sought clearer information on parking availability and rules governing entry.

With Metro Rail becoming an important mode of public transport, commuters say convenient access to station parking is essential for encouraging people to leave private vehicles behind for longer journeys.

They have urged CMRL authorities to examine the complaints and ensure available parking spaces are allocated fairly.

The deceased were Neelakandan (25) and Chandru (24), both from Padunelli village. The police have registered a double murder case and launched a search for the assailants. Several police personnel have been deployed in the village to prevent further incidents.

The incident followed a quarrel between two groups from the same community during a programme organised for the Aadi festival at the Ponniamman temple in Padunelli on Sunday night. The groups reportedly clashed over the songs being performed on stage, particularly gana songs.

On receiving information, police personnel reached the spot and reportedly pacified both groups before leaving the venue. After the programme ended around midnight, Neelakandan and Chandru were sitting and talking at a plot near their houses. A group of unidentified men allegedly arrived on two-wheelers, surrounded the duo and attacked them with sickles before fleeing. The two youths sustained severe injuries and died at the spot.

Following the incident, residents gathered in large numbers and expressed anger over the failure to prevent the escalation of the earlier dispute. They alleged that the double murder could have been avoided had the police taken stronger preventive action when the quarrel first broke out during the programme.

The Ponnerikarai police recovered the bodies and sent them to Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. Meanwhile, residents of Padunelli staged a protest outside Ponnerikarai police station on Monday morning, demanding the immediate arrest of those involved. They also blocked traffic on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway. The police officials pacified the protesters and said special teams had been formed to trace and arrest the suspects at the earliest.