The incident happened on Saturday, and police traced and secured the suspects on Sunday, police said.

Head Constable Balamurugan was deployed on security duty during the procession when a youth indulged in unnecessary confrontation with the officer and used abusive language, asking him to leave. When the constable questioned his behaviour, the youth continued to abuse him and attempted to assault him. Another youth also joined in haranguing the policeman.

Two other policemen intervened,  after which the youths left the scene. The police traced the youths, Vishal and Subramani (both aged 20), and registered a case against them. They were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

The deceased boy was K Monish Aadhav, a Class 2 student at a private school in Tiruvottiyur.

On Sunday morning, the boy was riding pillion on a scooter driven by his mother, Maria. They were travelling from their home in New Washermenpet to a church in Ennore when the accident happened.
While going along Palagathottikuppam, a water tanker which was trailing the two-wheeler hit them. Maria fell to the left on impact, and the boy fell to his right, coming under the wheels of the tanker lorry.

The lorry ran over the boy's hip, killing him on the spot. Maria suffered injuries and was admitted to the Government Stanley Hospital, where the boy's body has been sent for postmortem. The police said Maria was stable.

The Washermenpet TIW (Traffic Investigation Wing) registered a case and arrested the lorry driver, Sundaravel (45), of Maduravoyal. Further investigation is under way.

The proposed high-rise will come up on about 1,660.34 square metres of land behind the station, close to the existing parking area on 100 Feet Road.

The development is designed to combine commercial activity, office space and improved parking facilities within the Metro premises. According to CMRL’s project specifications, the building will have a basement, a stilt floor with a four-tier mechanical car-parking system, and seven upper floors. The project also covers structural and architectural works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, HVAC, lifts, signage and façade works.

Of the seven upper floors, four are planned for commercial establishments, including retail stores and food outlets, while the remaining three floors will accommodate office spaces. The combination is expected to provide commuters with easier access to shops and services while creating additional sources of income for the Metro operator.

The development forms part of CMRL’s wider transit-oriented development (ToD) approach, under which the land around stations is being used for commercial and office projects. A similar development has already been established at Ekkatuthangal, while other station-area projects are also being pursued.

Official tender records show that CMRL subsequently issued a fresh construction tender for the Arumbakkam high-rise, indicating that the project continues to be taken forward. Once completed, the Arumbakkam development could turn the station into more than a transport interchange, creating a mixed-use commercial destination directly connected to Chennai's expanding Metro network.

Meanwhile, like Arumbakkam, such a facility is also to come up at Guindy, Broadway and Vadapalani as part of ToD.

The programme, organised by the Corporation’s Gender and Policy Lab at Victoria Public Hall as part of Madras Day celebrations, brought together students for discussions on safe travel, civic responsibility, bystander responsibility and the role of young people in improving public safety.

The programme also sought to give students an opportunity to share their views on safety. A student-led play highlighting women’s safety in public spaces and public transport was staged as part of the programme. This was followed by a discussion titled ‘Champion Women – Inspiration for a Safe Chennai’, which covered women’s empowerment, travel, public safety and the role of young citizens in creating safer public spaces. 

Students, subsequently, took a ‘Safe Chennai’ pledge, committing themselves to values of respect, equality, safety and responsible civic participation. Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran said, “The Gender and Policy Lab has an important role in incorporating gender considerations into the Corporation’s planning. Though the city has undergone significant development, we’re still keen on working with denizens to create a safer Chennai for women.”

This marks the first protest at the MLA office in 100 days since Tamilaga Vettri Kalagam (TVK) governance took over the state.  

According to residents, the locality has been deprived of fundamental civic infrastructure for over 15 years.

Protesters stated that a few residents had repeatedly attempted to lay roads and construct the stormwater drain (SWD) on the street. They also cited an ongoing property dispute before the court and invoked a judicial stay order to halt the infrastructure work in the locality. Despite multiple petitions submitted to civic authorities over the past decade, there has been no progress in resolving the issue or providing alternative civic solutions. 

After the TVK came to power, representatives have submitted petitions to the MLA’s office on two separate occasions, reiterating the urgent need for basic facilities such as proper roads, street lights, SWDs, and sewage pipelines. Ward 34 councillor K Sharmila Gandhi (DMK) said, “The land through which a road needs to be laid, is owned by three brothers. The land is under litigation, and each of the brothers is a tahsildar, police officer and lawyer. Using their influence, they do not allow any basic development works to be done on or around that land. After milling it, when we were about to lay the road, the brothers cited court litigation and stopped the work.”

Frustrated by the persistent inaction despite repeated complaints, residents gathered at the Perambur MLA office on Monday morning and blocked the entrances. Upon receiving information about the protest, personnel from the MKB Nagar police station arrived at the scene to maintain order and mediate between the demonstrators.  

Chennai district secretary K Siva Kumar arrived at the venue to talk to the aggrieved residents. He assured the protesters that their longstanding demands would be brought directly to the attention of the Chief Minister to expedite solutions to the civic infrastructure issues. Following assurances, the residents agreed to call off the protest.

The study, led by researchers at the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI (WSAI), analysed microbial sequencing data from more than 4,600 ocean samples collected across tropical, temperate and polar regions.

The analysis offers insights into how marine bacterial communities assemble, interact and maintain resilience in diverse environments. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal mSystems, found that rare ‘specialist’ bacteria act as important connectors within microbial interaction networks.

Computational analysis showed that removing these organisms substantially weakened network stability, pointing to an ecological role far greater than their abundance would suggest. “Marine microorganisms form the invisible foundation of ocean ecosystems. They regulate nutrient cycling, sustain marine food webs and play a vital role in controlling the Earth’s climate,” said Prof Karthik Raman of WSAI. “Understanding the formation and resilience of microbial communities globally can help inform efforts to protect ocean health and advance the UN goal of conserving marine ecosystems.”

Aarti Ravindran, postdoctoral researcher at WSAI, said that marine microbial communities were largely shaped by random ecological processes, but the balance between randomness and environmental selection varied across latitudes. “Polar communities showed more modular interaction networks, while tropical and temperate communities were influenced by both environmental selection and stochastic processes,” she added.

The study, co-authored by Pranathi Ravikumar, Aarti Ravindran and Raman, combined neutral community modelling, phylogenetic community assembly analysis and microbial co-occurrence network analysis to examine not only which microorganisms occur in oceans but also how they interact. They said that identifying rare microbial groups that contributed to ecosystem stability could strengthen biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts, particularly as climate change alters ocean temperatures and marine ecosystems.

The yellow metal is now priced at Rs 1,14,160 per sovereign and Rs 14,270 per gram, after an increase of Rs 50 per gram.

Earlier on August 15, the price of 22-carat gold stood at Rs 1,13,760 per sovereign and Rs 14,220 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 17.

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 9,2875 per gram) on August 16, 2025, to Rs 1,14,160 per sovereign (Rs 14,270 per gram) on August 17, 2026, marking an increase of Rs 39,960 or about 53.85%.

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

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

August 11, 2026: 1 Sovereign - Rs 1,14,000 | 1 gram - Rs 14,250

Silver price over the last five days:

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

August 11, 2026: 1 gram - Rs 260

Curated by Sanchita Ghosh, Kachchi Mitti began in Chennai in September 2025.

Since then, the exhibition has travelled to many cities, bringing together independent designers, artisan-led brands and small businesses.

The Chennai edition will feature a range of handmade fashion, textiles, jewellery and lifestyle products. Visitors can shop for handwoven sarees, Jamdani, Batik, Kantha, Ajrakh, Ikat and block-printed textiles, along with naturally dyed clothing, handmade jewellery and home décor.

The participating brands have been selected for their focus on traditional skills, original designs and responsible production.

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 Monday.

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 16 - Rs 107.77

August 15 - Rs 107.77

August 14 - Rs 107.77

August 13 - Rs 107.77

August 12 - Rs 107.77

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

August 16 - Rs 99.55

August 15 - Rs 99.55

August 14 - Rs 99.55

August 13 - Rs 99.55

August 12 - Rs 99.55

A 29-year-old woman who works at a private company had returned home in her car and parked it in a vacant space near TNHB Colony.

When she returned to the car, two men questioned why the car was parked there. When the woman asked why they were speaking rudely, the men allegedly abused her verbally, assaulted her, and also attacked her mother when she tried to intervene.

Based on a complaint, Velachery Police registered a case and arrested one of the accused, Dhamu (43).

Three of the four were traced to Puducherry, while the fourth was detained in Villupuram, said a senior police officer. The police are continuing the search for the remaining six.

On Friday (August 14) night, eleven children in conflict with the law had escaped from the facility, the third such incident this year.

One of them was secured near a railway track later that night. According to officials, those who escaped were in the age group of 14-17.

The escape reportedly followed a failed plan by some inmates to clash with another group inside the home.

They later allegedly scaled the compound wall near D Block using a ladder and bedsheets after the main gate was locked.

Further investigation is under way.

The arrested person, Mohammed Yusuf, lives with his wife, two daughters and son Mohammed Safi at Muthamizh Nagar, 117th Street.

Safi works as a welder but was reportedly not going to work regularly and not giving his salary to the family. This led to frequent arguments between father and son.

On Friday night, an argument broke out over this. As the altercation escalated, Yusuf allegedly attacked Safi with a knife. Other family members intervened and moved Safi to a hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. On Saturday, Kodungaiyur Police arrested Yusuf.

The police officer, Selvaraj (50), was attached to the Chintadripet traffic police station. According to sources, he had allegedly seized a motorcycle and demanded Rs 500 from its owner to release the vehicle.

The owner had lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Special Cell.

Following this, senior police officials moved Selvaraj out of the traffic wing and posted him against a vacancy pending an enquiry.

The preliminary enquiry reportedly found substance in the complaint, following which Selvaraj was transferred to the Armed Reserve. Sources said a departmental inquiry would determine further action against him.

The action is the first known disciplinary measure initiated through the city police's newly established Anti-Corruption Special Cell, which was launched to address complaints of bribery and corruption within the police department.

The cell was set up by Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj on August 11 to strengthen transparency and public confidence in the department. While launching the initiative, the Commissioner said the conduct of a few personnel should not undermine the work of the majority of police personnel who perform their duties honestly.

Members of the public can report demands for bribes by police personnel through the cell's dedicated phone and WhatsApp number, 78717-23000. Police have assured that the identity of complainants will be kept confidential and that complaints will be investigated.

Sources said the cell has received several complaints since its launch and at least three other police personnel are facing internal enquiries based on complaints received through the mechanism.

Senior officials recently met bar owners and cautioned them against paying bribes to police personnel. The move comes amid increased scrutiny of alleged corruption within the department.

It may be noted that on August 4, the Chennai police arrested an inspector and another person following a businessman's complaint alleging that the inspector had demanded several lakhs of rupees by threatening to implicate him in the 2024 Armstrong murder case.

Nearly 40 trees were cut, and small greenery was cleared to pave the way for concrete structures. They stressed the ongoing infrastructure works across the parks, destroying the city’s urban green spaces

During the 90-minute protest, members passed resolutions demanding the complete halt of concretisation of public parks across the city. They urged local RWAs to resist replacing open green areas with concrete play amenities, insisting that parks must instead be preserved as natural groundwater recharge zones.

Speaking to DT Next, TD Babu, environmentalist and secretary of AoRWA, criticised the lack of accountability. “GCC commenced SWD works six months ago inside the park, cutting down around 40 trees in the process. We have found no evidence of compensatory sapling plantation anywhere in the park,” he said. “Under the redevelopment drive, native bushes are routinely removed for paved features. Most of the places in the park are concreted.”

Reflecting on the park’s history, resident Subraja noted that the site was originally ‘Arathakuttai’, a natural pond donated by the family of freedom fighter Nageswara Rao to the Madras Corporation before being converted into a park in 1949. “Though the pond was transformed into a park, these new concrete layers prevent rainwater from percolating into the soil. Taxpayers’ money is being wasted on non-sustainable projects,” she lamented.

With the monsoon approaching in a few months, residents expressed fear that tree roots may weaken and fall during heavy rains. AoRWA General Secretary JMS Naga Arjunan pointed out, “Only 40% of the work has been completed so far. The GCC can halt further construction and restructure the design.”

Following the protest, representatives from Mylapore and Mandaveli, alongside AoRWA and Spark, a civic forum, addressed the issues. NGO Nizhal will submit a formal representation to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar next week.

Lifts have been installed in the department buildings housing History, Economics, Bachelor of Commerce (CS), Statistics and Tamil, according to students.

However, they remain non-operational, despite external shaft structures having been constructed three years ago to facilitate easier movement for students with disabilities and staff. The college, known for its historic architecture, traditionally relies on staircases to connect different floors. Students said the non-operational lifts have especially affected those with mobility issues.

According to college data, there are more than 5,000 students at the institution. Presidency College was ranked 15th in the country in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025, down from third place in 2022. Students also pointed to lack of cleanliness on the campus.

A student with vision disability said, “We often depend on friends or walking sticks to move around the campus. Although tactile flooring has been installed, it’s still difficult for us to reach classrooms on the first floor of the main building. If the lift at the Tamil department becomes operational, it will be easier for us to reach our first-floor classrooms and restrooms, as long as they allow us to use it.”

Second-year BCom (CS) and History students said that they had initially welcomed the installation of the lifts but were disappointed by the lack of progress. “We were happy when we saw lifts being built in our departments. However, over the past two years, nothing has progressed except for occasional tests by lift operators,” they rued.

A Priya, an alumna who visited the campus after five years, said that the initiative was welcome but stressed the need for regular maintenance and student cooperation to ensure the lifts remained functional.

A History student said that the prolonged delay had also resulted in some damage to the lift in the department. “Since the lifts remain at a standstill, some people have dented and damaged the lift in our department. We urge the college administration to make them operational instead of just showcasing that our college has lifts,” the student said.

Admitting to the problems, Vice-Principal OR Devanathan told DT Next: “We’re expediting the remaining work, and the lifts will be completed and made fully operational soon.”

With reports on the die-off coming in since Saturday morning, fishermen said the floating carcasses spanned nearly 6-7 km of the waterway, from the Buckingham Canal near Kattukuppam, past the North Chennai Thermal Power Station.

Fishers and the Save Ennore Creek campaign have pointed to thermal pollution from the hot-water discharge of NTECL Vallur as a possible cause.

They said a water-temperature study conducted on August 9 by Kattukuppam fishermen recorded temperatures of 40.8°C and 40.6°C at locations in the Railway Bridge Canal, 585-1,045 metres from the plant's discharge point.

They have now sought a detailed investigation to establish whether the discharge was responsible for the die-off.

The sequence of events also pointed to unusual water conditions, fishermen said. Around noon on Saturday, Kattukuppam fishermen casting nets near the Railway Bridge, about three hours into the falling tide, noticed unusually large shoals of fish.

By 5 pm, as the tide turned, fishermen using stake nets for prawns at Sandi koil, Manja machine, Jalli kuzhi and Subbaralam paadu, further along the creek, reported similar behaviour.

As the incoming tide pushed the creek water inland, dead fish were washed up towards Manali and Kattupalli, with extensive mortality visible across the creek by Sunday morning.

Fishers and Save Ennore Creek campaign have demanded an immediate halt to hot-water discharge from NTECL and North Chennai Thermal Power Station. They have also sought compensation for the damage to their livelihood and the implementation of the National Green Tribunal's July 2022 Ennore Creek eco-restoration order.

RL Srinivasan, president of the Fishermen Co-operative Society, Ennore, said fish deaths linked to suspected industrial discharge had been occurring frequently, but the scale of the latest incident was much larger.

"This has been happening frequently. This time, the magnitude seems much larger. Water mixed with chemicals is being released from the Manali side through a canal. It mixes with the backwaters and, during low tide, flows towards the sea," he said.

Fishermen allege that such potent discharges are being made during the night to avoid detection. They have now launched road blockades in Ennore, demanding action against the recurring pollution of the waterbody.

While officials from the Fisheries Department inspected the site, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials, who have yet to ascertain the reason for the mass fish deaths, said initial sampling tests have been completed and the results are awaited.

Madhanagopal, a fisherman from Kattukuppam, said the latest die-off was noticed around 11 am on Saturday and had extended several kilometres. "This is due to fertiliser factories. Because the contaminated discharges enter through the Buckingham Canal, the impact on our livelihood is huge," he said.

A range of fish and aquatic life, including madal, thullal, sankara, koduva and irunka varieties, besides prawns and crabs, had been found dead, he said.

"It first started with the release of hot water decades ago. Now, they are dumping all kinds of chemicals into the backwaters," he said, referring to industrial facilities in the Manali-Ennore belt.

Fishermen said such repeated incidents have been affecting their livelihood. As the community worries about sustaining themselves and educating their children, they have demanded immediate intervention to identify and plug the source of toxic discharges.

One of the slides in the park is damaged, while plastic bottles, paper, food wrappers and other waste have accumulated around the play equipment.

The condition has raised concerns among parents about children playing in an unhygienic environment. The park is frequented by children and residents of nearby neighbourhoods, particularly during the evenings.

The seating facilities inside the park are also poorly maintained. Residents said that daily cleaning was not being carried out properly due to a lack of adequate maintenance staff.

The garbage bins placed outside the park are also overflowing, resulting in a foul smell in the surrounding area. Waste is found near the entrance, inside the park and in the surrounding areas, affecting the overall cleanliness of the premises.

Priya, a parent of a 5-year-old, said, “Residents and children from the nearby areas come here to spend time and play. However, there is a lot of garbage in the park. Due to the unhygienic conditions, we are hesitant to allow our children to play here. The garbage should be cleared daily and the park should be properly maintained.”

Another resident, Mohana, said, “There is a strong foul smell from the garbage bins outside the park, making it difficult to sit inside the park. If the waste is properly collected and removed every day, the foul smell can be prevented and children will not be affected.”

Parents urged the Greater Chennai Corporation to immediately clear the accumulated waste, ensure regular cleaning and repair the damaged play equipment and seating facilities. A senior Corporation official said, “All the garbage inside the park will be completely cleared tomorrow. Following this, the damaged items and seating facilities in the park will be repaired.”

A sanitary inspector said that action would be taken to sprinkle bleaching powder around the garbage bins to control the foul smell. “Steps will also be taken to relocate the garbage bins to another location,” he added.

India’s laws protect constitutional abortion rights despite lawmakers at religious meets opposing them

Presented in collaboration with DakshinaChitra Museum and the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design (IICD), Jaipur, the exhibition features 20 sarees selected from a collection of 56 historic cotton sarees, estimated to be 80 to 120 years old.

For curator Bessie Cecil, the idea for the exhibition had been around for several years. “DakshinaChitra has an amazing collection of Chettinadu sarees. As a researcher, I came to know about it years ago. Indhumathi, who works at DakshinaChitra, was the one who told me about it and from then on, we would often say that we should do something with the collection,” Bessie says.

A few months ago, Bessie met Julie Wayne, a French connoisseur and scholar of Tamil crafts and textiles, who had donated some of the sarees to DakshinaChitra. That meeting brought the idea back into focus. “Indhumathi called me again and asked, 'Why don't we do an exhibition?' It was a very casual conversation, but that is how the whole idea came together,” recalls the curator.

The sarees may be made of a familiar material, cotton, but it is the way they use colour, pattern and weaving that gives them their distinct character. The title of the exhibition refers to three elements central to the Chettinadu textile vocabulary.

"Kodu refers to stripes, kattam to checks and korvai to the technique of joining the body and border of the sari through an interlocking weave. Chettinadu sarees are distinctive for their simple yet striking visual vocabulary of kodu, kattam and korvai. Traditionally woven in cotton, they reflect the aesthetic preferences, social practices and material culture of the Chettiar community,” says Prof Dr Toolika Gupta, Director of IICD.

“Their restrained colour palette, geometric patterns and bold borders demonstrate how visual richness was achieved through a relatively limited design vocabulary and skilled weaving practices,” she adds.

While these individual elements can be found in textiles from other regions, the combination of colours, patterns and weaving techniques gives Chettinadu sarees their own identity. They were also closely tied to the homes and lives of the Chettiar community, with sarees being carefully preserved and passed down through generations.

That history of preservation became an important part of the exhibition. The curators wanted to go beyond the sarees and document the memories attached to them.

“There isn't much written about these sarees. More importantly, we wanted to look at the collective knowledge, the people who are connected to them and their memories. It is a lived experience and that had to become an important part of the catalogue,” says Bessie.

As part of the research, Toolika interviewed Visalakshi Ramasamy, whose family has roots in the Chettiar community of Chettinadu. Her memories offer a glimpse into the community’s way of life and its relationship with sarees and textiles. “Visalakshi's perspective helped us understand the history and traditions of the community through personal memories. It also helped us place these stories in the larger textile history of the region,” says Toolika.

The exhibition also traces the people who helped preserve the collection. Debbie Thayagarajan began collecting the sarees, while Julie Wayne continued the effort after she came to Karaikudi decades ago. Their approaches to collecting were different, but both played a role in ensuring that these textiles survived.

Textile conservator Dingdi says documenting the collection is an important part of the project. “We felt it was time to bring out some information on Chettinadu sarees. There is so much creativity in them and it needs to be appreciated. By doing this exhibition, we are documenting it for the future generation,” she says.

The project will continue beyond the exhibition. IICD and DakshinaChitra are also developing an academic coffee-table book bringing together research, interviews, conversations and personal accounts connected to the sarees and the Chettinad community.

For Toolika, this combination of objects and oral histories is what makes the project significant. “The saree is not simply a textile object. It is part of the social and cultural life of Chettinadu. These personal memories and oral histories help us understand how the sarees were worn, preserved and valued within the community.”

The exhibition will be open from August 21 to 30 at Kadambari Gallery, DakshinaChitra Museum.

After preliminary investigations, police have ruled out drunk driving and ascertained that the person behind the wheel lost control of the vehicle while overspeeding.

The car was driven by a 20-year-old, who borrowed it from his mother. The college students were driving towards East Coast Road when they met with the accident. Personnel on security duty outside Lok Bhavan rushed to their aid and reached them.

Three of them suffered minor injuries and were treated at a government hospital. Adyar Traffic Investigation Wing (TIW) has registered a case and are investigating.

According to wholesale traders, rising fuel prices and increased lorry freight charges have pushed up the prices of several essential vegetables since the first week of August.

Tomato prices recorded one of the sharpest increases, doubling from Rs 12/kg on August 1 to Rs 25/kg on Sunday (August 16).

A kilo of hybrid tomatoes costs Rs 40, a rise from Rs 30. Beans and Ooty carrots increased by Rs 20 each to Rs 90. Green peas recorded the highest price among the major increases, rising from Rs 150 to Rs 180/kg. Onion prices rose marginally from Rs 35 to Rs 38/kg.

Several other kitchen staples also became costlier. Raw mangoes were priced at Rs 70/kg, cucumbers at Rs 40, green chillies at Rs 80 and Ooty beetroot at Rs 60.

However, prices of some vegetables remained unchanged. Drumstick was sold at Rs 30/kg, bitter gourd at Rs 50, brinjal at Rs 40 and okra at Rs 30. Prices of certain varieties of ginger and garlic declined by Rs 10. A kilo of ginger fell from Rs 190 to Rs 180, while garlic dropped from Rs 250 to Rs 240.

A Selvaraj, general secretary of the Koyambedu Tomato Vendors Association, said, “Increase in fuel prices, along with higher lorry rentals and labour charges, contributed to the rise in vegetable prices.”

Homemaker Sarala from Kodambakkam lamented that the increase was “affecting household budgets, particularly for commonly used vegetables such as tomatoes and onions”.

A new MoU was signed at the IIT-M campus, marking the next phase of a collaboration launched in 2022 under the CSR programme.

CIFIL will now focus on emerging areas including AI in financial services, digital payments, blockchain and tokenisation, cybersecurity, regulatory technology, WealthTech, InsurTech, digital lending, data analytics and financial inclusion. The lab will also expand research and develop intellectual property, facilitate technology transfer and support commercialisation of research-led solutions. It will strengthen support for fintech startups through mentoring, faculty expertise, industry networks, research collaborations and innovation challenges. 

“CIFIL was established to create this intersection between industry experience and academic exploration,” CAMS managing director Anuj Kumar said. “The renewed partnership will foster an environment where ideas could become solutions for the financial services ecosystem.” 

IIT-M director V Kamakoti said, “The collaboration can accelerate the development of cutting-edge fintech solutions for Bharat's financial ecosystem. Students will gain through research projects, internships, hackathons, expert interactions and startup mentoring.”

CIFIL will offer certificate programmes in FinTech and personal financial planning. M Thenmozhi, head CIFIL, said: “The lab aims to emerge as a global centre for fintech innovation and develop ventures addressing unresolved challenges in banking, financial markets and financial services.”

They entered India, claiming they had come for treatment. However, when questioned by customs officials at the airport, they failed to produce any valid medical documents supporting their claim. They had travelled from Yangon to Thailand before flying to Chennai, which made the officials suspicious. The officials checked their baggage and took the husband and wife to separate rooms for detailed personal screening.

During the search, officials found suspicious objects concealed in the couple's rectums. On examination, the objects were found to be gold. In total, officials recovered about 1.970 kg of gold from both of them. The couple was arrested and the gold, valued at Rs 3 crore, was seized.

Officials said gold smuggling cases at Chennai airport have risen again after the Union Finance Ministry increased the import duty on gold from 6 per cent to 15 per cent. The earlier duty cut had reduced smuggling, but the hike has reportedly led to a fresh surge in attempts to smuggle gold into India, especially through Chennai. Investigations are ongoing.

T Ramasami, former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, GoI, was the chief guest.

Mohit Jain, COO (Publishing) and Board Member, Bennett, Coleman & Co, was the guest of honour, while Ganesanathan Geathiswaran, Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, South India, was the special guest.

VIT Founder and Chancellor G Viswanathan presided over the ceremony.

VIT Vice-Presidents Sankar Viswanathan and GV Selvam, Vice-Chancellor VS Kanchana Bhaaskaran, pro-Vice Chancellor T Thyagarajan and other senior officials attended the event.

Addressing the graduates, Ramasami said that young people had an important role in shaping not only their own future but also that of their families, the country and humanity.

“While only 740 engineering students graduated from TN a few decades ago, now, it has increased to several lakhs annually. The reason is mobilisation of available resources,” he added. “TN has emerged as a leader in R&D since 2000, based on research papers published in peer-reviewed journals. Around 61% of India’s research papers comes from here, with private universities contributing 35%.”

Viswanathan highlighted that only about 13% of India’s population had attained graduate-level education and called for greater expansion of higher education.

Mohit Jain urged graduates to work hard, build teams and pursue solutions to unresolved problems, while cautioning them against linking happiness solely to future achievements.

Geathiswaran highlighted the longstanding cultural and historical ties between India and Sri Lanka, particularly between TN and Lanka.

One of the highlights is Aside, a magazine launched in Chennai in 1977. Considered the country’s first city-based magazine, it ran for only a few years before being discontinued. Visitors can now see copies of the magazine and flip through its pages at the exhibition. 

“The exhibition will display books, periodicals, magazines and other literary works on Chennai. There will be books that chronicle the city’s architecture, culture, politics and environment. Along with books, there will also be magazines that were published in the city,” says Arun Prasath, one of the exhibition convenors.

The exhibition draws from RMRL’s extensive collection. Primarily a research library dedicated to preserving Tamil print culture, RMRL has nearly 100 years of Tamil print history in its archives, with close to six lakh works.

Its collection covers subjects ranging from tradition, education and health to colonial and post-colonial history, offering a glimpse into the evolution of Tamil scholarship and publishing.

The library has also planned two events as part of the Madras Week celebrations. On August 20, French scholar Prof. Dominic Goodall, Director of the Ecole francaise d’Extreme Orient in Puducherry, will deliver a special talk on the Khatvanga of Lord Shiva.

On August 22, the Madras Youth Choir will present a performance. Visitors can also purchase books published by RMRL at a 10 per cent discount from August 17 to 22.

In Tiruvottiyur, ex-IRS officer Balamurugan has been on a hunger strike for the past 20 days in Tiruvottiyur seeking abolition of NEET. He began his fast on July 27, and has made it clear that he will continue to fast until his demand is met.

Balamurugan told DT Next that his demands included the resignation of the CJI over his reported remarks concerning cockroaches, the resignation of the Union Home Minister over the alleged brutal attack on students in Delhi, and an exemption for Tamil Nadu from NEET. “Until these demands are met, I will continue my hunger strike,” he said.

Late S Anitha's brother Manirathnam, who recently visited the officer, in a video demanded that the government take care of his health check-ups and provide a designated space for his protest. As the government did not provide an area, Balamurugan continues to protest from his home.

Manirathnam and the other members of the Anti-NEET Federation-Tamil Nadu had recently ended their 12-day hunger strike following the Assembly resolution, saying the government had responded to one of their key demands. Their demands had included bringing education back to the State List to enable states to decide their own admission policies, and eventually abolish NEET.

Students, activists protests in Egmore

Meanwhile, in Egmore, the 'OG Tamizha' collective has been staging a continuous sit-in protest for the past 24 days at the Thayagam Complex on Rukmani Lakshmipathi Road in Egmore. The sit-in protest, held from 3 pm to 9 pm daily, has been bringing together students, educationists as well as activists daily. On Saturday (August 15), the children from Chennai also extended their solidarity to the cause.

The protestors have been reiterating that banning the exam altogether is the only way forward. "If Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar can give assent to the special anti-NEET resolution passed by the government recently, NEET would not continue in the State," they said in a video message. Notably, in 2024, the Tamil Nadu government led by then Chief Minister MK Stalin had passed the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, which sought to exempt Tamil Nadu students from taking NEET. However, the Bill never received presidential assent.

Art has been the primary medium for the 'OG Tamizha' collective to express their resistance, with the protest site using music, theatre, dance, and other art forms to express dissent. "Let's celebrate resistance," reads one of their posters. Educationist Prince Gajendra Babu is among those who have extended their solidarity to the protestors.

Manirathnam had also visited the Egmore protest site, calling for statewide solidarity for the NEET ban demand. Members of Maniratnam's Anti-NEET Federation-Tamil Nadu had ended their hunger strike and the protest after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the resolution.

Recently, while moving the second resolution against NEET in the State Assembly, Health and Medical Education Minister KG Arunraj said medical education should be accessible not only to economically stronger sections but also to students with merit and dedication. The resolution stated that NEET had led to the proliferation of coaching centres charging exorbitant fees and had diverted students' attention from the school curriculum towards exam-oriented coaching. Arunraj also said that before the introduction of NEET, students from rural, poor and socially disadvantaged backgrounds were able to secure medical education opportunities. The introduction of NEET, he alleged, had adversely affected socio-economic equality in medical admissions.

(With inputs from Bureau)

The fish deaths were reported from Saturday morning, with fishermen saying the dead fish had spread across nearly 6-7 km of the waterway, from the Buckingham Canal near Kattukuppam, past the North Chennai Thermal Power Station and towards the Kulikkam/Kulivakkam area.

R.L. Srinivasan, president of the Fishermen Co-operative Society, Ennore, said fish deaths linked to suspected industrial discharge had been occurring frequently, but the scale of the latest incident was much larger.

“This happens continuously, frequently. This time it is a bit more. Water mixed with chemicals is being released from the Manali side through a canal. It mixes with the backwaters and, during low tide, comes towards the sea,” he said.

Fishermen allege that such potent discharges are being made during the night to avoid detection. Fishermen have now launched road blockades in Ennore, demanding action over the recurring pollution of the waterbody.

Madhanagopal, a fisherman from Kattukuppam, said the latest fish kill was noticed at around 11 am on Saturday and had extended several kilometres. “This is due to fertiliser factories. Because it comes through the Buckingham Canal, the scale of the impact it creates to our livelihood is huge,” he said.

He said a range of fish and aquatic life had been found dead, including Madal, Thullal, Sankara, Koduva and Irunka fish, besides prawns and crabs.

“First it started with releasing the hot water decades ago. Now, they are sending all kinds of chemical water into the backwaters,” he said, referring to industrial facilities in the Manali-Ennore belt.

Fishermen say that such repeated pollution incidents had already severely affected their livelihood, with the community increasingly worried about how they would sustain themselves and educate their children and are now demanding immediate intervention to identify the source of the suspected discharge, prevent further contamination and establish what caused the latest mass fish deaths.

Ingredients

3 cups grated zucchini

1/3 cup rice flour

1/3 cup besan flour

1 tbsp garlic, finely chopped

1 tsp ginger, finely chopped

1⁄2 tsp chilli flakes

1⁄4 tsp pepper powder

1⁄2 cup finely chopped onion

2 tbsp thick curd

1⁄4 tsp baking soda

Salt to taste

Oil, for shallow frying

How to make

Grate one medium zucchini using the large holes of a grater. Trim and discard the ends Transfer the grated zucchini to a strainer, add salt and mix well. Cover and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes Squeeze out as much water as possible. Reserve the extracted juice In a mixing bowl, combine the grated zucchini, rice flour, besan, garlic, ginger, chilli flakes, pepper powder, onion, curd, baking soda and salt Mix well to form a thick batter. Add a little of the reserved zucchini juice only if needed. About 2 tablespoons should be enough, but add it gradually to prevent the batter from becoming watery Heat oil in a pan for shallow frying. Once hot, scoop out a portion of the batter and place it in the pan. Gently flatten it, keeping the fritter slightly thick Cook on both sides until golden brown and crisp Serve hot.

RAGI PAKODA

Ingredients

1 cup ragi flour | 1 medium onion,

finely chopped | 2 tbsp curry

leaves, finely chopped | 1 tbsp

coriander leaves, finely chopped

| 1⁄4 cup raw peanuts | 1 tbsp fried

gram dal | 1 tsp red chilli powder

| 1 tsp hot oil | Salt to taste | Water

as needed | Oil for deep frying

HOW TO MAKE

Add the ragi flour, chopped onion, curry leaves and coriander leaves to a mixing bowl Grind the peanuts and fried gram dal to a coarse mixture and add it to the bowl Add salt, chilli powder and hot oil. Mix well Add water little by little and bring the mixture together. The dough should be moist and hold together when pressed, but it should not be too wet or stiff Heat oil in a kadai. Pinch off small portions of the dough and drop them into the hot oil Fry in batches without overcrowding the kadai. Turn them occasionally and fry until crisp Towards the end, add a few curry leaves to the hot oil and fry until crisp. Remove everything and drain on a kitchen towel Serve hot

The case has been registered under Sections 191(2), 191(3), 118(1), 103 and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The FIR was registered on August 6, 2026, at the CBI's Special Task Branch in Chennai.

The CBI FIR states that the Madras High Court, in an order dated September 24, 2025, transferred the investigation into Crime No.293 of 2024 of Sembium police station to the CBI. The order was passed in a petition filed by K Armstrong's relative, K Immanuvel.

The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police, and others had challenged the High Court order before the Supreme Court. The petition was subsequently withdrawn. The Supreme Court, in its July 22, 2026 order, observed that the dismissal of the Special Leave Petition (SLP) meant that the High Court's order would stand and the CBI would take over as the investigating agency.

According to the original complaint reproduced in the CBI FIR, Armstrong was attacked at around 7 pm on July 5, 2024, near an under-construction house on Venugopal Samy Street in Perambur. His brother Veeramani, who was present at the spot, said around eight unidentified men arrived and attacked Armstrong with knives.

Veeramani told police that he, real estate broker Balaji and Armstrong's driver Abdul Gani were also attacked when they tried to intervene. Armstrong and Abdul Gani were taken to Apollo Hospital, while Balaji was taken to Arul Das Hospital. The complaint stated that Armstrong died while being taken to Apollo Hospital.

The original case was registered at Sembium police station as Crime No.293 of 2024, and it was said that rival gangs, under the leadership of gangster Nagendran, had joined together to eliminate Armstrong. While Nagendran died of ill health, another accused was killed by Chennai police in an encounter.

The CBI has now taken up the case for investigation and visited the scene of the crime on Saturday.

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

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

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

Why have fuel prices been increased?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

August 15 - Rs 107.77

August 14 - Rs 107.77

August 13 - Rs 107.77

August 12 - Rs 107.77

August 11 - Rs 107.77

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

August 15 - Rs 99.55

August 14 - Rs 99.55

August 13 - Rs 99.55

August 12 - Rs 99.55

August 11 - Rs 99.55

Residents said the tree has been leaning for more than two years and has tilted further towards the road in the past two months.

With the city getting light to moderate showers, they fear strong winds could bring down the tree, posing a risk to pedestrians and motorists and potentially blocking the already congested road.

V Sathiabalan, state secretary, Indian National Trade Union Congress, Tamil Nadu, said, “A signage pole cemented into the footpath is now being used to support the increasingly tilted tree. It could fall at any time, particularly on people who wait under the tree. I have filed complaints a couple of times through the Corporation’s 1913 helpline. The customer service agents keep assuring me that action will be taken, but nothing happened. The civic body must address the issue immediately to prevent any untoward incidents.”

Some residents also alleged that the shaded area had become a spot where people gathered to consume alcohol, particularly as a Tasmac outlet is located opposite the tree. “The tree’s roots can weaken its stability and make it vulnerable during strong winds and monsoon rains. Trimming it can be an immediate temporary measure,” a resident opined.

A senior Corporation official said the tree would be cleared after informing the Parks department.

Curated by performance artist and HSPA founder Sarita Nair, the production will be presented on August 16 at Rukmini Arangam, Kalakshetra Foundation. After travelling to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Vizag, the fifth edition turns its focus to Tamil Nadu’s history of resistance and the artistic traditions of the region.

“Itihaas Ke Pannon Se has always come from the need to look beyond the history and people that we already know. What are the stories sitting on the farthest shelf of our history books that deserve to be brought into the light?" says Sarita.

Rather than presenting these histories as conventional retellings, Sarita sees the different art forms as different languages telling the same story. Villupattu makes a story conversational; storytelling allows audiences to enter a person’s emotional world, music adds another layer of feeling, while Bharatanatyam communicates through movement and expression.

The evening will feature Villupattu by Kalaimamani Bharathi Thirumagan and Kalaimamani T Kalaimagan, storytelling by Dr VR Devika on Khadi as a freedom fighter, Songs of Freedom by vocalist Shreya Ramnath accompanied by live painting by Satwik Gade, and a Bharatanatyam piece on a lesser-known freedom fighter by students of Rukminidevi Natyakshetra.

For Sarita, the focus extends beyond the individuals who fought in the freedom struggle. The production also looks at ideas and everyday objects that became symbols of resistance, with Khadi and the charkha taking centre stage.

“I believe it is a beautiful way of shifting the lens. It makes us look at the freedom movement not just through people, but also through the ideas, objects and everyday acts that became part of the struggle,” she says.

The approach also draws from traditional ways of preserving history through song, dance and oral storytelling. “I don't see performing arts as an addition to history. I see them as an extension of the way history has always been remembered,” Sarita says.

For younger audiences, Sarita hopes the performances make history feel personal rather than distant. “I hope they feel that history belongs to them too,” she says, adding that she would rather have a young viewer leave with one story that stays with them than ten facts they might forget.

Perhaps that curiosity could lead them to ask their grandparents about the past, look up a freedom fighter they had never heard of, or even see a handloom sari or a piece of Khadi differently.

After five editions across different cities, Sarita says the project has also changed how she understands the freedom movement. She has come to see these stories not as forgotten, but as histories that continue to live in people’s memories, songs, communities, art forms and oral traditions. “I no longer see it as something that belongs to the past. I see it as a living continuum,” she concludes.

Itihaas Ke Pannon Se – Fifth Edition will be held on August 16, from 6 pm onwards at Rukmini Arangam, Kalakshetra Foundation. Tickets are available through MDnD Entertainment and the HSPA website.

During India's freedom struggle, what people bought and consumed could also become a political choice. The Swadeshi movement, which gathered momentum after the 1905 Partition of Bengal, called for the boycott of foreign goods and the use of Indian-made products as a way of strengthening indigenous production and economic self-reliance.

“Food was never just nourishment during India's freedom struggle. It was also a statement of self-reliance,” says food writer and researcher Rakesh Raghunathan. For him, the Swadeshi idea encouraged Indians to value local produce and traditional foods over imported goods. Salt, he points out, became one of the most powerful examples of an everyday ingredient acquiring the meaning of resistance.

But the story of indigenous food stretches much further back than the freedom movement itself. Millets such as ragi, bajra and jowar were everyday foods long before they acquired the contemporary label of “superfoods”. Chef Arupam Baidya points to the traditional knowledge embedded in these grains and in the practices through which communities preserved seeds and passed agricultural knowledge from one generation to the next. At Parva, Baidya works with ingredients and dishes that reflect that regional diversity, including millet rotis and Chakhao, the black rice from Manipur. His idea of Swadeshi today is not about a single Indian cuisine, but the many cuisines that make up the country. His memories extend to lesser-known regional foods too: Putu, a wild mushroom from Sarguja; Ningro, the tender shoot of a fern eaten in Sikkim with Churpi; and Nakima, a bitter wild flower. For Baidya, these foods are reminders of how much regional knowledge remains undiscovered.

The pothole-ridden road is being used as an alternative route by vehicles travelling from Tondiarpet High Road towards Kadumbadi Amman Koil Street, where stormwater drain (SWD) works are under way. The increased traffic has further damaged the already battered road. During the rainy season, water stagnates on the road, adding to the difficulties faced by workers and motorists.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) secretary Ravi said that workers in the area used the road every day and that it had remained in poor condition for several years. “Whenever the potholes become severe, the Corporation fills them with stones. However, there is no proper drainage facility to allow excess rainwater to flow away, resulting in water stagnating on the road. Owners of industries here have filed several complaints, but there has been no improvement so far,” he said.

The 35-metre-long stretch of KMA Garden Road will be relayed once funds are sanctioned, said a senior city Corporation official

Shopkeeper Prabhu said that accidents occurred frequently, particularly in the evenings. “Two-wheelers often skid and fall because of the potholes. As KMA Garden Road is being used as an alternative route, the existing potholes have become worse,” he said.

A senior Corporation official told DT Next that SWD works were under way on Kadumbadi Amman Koil Road for 850 metres, of which 550 metres had been completed. The remaining work is yet to be completed.

“Once the work is completed, we have planned to relay roads in residential areas, including Kadumbadi Amman Koil Road, Tiruvalluvar Road and Vivekananda Road. An estimate has been prepared, and a proposal has been submitted. Once funds are sanctioned, road works in residential areas will be taken up on a priority basis,” the official said. “After that, work will be taken up to relay the 350-metre-long stretch of KMA Garden Road. Steps will be taken to complete all the road works before the upcoming monsoon.”

On the stretch from Tirumangalam towards Anna Nagar Roundtana, vehicles are reportedly parked near the bus stops at Anna Nagar Tower, Blue Star, 12th Main Road and Ayyappan Temple.

Commuters lamented that buses were unable to enter the designated bus bays and were instead, stopping on the main road to pick up and drop off passengers. The problem is more acute on the stretch from Anna Nagar Roundtana towards Tirumangalam, where bus shelters at Anna Nagar Roundtana, Blue Star and 12th Main Road have been removed amid stormwater drain construction.

Students of Valliammal College for Women and Kandaswami Naidu College for Men regularly use the Roundtana bus stop. In the absence of a shelter, many students are forced to wait under trees or along shop fronts.

“The Roundtana bus shelter has been unavailable for the past three years. It’s difficult when it rains, or during the sweltering heat. Buses do not stop at the designated location due to lack of space, and often stop a little away during peak hours. Passengers are forced to run to catch the buses,” said college student Tejaswari.

Passenger Kasthuri said SWD works near the Tower bus stop had further narrowed the space available for commuters. “There is not enough space for people to stand in this busy area. Many commuters have to stand under the shade of nearby trees. When buses arrive, passengers have to run to board them,” she said.

Another passenger, Moorthya, said the Blue Star and 12th Main Road bus stops were removed when SWD works began but had not been restored. “Vehicles are also being parked in these areas, forcing buses to stop on the main road to pick up and drop off passengers,” he said.

When contacted, a senior Corporation official told DT Next, “SWD construction works are under way in the area. After they’re completed, bus stops will be restored to their original locations.”

According to residents, for over 40 years, a vacant site belonging to the Railways along Ennore High Road, had served as a makeshift bus halt.

Transport staff and commuters recalled severe hardships, including having to seek shelter under trees during harsh summers and torrential rains. Without toilets on site, drivers and conductors were forced to seek cover behind nearby bushes.

K Gokul, a resident of Karunanidhi Nagar, recalled the daily struggles of commuters: “Everyone from schoolchildren to senior citizens are forced to brave severe weather conditions. Even light rain turns the ground slushy, leaving stagnant pools of water.”

Echoing him was Arasu, a bus driver at the terminus, who pointed out that the lack of seating and shelters forced passengers to seek cover under trees. “Without restrooms, staff must relieve themselves behind bushes. Turning buses near the railway tracks is difficult. So, after 6 pm, we would park along the road. This causes traffic jams but we didn’t have a choice,” he rued.

Currently, routes operating from the spot are the 44 Cut service (Indian Oil Corporation to Island Grounds) and the C1 circular route (IOC to IOC). Commuters rely heavily on these services to connect with major transit hubs, including the High Court, Chennai Beach Station, and Metro stations at Tondiarpet and Washermenpet.

Explaining the project’s background, Nethaji U Ganesan, chairman of the Tondiarpet Zone and Ward 38 Councillor, noted that the railway land parcel was secured on a 32-year lease for Rs 1.8 crore funded through the RK Nagar MLA fund. The GCC subsequently invested in constructing the terminus infrastructure.

Ganesan stated, “Over 40,000 residents across 32 localities, including Nedunchezhian Nagar, Nethaji Nagar, and Rajasekaran Nagar along with neighbouring areas like Korukkupet and Manali, will directly benefit from the facility.”

With the construction complete, residents and transport workers are urging the GCC and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) to inaugurate the terminus soon. In February this year, a letter was submitted to former MTC managing director T Prabhu Shankar seeking the restoration and expansion of crucial bus routes connecting Tondiarpet to key commercial and educational hubs across Chennai.

“Requested services include route 159D (toKoyambedu), 1F (to Tiruvanmiyur), 4D (to Adyar), 170E (to Tambaram), 44C (to Anna Square), and 15A (to Vadapalani),” added Ganesan. “Resuming these routes will drastically reduce travel time for daily wagers, office goers, working women, and students. We’ve also urged the MTC to rename the bus terminus after a national leader instead of the IOC.”

A senior GCC official said, “All works are completed. We’re waiting for MTC and the State government to give a date for inauguration.”

The bus terminus constructed at Rs 2.4 crore, spans 16,000 square feet, with toilets for men, women and persons with disability. Rooms for lactation, waiting, and time-keeping are available at the terminus, along with CCTV cameras.

It was this practical problem that led ghatam player N Guruprasad to develop One Ghatam, a wooden version that can be tuned to different srutis. The instrument weighs around three to four kilograms, almost half the weight of a traditional clay ghatam. Unlike the clay version, it can be adjusted to suit different pitches.

“The main reason for this innovation is that you can tune the instrument to any scale and any sruti. It is easily tuneable. The problem becomes noticeable when accompanying vocalists. While one singer may perform in C, another may sing in C sharp or even somewhere between two commonly used pitches. Since a clay ghatam has a fixed tone, the artiste has little choice but to use another instrument. With this instrument, you can tune it to whatever the singer needs,” he explains.

Guruprasad says some players have as many as 20 to 25 ghatams, so they are prepared for different concerts and singers. Carrying them, especially when travelling, is not easy. “This innovation would solve many of those problems,” he says.

The wooden instrument has another advantage. According to Guruprasad, it requires less force to play than the traditional clay pot. “You can use less power to play this ghatam than the power used for a normal clay ghatam,” he says.

Once he developed the instrument, Guruprasad took it to his guru, the legendary ghatam artiste Vikku Vinayakram. He also showed it to another of his gurus, V. Suresh. Fellow ghatam artistes Ghatam Karthik and Chandrasekara Sharma have also tried the new instrument. For Guruprasad, the idea is not to replace the traditional clay ghatam. Instead, he hopes it will give artistes another option, particularly those who travel frequently or perform in places where carrying a collection of instruments is difficult.

“Many ghatam players around the world do not have ghatams in every sruti. Because of that, some miss out on concerts when the right pitch is not available. I wanted to create something that would solve this problem,” he says. He also hopes the innovation will encourage more musicians to take up the instrument by making it easier to use and travel with

One Ghatam will be formally launched and demonstrated on August 19 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mylapore. Guruprasad will present the instrument in a live demonstration alongside leading Carnatic musicians, showing how it can be tuned across different srutis while retaining the familiar sound and role of the ghatam in Carnatic music.

A Chennai girl, Harshitha studied visual communication and initially thought photography would be her career. She grew up cooking for family and spent time in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother. Still, becoming a chef was never part of the plan.

That changed during a shoot soon after college. Harshitha was assisting on a photography project when a woman chef walked in to style the food. Watching her work made Harshitha curious about the world behind the food she had always enjoyed. “I always cooked for my family and friends, but I never thought of taking it up as a profession,” she says.

At the time, she was planning to pursue a master’s in photography in the US. Instead, she chose to study culinary arts at the San Francisco Cooking School.

“It was very different from a regular cooking school. Chefs from across San Francisco would come and teach us, and we were exposed to the city’s food community. They discussed how chefs collaborate, support one another and contribute to the food scene. That stayed with me,” she says.

Harshitha went on to work as a chef in San Francisco. She returned to Chennai during Covid, when the restaurant industry had come to a standstill. The break was difficult and she admits that she lost some of her confidence as a chef. In late 2021, she joined Sage & Lavender Café in Alwarpet run by Shilpa Reddy. Working there helped her find her way back into the kitchen and also made her realise that she wanted to create something of her own. “Shilpa has inspired me immensely and given me the confidence to believe that one day, I could build something of my own too,” she says. Life took her to Germany too. Harshitha met her husband while she was studying in San Francisco, and after their marriage, she moved there. She now travels between Germany and India.

Back in Chennai, her family had another connection to food and hospitality of a different kind. Her parents and brother run SB Cinemas, a single-screen theatre in Poonamallee. When the family began discussing a new venture, the idea of opening a café within the theatre premises came up. “We decided to put the first outlet inside the theatre compound. Rusi Rasa was born from that idea. I wanted a South Indian café that felt familiar but did not simply repeat what was already available. I grew up eating at places like Saravana Bhavan and Sangeetha. My parents and grandparents also found comfort in those places. I wanted to bring a change to the South Indian café experience in Chennai,” she tells us.

The menu is where that comes through most clearly. Harshitha loved the benne dosa she ate in Bengaluru and created her version, adapting it to suit a Tamil palate. The recently introduced hummus bharta dosa, with hummus and garlic bharta tucked inside, has quickly become a favourite.

The snacks are just as playful. There is punugulu with hummus and podi, sweet bonda with caramel sauce, cheese-stuffed chilli bhajji with inji puli and salsa and potato cutlets served with apple sauce. Some of the ideas have come from her life in Europe. “Black sesame is used a lot in Europe, in ice creams, desserts and drinks. I thought, why not bring it into our menu? It’s healthy too,” she says.

But for Harshitha, unusual combinations work only when they respect the food they are built around. “For me, fusion should work if it is authentic to Tamil cuisine. That also influences how I source ingredients. Most of the produce and ingredients are sourced within Tamil Nadu, which allows our team to keep a closer eye on quality and make much of the food from scratch.”

For someone who started out wanting to photograph food, Harshitha has now found herself creating it, serving it and building a brand around it. Her experiences in three different food cultures have shaped the menu, but the starting point remains the food she grew up with.

The deceased has been identified as Jameer Hussain (28) from West Bengal. He had been living in Kodungaiyur.

An overhead water tank belonging to the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), located on 2nd Main Road, RV Nagar, Kodungaiyur, had developed structural issues and was being demolished.

Jameer Hussain and a few other workers had been engaged in the demolition work for the past few days.

On Friday, while they were carrying out the work as usual, an iron rod suddenly broke off from the top portion of the tank and fell on Jameer Hussain. He was moved to the hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

The deceased was identified as A Dharmaraj (53), attached to the Avadi Battalion. He resided at the New Police Quarters in SM Nagar, Avadi. Police sources said that Dharmaraj was part of the Avadi band contingent deployed for the Independence Day celebrations.

Around 8.15 am, he complained of severe chest pain and collapsed on the premises. An ambulance rushed him to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where he was admitted. Dharmaraj succumbed later in the day without responding to treatment, police said.

After the postmortem, his mortal remains were taken to the Tamil Nadu Special Police Battalion campus in Avadi, where senior officers and colleagues paid their last respects. The body was later taken to his native village in Thoothukudi district, where the last rites will be held on Sunday.