In a statement on Friday, K Aarumuganainar, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Federation affiliated to CITU, demanded an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in fixing the contract rates and action against those responsible.

The union said under the PM E-Drive scheme, Karnataka pays private operators Rs 37 to Rs 40 per km under the GCC model, while Maharashtra pays Rs 40 to Rs 52, Telangana Rs 36, Delhi Rs 56 to Rs 62 and Gujarat Rs 59. In contrast, the DMK government agreed to pay Rs 77 per km for ordinary electric buses and Rs 80 for air-conditioned buses in Chennai, it alleged.

CITU accused the previous government of poorly implementing the Union government's scheme and generously diverting public money to private operators. It alleged that the unusually high rates raised questions about who benefited from the agreement and demanded that the government disclose the reasons behind the higher payments.

The union also sought the cancellation of existing contracts awarded under the GCC model and the return of bus depots to state transport corporations.

Referring to the 2026-27 transport department's demand for grants, CITU said the TVK government had announced plans to operate 6,000 electric buses by 2030 under a public-private partnership and GCC model, following the approach adopted by the previous DMK government. It warned that the policy would gradually weaken state-run transport corporations by making them dependent on private operators.

Although purchasing electric buses involves substantial initial investment, operating them directly through transport corporations would reduce costs in the long run, the union said. It argued that leasing charges could exceed the cost of investing in and operating government-owned buses, diverting public funds to private companies.

CITU also flagged concerns over private operators controlling charging infrastructure, limited access to vehicle technology and technical information, battery performance issues and the transport corporations' ability to monitor and enforce contractual obligations.

The union cited Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's assurance in the Assembly that the government would neither touch public money improperly nor spare those who did so. It urged the government to investigate the higher contract rates, make the findings public, punish those found guilty and protect the transport corporations' funds.

CITU maintained that the GCC model could undermine public transport and threaten the long-term viability of state-run transport undertakings. It demanded that the government operate electric buses directly through state transport corporations without private participation.

The union has announced a demonstration on October 27 in front of the regional headquarters of the state transport undertakings across Tamil Nadu.

According to media reports, the bicycles will be provided along with helmets and water bottles under a scheme implemented by the Directorate of Backward Classes Welfare.

What are the prices of bicycles?

Hero Cycles quoted Rs 7,235 per bicycle for boys and Rs 7,476 for girls, including taxes.

The total cost of procuring the bicycles at these rates is estimated at Rs 392 crore, against the budget allocation of Rs 277 crore for the scheme.

How many bicycles are required in total?

The total requirement is 5,32,388, of which 2,37,133 bicycles are meant for boys and 2,95,255 for girls.

What are the conditions stated in the contract?

• The bicycles must comply with the IS 10613:2023 standard.

• The company awarded the contract must manufacture the frames and forks itself.

• The bicycles are to be supplied in Lilac Mist and Army Green colours.

• The helmets must meet the IS 18808:2025 standard, while the water bottles must comply with IS 10910:1984.

• The Tamil Nadu government's emblem must also be permanently marked on the bicycle frame.

• Any defects reported within 30 days of delivery must be rectified promptly by the supplier through its service personnel.

What is the delivery date?

The bicycles, helmets and water bottles must be delivered within 150 days of the purchase order.

The directive, issued through a government order on Friday, cited high power procurement costs and the corporation's critical financial position as reasons for the verification exercise.

Of the 50,000 connections sanctioned, 20,000 will be provided free under the normal category, including 3,215 connections earmarked on a one-time priority basis for small and marginal farmers belonging to BC, MBC and DNC communities. The remaining allocations comprise 3,372 connections under the Revised Self-Financing Scheme, 1,346 under various government schemes and 25,282 under the Tatkal self-financing scheme.

TNPDCL had already provided 7,313 agricultural connections between April 1 and September 21 in anticipation of government approval. The government has now ratified these connections and ordered that they be counted against the annual target.

The recurring expenditure for the 50,000 connections is estimated at Rs 127.56 crore, to be provided by the state government as subsidy. TNPDCL will bear the non-recurring expenditure of Rs 750 crore towards connection works, estimated at an average of Rs 1.5 lakh per connection.

The government has also ordered that the unachieved balance of the 2025-26 target be subsumed under the current year's allocation.

Stray dog bites 15 people in 2 days in Ranipet

A rabid dog has bitten around 15 people in two days (Thursday and Friday) in Paranchi village near Sholinghur in Ranipet district. The village has been facing a growing stray dog menace over the past few days. Residents reportedly complained to the authorities concerned, but no action has been taken so far. Meanwhile, a rabid dog has been chasing and biting people walking along the roads in Paranchi village since Thursday. Those affected have been visiting Sholinghur Government Hospital for treatment. Residents of the area have urged the authorities concerned to take appropriate action to address the dog menace.

Chennai: Woman dies after pushed to floor while rescuing son

A 62-year-old woman died after she was pushed to the floor while trying to rescue her son, who was being attacked by a group of men during a family dispute in Perungalathur. The deceased, Naseema Bee (62), was the mother of Vasivudeen (43), a resident of Kamarajar Street in Perungalathur.

Vasivudeen lives with his wife, Naseema (40). Police said an argument broke out between Vasivudeen and his wife on Wednesday.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Kancheepuram silk showroom owners arrested in Rs 20 crore fraud case

Two owners of a popular silk saree showroom in Kancheepuram have been arrested by the Kancheepuram District Crime Branch police in connection with an alleged Rs 20 crore fraud involving wholesale saree suppliers from Rajasthan, Chennai and Salem.

Krishnamoorthy (52) and Sathish (50), both residents of George Town in Chennai, jointly operated Murugan and Kalikambal Silks, located near Rangasamy Kulam in Kancheepuram.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Sathankulam man kills teen lover’s mother for opposing relationship

A 23-year-old man launched a sickle attack on a couple in their house, killing the woman and injuring the man and their minor son, and kidnapped her two minor daughters, at Mudalur near Sathankulam early on Friday. The girls were rescued shortly and the man, Gnanaprakash of Anandapuram, was apprehended by the Thoothukudi police after the girls shared their live location with them via WhatsApp.

The father Muthukrishnan (50) and son Pleasant Raja (12) sustained grievous injuries and are in the intensive care unit of the Government Super Specialty Hospital in Tirunelveli. Muthukrishnan’s condition is said to be critical.

2 lorry drivers confess to murder of coworker in Tiruvallur

Two lorry drivers allegedly confessed to murdering their colleague following a drunken quarrel and burying his body in an isolated spot near Alamathi in Tiruvallur district, police said. The police are scheduled to exhume the remains on Saturday in the presence of a Tahsildar.

The deceased, M Gokul (27), a native of Kanniyakumari district, worked as a lorry driver for a private transport company in Alamathi. His younger brother, Rahul, lodged a complaint with Sholavaram police stating that Gokul had been missing since October 7.

Following the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. They examined CCTV footage from the Alamathi area and identified two suspects, Ayyappan (18), and Sathish (33), who worked as lorry drivers.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Vasivudeen lives with his wife, Naseema (40). Police said an argument broke out between Vasivudeen and his wife on Wednesday.

Following the dispute, Naseema left their house and went to her brother Sheikh Fayaz’s (29) house in Aadhanur near Urapakkam. Angered by the incident, Fayaz went to Vasivudeen’s house with four of his friends to question him.

A heated argument soon escalated into a physical altercation. Vasivudeen sustained injuries to his head and cheek during the fight. Meanwhile, Naseema, who witnessed her son being attacked, intervened in an attempt to protect him.

During that time, Fayaz and his friends allegedly pushed her to the ground, leaving her unconscious. She was rushed to the Tambaram District GH, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Vasivudeen, who was injured, was also admitted to the same hospital for treatment. 

Based on a complaint, Peerkankaranai police registered a murder case and launched an investigation. They arrested Fayaz (29) and his four friends Kavipperarasu (22), Mohammed Hussain (21), Udhayakumar (20) and Mukesh (19). All five were remanded to judicial custody and further investigation is on.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, a circular to this effect has been issued to all regional joint directors, pay and accounts officers, treasury officers and sub-treasury officers.

The circular stated that accepting pension applications in physical form had led to discrepancies between applications submitted online and those received directly in paper form, resulting in complications in pension processing.

Accordingly, all pension applications, including those seeking revision of pension, must be submitted through the designated online system from November. Applicants must ensure that all required details and relevant supporting documents are uploaded along with their applications.

Paper applications to be returned

The circular further stated that, from November, pension applications submitted in physical form would be returned by the Accountant General's office without being considered for processing.

The department has instructed officials to inform the drawing and disbursing officers under their control about the revised procedure and ensure strict compliance.

The move is aimed at streamlining pension processing and ensuring that pensionary benefits are disbursed to eligible beneficiaries without delay.

The Kodaikanal hill region in Dindigul district has been receiving persistent rainfall as the Northeast Monsoon intensifies across Tamil Nadu. The continuing downpour has raised concerns over road safety, with landslides disrupting connectivity between the hill village and nearby towns.

Landslides damage Adukkam mountain road

The heavy rain overnight triggered landslides at several points along the road, with soil and massive rocks sliding down the slopes. The damage has made the route unusable, preventing residents of Adukkam from travelling to either Periyakulam or Kodaikanal.

The disruption has also affected daily life in the village. Residents are facing difficulties accessing essential supplies, while farmers are unable to transport their agricultural produce to markets. With the main road blocked, the village has effectively been cut off from the outside world.

Road closed; motorists advised to avoid route

As a precaution, the Adukkam mountain road has been temporarily closed due to the continuing risk of landslides and further damage. The district administration and police have warned tourists and motorists against using the stretch until conditions improve.

The closure is intended to prevent vehicles from entering the affected area, where unstable slopes and falling rocks could pose a danger to road users. People travelling to Kodaikanal have been advised to use alternative routes.

Traffic diverted as restoration awaits

Vehicles heading towards Kodaikanal are being diverted through the Vathalagundu–Perumalmalai main road. The alternative route is being used to maintain access to the hill station while the damaged stretch remains closed.

The Highways Department is expected to begin restoration work after the rainfall subsides and conditions become safer for workers and machinery.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, issued the red alert in view of the forecast of extremely heavy rainfall in the district. With road access affected by the weather, authorities have appealed to people to avoid unnecessary travel through vulnerable stretches.

TNSTC bus driver killed; over 150 students rescued

Heavy rainfall has also triggered landslides and tree falls across the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts. A Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus driver was killed and the conductor seriously injured after a mudslide and uprooted trees buried their bus near Burliar. In a separate incident, more than 150 students from Kerala who were stranded following a landslide in the Mettupalayam–Ooty region were rescued by police, firefighters and district officials

Collector advises tourists to avoid Ooty hill routes

Lakshmi Bhavya has advised people travelling from Mettupalayam to Ooty to avoid the routes through Coonoor and Kotagiri amid the continuing rain and the risk of further disruption.

Fallen trees and landslides have affected traffic movement in parts of the Nilgiris. The adverse weather has raised concerns over the safety of motorists and tourists using the hill roads, where heavy rain can increase the risk of falling trees and slope failures.

The public has been asked to remain cautious and follow official advisories while the district faces the impact of the rainfall.

NDRF, SDRF teams deployed in Nilgiris

Following the red alert, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in the Nilgiris district to assist with emergency response and disaster management.

The deployment comes as authorities prepare for the possibility of further rainfall-related incidents. Fallen trees and landslides have already disrupted traffic, making preparedness and public safety key concerns.

Orange alert for nine Tamil Nadu districts

The Chennai Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert for very heavy rainfall in nine districts on Saturday. These are Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Coimbatore and Nagapattinam.

Heavy rainfall has also been forecast in 24 districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu. With different parts of Tamil Nadu expected to receive significant rainfall, residents have been advised to remain alert to weather updates and follow instructions issued by local authorities.

District Collector S Durga Moorthy visited the site and assessed the damage firsthand.

More than 100 families residing at the Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camp faced severe hardship after persistent rains flooded their residential area, as reported by PTI Videos.

Residents reported that rainwater began stagnating rapidly, leaving homes waterlogged and forcing families to move children and belongings to safety.

During the inspection, the collector interacted with the affected persons to understand their plight and examine the extent of the waterlogging.

Locals explained that blocked drainage channels and overflowing water bodies, including an exposed 40-foot-deep well near the residential zone—heightened safety concerns during the downpour.

They noted that makeshift breaches were created along blocked pathways to help drain the stagnant water, though debris and blocked channels continued to impede the flow.

Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, the collector assured residents that necessary relief measures and permanent drainage solutions would be discussed and implemented to prevent recurring flooding in the settlement.

In a statement, he said the state government had invited tenders to establish five model property registration centres through private operators in Ambattur, Tiruvanmiyur and T Nagar in Chennai, as well as in Chengalpattu and Coimbatore.

The centres are proposed to be set up in air-conditioned malls with modern amenities, enabling people to register documents without waiting in queues, he said.

Depending on the response to the initiative, 20 more such centres are planned, Anbumani said, adding that private operators would be allowed to collect additional service charges ranging from Rs 2,090 to Rs 10,630 over and above the regular registration fees.

Pointing out that Tamil Nadu has 595 registration offices across 56 registration districts, he said there was no need to establish privately operated centres.

The Registration Department is expected to generate Rs 35,109 crore in revenue during the current financial year. Even one per cent of this amount could be used to upgrade facilities and provide air-conditioned premises at existing government offices, he said.

“Handing over these operations to private entities and allowing them to collect service charges of up to Rs 10,630 amounts to exploiting the public,” he alleged.

Rejecting the government's clarification that private companies would provide only basic facilities while the registration process remained under government control, Anbumani compared the move to allowing a “camel's head into a tent”.

He warned that the initiative could eventually pave the way for the complete privatisation of the Registration Department.

Turning to land surveying, Anbumani highlighted the concerns of temporary surveyors, who earn Rs 23,000 a month and have been seeking job security and higher wages.

“When these workers approached senior department officials, they were reportedly told that all land survey operations would be outsourced to private agencies from January and that contract surveyors would face termination by December,” he said, adding that the reported plan had left workers anxious about losing their livelihoods.

Anbumani alleged that corruption was widespread in both the Registration and Land Survey departments and warned that involving private agencies could worsen malpractice and lead to further irregularities.

He urged the state government to drop the proposed changes, recruit adequate personnel in both departments and improve infrastructure to provide better services directly to the public.

Rescue personnel rescued over 150 school students trapped by a landslide on the Mettupalayam-Ooty road by using ropes. Landslides at more than 10 locations along the Udhagamandalam road have completely disrupted traffic.

Bus driver killed, conductor injured as mudslide, uprooted trees hit TNSTC bus in Nilgiris

A bus driver was killed and the conductor seriously injured after a mudslide and uprooted trees fell on a TNSTC bus near Burliar in the Nilgiris district on Saturday, police said.

The incident occurred in the early hours when the bus was travelling from Coonoor to Mettupalayam amid heavy rain.

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus was driven by Janagaraj, a resident of Kooratty village near Ooty, while Kesavan was the conductor, police said.

The bus had three passengers, who got off at Kurumpadi shortly before it reached Burliar. Only the driver and conductor were on board when the mudslide struck, police said.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Rain forecast till 1 pm in six Tamil Nadu districts

Light to moderate rain accompanied by light thunder and lightning is likely in six Tamil Nadu districts till 1 pm on Saturday, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai.

The six districts likely to receive rain are the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Erode, Krishnagiri and Salem.

Schools closed in Tamil Nadu's Erode district today

Due to heavy rain, all schools in Erode district (government, aided, and private) are closed today (October 24).

Well-marked low-pressure over Bay likely to intensify into depression today

The low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, reported on Friday, has intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area as of 5.30 am on Saturday, October 24, according to the latest bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The system is likely to intensify into a depression on Saturday and further strengthen into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 26.

According to the IMD, the well-marked low-pressure area is likely to persist over the same region and intensify into a depression on October 24. It is then expected to move west-northwestwards and strengthen into a deep depression on October 25 before becoming a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26.

Heavy downpours lash Tamil Nadu, roads flooded; Virudhunagar teen killed in wall collapse

Heavy showers caused waterlogging in low-lying areas across Tamil Nadu, and districts such as Madurai and Virudhunagar received bounteous rain, bringing down temperatures in the region.

A 17-year-old girl died, and her mother was injured after a wall of their rented house collapsed due to heavy rains at Mettamalai near Sattur in Virudhunagar district on Thursday night, police said on Friday. Sattur and its surrounding areas had experienced heavy downpours for over five hours prior to the collapse.

The deceased was identified as Muthuchelvi, a Class 12 student. Her mother, Solaiyammal, who sustained injuries in the incident, was admitted to the Sattur GH.

Meanwhile, the water level in the state's 89 reservoirs stood at 27.9% of their total capacity as on October 22, retaining 62.53 TMC against a capacity of 224.3 TMC. The storage rose by 1.02 TMC in the last 24 hours, but remained 134.4 TMC below the corresponding period last year, sources said.

The IMD said that a low-pressure area formed over East Central and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Friday is most likely to persist over the same region and intensify into a depression on October 24. Thereafter, it is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a deep depression on October 25 and into a cyclonic storm over the Westcentral Bay of Bengal by October 26 morning.

Heavy rain leaves Madurai under water, hundreds of homes flooded; Rs 23 crore drainage projects planned

Heavy rain that lashed Madurai district for more than four to five hours from Thursday evening inundated hundreds of houses, flooded major roads and severely disrupted traffic, leaving residents struggling to access essential services.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, several low-lying areas, including Sellur, Mattuthavani Vegetable Market, Koripalayam, Anna Nagar and Periyar Bus Stand, were submerged in knee-deep water following the downpour. In Sellur, floodwaters entered hundreds of houses along the 50-foot and 60-foot road stretches, causing considerable hardship to residents overnight.

Meanwhile, the Corporation has announced plans to undertake drainage projects worth ₹23 crore to address recurring waterlogging near Madurai Railway Station and along the Masi streets. Officials said the projects would be launched soon to improve rainwater drainage in these flood-prone areas.

What is the current TN weather status?

The low-pressure area that formed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday morning persisted over the same region, with its associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its Friday afternoon bulletin. 

The system is likely to intensify into a depression on October 24, a deep depression on October 25 and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26, the IMD added. 

The system is then expected to move west-northwestwards towards the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts over the following two days. If it develops into a cyclone, it will be named Arnab, as suggested by Bangladesh.

The IMD also reported that the low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep region persists, with a trough extending across Kerala to the north coastal Tamil Nadu coast.

Red alert for extremely heavy rain in Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli today (October 23)

The Regional Meterological Centre (RMC) has issued a red alert for Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli districts, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places on Friday (October 23). Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Theni districts.

Heavy rain is forecast in Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Tenkasi, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Villuppuram, Tiruppur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai and Kallakurichi districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal.

Very heavy rain forecast in several districts

The RMC has forecast very heavy rain (11.6–20.4 cm in 24 hours) at isolated places in Kanniyakumari, Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts on Friday (October 23), warranting an orange alert, while a yellow alert has been issued for heavy rain (6.5–11.5 cm) in several other districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Erode and Tiruppur, besides Puducherry and Karaikal.

On Saturday (October 24), very heavy rain is likely in Kanniyakumari, Coimbatore, Nilgiris and the Ghat areas of Tirunelveli district.

On Sunday (October 25), very heavy rain is forecast in Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Theni districts. Heavy rain is likely in several other districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Madurai and Tiruppur.

On Monday (October 26), very heavy rain is likely in Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Pudukkottai districts.

Bay Of Bengal low-pressure area may intensify into cyclone by October 26

With widespread rainfall continuing across Tamil Nadu, a new low-pressure area that formed over the Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Friday (October 23) is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 26, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The system has formed under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. It is likely to intensify into a depression on Saturday (October 24), a deep depression on Sunday (October 25), and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday (October 26).

The system is expected to move west-northwestwards towards the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts over the following two days. If it develops into a cyclone, it will be named ‘Arnab’, as suggested by Bangladesh.

Under the influence of this system, further heavy rain is likely across Tamil Nadu. The RMC has forecast very heavy rainfall of 11.6–20.4 cm at isolated places in Kanniyakumari, Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts on Friday.

Meanwhile, another low-pressure area that was over the Comorin region and adjoining parts of south Tamil Nadu and Kerala has moved over the southwest Arabian Sea, off the south Kerala coast, on Friday morning, according to the IMD.

Schools closed in four Tamil Nadu districts today

Schools in Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Vellore districts have been declared closed on Friday (October 23) due to heavy rain. In Tiruvannamalai district, Collector Vandana Garg has declared a holiday for both schools and colleges.

Several parts of Tamil Nadu have been experiencing widespread heavy rain since Thursday night, prompting the respective district administrations to announce the closures.

Several parts of Tamil Nadu continued to receive rain on Thursday (October 22) as the northeast monsoon remained active, swelling waterfalls and boosting reservoir levels across the State. Heavy overnight showers caused waterlogging in parts of Chennai and several southern districts, with Sankarankoil among the worst-affected areas.

Key updates from TN districts on October 22:

-- Kanniyakumari: Schools closed after heavy overnight rain, thunder and lightning. Homes inundated in Kollamcode.

-- Tirunelveli and Tenkasi: Rain holidays already announced for schools.

-- Madurai: Heavy rain has submerged over 140 acres of newly planted paddy fields. Farmers blame undredged irrigation canals for crop damage and are seeking compensation from the State government.

-- Cauvery delta: Farmers said initial showers were sporadic and insufficient to sustain the samba paddy crop.

-- Reservoir storage: Northeast monsoon rains have boosted inflows into drinking water reservoirs and irrigation dams. Chennai’s six key reservoirs have reached 37% of their combined capacity. Vaigai dam stands at 44.88 feet, Mullaperiyar at 116.90 feet, Papanasam at 48 feet and Perunchani at 44.35 feet.

---- PTI

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• Heavy to very heavy rain: Forecast in 17 districts, including Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam, over the next 24 hours.

• Heavy rain: Expected in 10 districts, including Tiruvallur, Villuppuram, Cuddalore and Tiruppur.

• Chennai: Moderate rain likely over the next two days, with heavy downpours possible on October 24 and 25.

READ FULL REPORT

What is the current TN weather status?

An official told PTI that the low-pressure area remained active over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast since October 21 evening. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and under its influence a low-pressure area is likely to form over Southeast and adjoining East central Bay of Bengal around October 23. Then it is likely to move northwestwards and intensify further.

Meteorologists are also tracking a secondary upper-air cyclonic circulation over the North Andaman Sea. This separate system is forecast to move west-northwestward and likely consolidate into a second low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal around Friday.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over the next 24 hours in districts including Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai.

Low-pressure over Bay to bring heavy rain to Tamil Nadu; Chennai to get moderate showers for 3 days

A low-pressure area has formed over the Southwest Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast and it will trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall across the State. Under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation, the system developed on Wednesday and continues to persist over the same region. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 5.8 km above mean sea level.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai and the Karaikal area on Thursday.

READ FULL REPORT HERE

Monsoon safety advisory for public, EB staff

The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) has issued a set of safety guidelines for the public and electricity department employees during the northeast monsoon, warning of the risk of electrical leakage, accidents and fatalities caused by heavy rain, strong winds, thunder and lightning.

• Stay away from electric poles, transformers, distribution boxes, power lines and stay wires.

• Avoid walking through stagnant rainwater near electrical installations.

• Inform the EB department about damaged infrastructure.

• Do not touch or remove snapped power lines on roads or in water

• Maintain a safe distance, warn others, particularly children, and alert the department

• Tree branches on power lines should not be cut or removed by the public.

• During thunderstorms and lightning, take shelter in safe buildings and avoid open spaces, isolated trees, electric poles and overhead wires.

• Stay away from open windows and metal grills.

• Avoid using electrical appliances and telephones during lightning.

• Do not operate electrical appliances with wet hands or touch damp switches and water-leaking walls.

• If any electrical leakage, disconnect power supply but only if it’s safe to do so.

• Do not tie cattle to electric poles or wires

• Do not dry clothes on those wires or use them to support banners and temporary structures.

• Install Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs) through qualified electricians

• Do a periodic check of your home wiring and protective devices

• RCCBs alone cannot guarantee complete protection without proper insulation.

For power outages, snapped wires, electrical leakage and damage to electricity infrastructure, call Minnagam 94987 94987 by phone or WhatsApp

EB staff must obtain the necessary permission before undertaking electrical work, verify that the power supply has been disconnected and follow prescribed safety procedures, including earthing, before carrying out repairs.

• Use appropriate personal protective equipment, including helmets, insulating gloves, safety footwear and safety belts.

• Repair work in waterlogged areas should begin only after a proper safety inspection.

• Field staff must respond promptly to snapped wires, leaning electric poles, damaged transformers and tree branches obstructing power lines.

• Barricades and warning signs must be installed around hazardous locations to prevent public access.

• Priority should be given to restoring power to drinking water supply installations, hospitals, telecommunications facilities and crowded public places.

• Staff must keep poles, wires, transformers, repair equipment, protective gear and vehicles ready for emergencies.

• Avoidhazardous work during heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds.

• Repairs should be undertaken only after ensuring the safety of personnel, with prompt coordination among field teams to address emergency complaints.

Chennai rains: Waterlogging, uprooted trees, battered roads greet denizens after overnight showers

Heavy overnight rainfall on Tuesday damaged the city’s main and interior roads, severely disrupting the morning commute. Waterlogging was reported in several areas, which were drained only by 11 am.

In AGS Colony, 3rd Main Road and the interior streets of Velachery, stagnated water took much longer to recede. Similarly, in Subramania Nagar 2nd Street and adjoining streets in Kodambakkam, trees were uprooted in several places and removed later.

In the morning, Bazullah Road in T Nagar, Taramani-Velachery Road, OMR, Aziz Nagar, Subramaniyan Nagar and School Road in Valluvar Kottam were waterlogged. Trees were also uprooted on Police Quarters Road in T Nagar and on 11th Street, TNHB Colony, Korattur, and later it was cleared.

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Potholes plague Tambaram-Velachery road

The Tambaram-Velachery Road has been riddled with potholes for several months due to delays in pipeline-laying work for a seawater desalination project. Recent northeast monsoon rains have filled the potholes and excavated trenches with water, making them difficult to spot and disrupting traffic. The stretch, which connects Tambaram and Guindy and passes through several residential areas, educational institutions and commercial hubs, has also witnessed frequent accidents.

Last night, a private hospital ambulance lost control after hitting a water-filled pothole, struck a median and overturned. The driver and a nurse sustained injuries and were taken to Tambaram District Government Hospital in a 108 ambulance. No patient was inside the vehicle at the time. Residents have urged authorities to speed up the pipeline work and restore the damaged road. The Highways Department said repairs could begin only after the pipeline work is completed and the road is handed back to it.

Chennai streets inundated after overnight heavy rain spell

Parts of Chennai were flooded, and streets were inundated after a night of heavy rain. The city recorded an overall average rainfall of 70.25 mm over the 24 hours ending at 6 am on October 21.

Chennai Corporation to spend Rs 21.80 crore on pothole repairs

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is carrying out pothole repair work across all 15 zones at an estimated cost of Rs 21.80 crore as a precautionary measure ahead of the Northeast monsoon.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, Rs 9.25 crore has been allocated for repairs on bus routes and Rs 12.55 crore for internal roads. The work involves filling potholes using concrete and tar mixtures, in line with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's instructions.

So far, 4,691 potholes have been filled and repaired across Zones 1 to 15. The Corporation said the repair work is still under way.

Heavy rain continues in Chennai as rain clouds move towards city, says Tamil Nadu Weatherman

Pradeep John who runs the Tamil Nadu Weatherman handle has warned that rainfall is likely to increase across Chennai as rain clouds move towards the city.

In a post on his X account, Pradeep John said several locations in the Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram (KTCC) region had recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall, putting the region at the top of Tamil Nadu's rainfall chart.

He said more rain clouds were moving towards Chennai and several places in the city could cross the 100-mm mark before 8.30 am. By the time rainfall readings are reset at 8.30 am, some locations could record between 100 mm and 150 mm of rain, he added.

Rainfall likely to increase

The rain clouds moving towards Chennai are expected to increase rainfall across the city. The weather system is bringing rain at a time when many people are returning to Chennai from their hometowns after the holidays.

Puzhal lake storage crosses 5 TMC

Meanwhile, the water storage in Puzhal Lake, one of Chennai's key drinking water reservoirs, has crossed 5 TMC as of October 21, 2026.

Pradeep John said the lake was receiving a good inflow because of its proximity to Chennai. However, more rainfall is needed in the catchment area to sustain the inflow.

He added that light rainfall was expected over the next three days, which could help maintain a steady inflow into the reservoir.

City logs 1,212 rain-related complaints in 24 hours, GCC deploys extra pumps

Up to 5 am on October 21, a total of 1,212 complaints were registered. The majority pertained to waterlogging and inundation, alongside over 50 grievances concerning tree falls and non-functional streetlights, commissioner said.  Most waterlogging and tree-falling complaints have already been cleared. Streetlight repairs have been mandated for resolution within 24 hours. Complaints are strictly closed in the system only after field engineers upload before-and-after photographs.

The majority of complaints originated from the Core City region attributed to higher population density and awareness of the 1913 helpline alongside inputs from North Chennai zones like Manali and Madhavaram.

Complaints continue to be tracked across multiple channels, including the 1913 helpline, social media, the online web portal, the PGR mobile app, and media reports, he added.

RMC issues rain alert till 10 am

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) issued an alert valid until 10 am forecasting light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places across Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipettai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagappattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari districts, as well as Karaikal and Puducherry

Overnight heavy rain spell in Chennai

Very heavy rainfall, recorded in three areas, led by Vadapalani with 132.9 mm, Saidapet with 125.2 mm, and Alandur with 119.4 mm. Heavy to moderate spells at Maduravoyal recorded 112.5 mm, Madipakkam saw 114.6 mm, Valasaravakkam logged 109.6 mm, Nungambakkam recorded 106.8 mm, Adyar registered 104.1 mm, and Korattur hit 96 mm.

TN rain forecast: Here are the details

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), widespread rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal today (October 21) and tomorrow (October 22), followed by isolated to scattered rainfall between October 23 and October 26.

Heavy to very heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph is likely to occur at isolated places over Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari districts on Wednesday. Heavy to very heavy rainfall will continue in Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, and Ramanathapuram districts on Thursday.

Under similar wind conditions, heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning is expected at one or two places over the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Namakkal, Karur, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Sivagangai, and Ramanathapuram, as well as the Karaikal area.

In Chennai, the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 30 degrees Celsius, with the minimum temperature dipping to 25 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

Holidays declared in schools in 5 Tamil Nadu districts on Wednesday (October 21)

CHENNAI: Schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ranipet districts will remain closed on Wednesday (October 21) following heavy overnight rain, with district collectors announcing a holiday.

Heavy rain lashed several parts of Chennai, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur districts through the night, while the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast further rainfall.

Meanwhile, the upper-air cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast persists, with a low-pressure area likely to form over the same region within the next 12 hours, according to the Indian Meteorological Department's bulletin on Tuesday night.

Another upper-air cyclonic circulation over the Gulf of Thailand and adjoining areas of Thailand and Myanmar is likely to move into the north Andaman Sea by today morning. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around October 23 and intensify over the following three days.

Due to the twin weather systems, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to continue across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until October 26, the RMC has forecast. Thunderstorms and lightning, accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph, are likely at one or two places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until October 26.

The incident occurred in the early hours when the bus was travelling from Coonoor to Mettupalayam amid heavy rain.

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus was driven by Janagaraj, a resident of Kooratty village near Ooty, while Kesavan was the conductor, police said.

The bus had three passengers, who got off at Kurumpadi shortly before it reached Burliar. Only the driver and conductor were on board when the mudslide struck, police said.

Mud and uprooted trees fell on the bus, burying it under debris and slush.

Fire and rescue personnel from Coonoor and Mettupalayam, along with local police, rushed to the spot and rescued the trapped crew.

“When we reached the Marapalam area, the driver was completely trapped in his seat beneath the heavy debris. We searched the entire bus and initially found no other passengers, which was a huge relief, though tragic for the crew,” a fire officer said.

Both men were pulled from the debris and rushed to the Mettupalayam Government Hospital. Janagaraj later succumbed to his injuries, while Kesavan was undergoing intensive treatment for severe injuries.

Continuous rain has triggered several landslides, disrupting road connectivity across the hill district.

Mudslides blocked the Ooty-Mettupalayam and Ooty-Coonoor highways, disrupting traffic to the hill district. Vehicles queued up from Mettupalayam to Karamadai, while bus passengers were stranded for hours.

In Theetukkal area of Udhagamandalam, a retaining wall at a hotel collapsed, destroying two cars and six two-wheelers. A night watchman trapped in the mud was rescued by fire and rescue personnel.

The Forest Department temporarily closed access to Catherine Falls and Kodanad Viewpoint as a precaution.

Burliar recorded 25 cm of rainfall, while Edapally received 20 cm, according to meteorological data.

More than 20 pieces of heavy machinery, including JCBs, were deployed by the Highways, Fire and Rescue Services and Revenue departments to clear debris and restore traffic. Rescue and clearance operations were continuing in the affected areas.

Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Taneeru declared a holiday for schools in Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Kundah, Gudalur and Pandalur taluks on Saturday in view of the heavy rainfall.

Over 150 students rescued

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the students, who were visiting the region as tourists, were stranded following a landslide. Police, firefighters and district administration officials rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident and used ropes to evacuate them to safety.

Government bus damaged in landslide

In a separate incident, a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus travelling from Coonoor to Mettupalayam was buried under mud and debris after a mudslide and uprooted trees fell on it near Burliar in the Nilgiris district in the early hours of Saturday.

The driver, Janagaraj, a resident of Kooratty village near Ooty, was killed in the incident, while the conductor, Kesavan, sustained serious injuries and was admitted to Mettupalayam Government Hospital for intensive treatment. The bus had three passengers, who got off at Kurumpadi shortly before the incident. Only the driver and conductor were on board when the mudslide struck.

Fire and rescue personnel from Coonoor and Mettupalayam, along with local police, rushed to the spot and rescued the trapped conductor.

Landslides disrupt road traffic

The Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts have been experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds over the past week as the northeast monsoon intensifies in Tamil Nadu. The downpour has triggered landslides and tree falls at around 20 locations along roads connecting Ooty with Mettupalayam, Coonoor and Kotagiri.

Landslides have been reported at 14 locations along the Mettupalayam–Coonoor road and at three locations along the Mettupalayam–Kotagiri road, disrupting traffic on both routes.

Traffic on the Ooty–Coonoor–Mettupalayam road was suspended from midnight until 9 am, while movement on the Ooty–Kotagiri–Mettupalayam road was disrupted for about an hour from around 5 am. Only small vehicles were reportedly allowed along one side of the latter route. The alternative route to Ooty via Karamadai, Gethai and Manjoor was also blocked following rockfalls.

Heavy rainfall, school holiday and train cancellation

Lower Kotagiri reportedly recorded 200 mm of rainfall, while Paraliyar received 250 mm. Restoration work is underway on the affected roads.

As a precautionary measure, Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya reportedly declared a holiday for schools in six taluks on Saturday (October 24). The Mettupalayam–Ooty mountain railway service was also cancelled for the day due to the landslides, affecting tourists who had planned to travel by train.

In a set of instructions, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Vinoth has asked officials to inspect vulnerable agricultural areas, identify fields at risk of inundation and ensure that paddy ready for harvest and harvested stocks are adequately protected against rain damage.

Officials have been directed to provide protective coverings for paddy stored at government procurement centres to prevent it from getting wet. They must also ensure adequate arrangements to safeguard the stocks and, wherever possible, facilitate their swift transportation to safer storage locations.

The department has instructed officials to clear blockages in irrigation canals, drainage channels and field waterways to ensure the free flow of rainwater and prevent waterlogging in agricultural fields.

Agricultural engineering officials have been asked to keep tractors, water pumps and other necessary machinery ready at vulnerable locations to drain excess water from fields promptly after rainfall.

The department has also stressed coordination among officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering wings, along with local bodies, to implement preventive measures based on local requirements and minimise crop losses.

Where damage occurs, officials must immediately inspect the affected areas, assess the extent of crop losses and submit detailed reports, supported by photographs and GPS coordinates, to the competent authorities without delay.

The minister has further directed officials to expedite damage assessments and facilitate eligible farmers’ access to relief under applicable government schemes.

District-level control rooms will coordinate emergency measures and provide assistance to farmers. Officials must also submit reports on precautionary measures, paddy protection arrangements, drainage operations and crop damage assessments to the department’s agricultural engineering authorities for further action.

The Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister has emphasised the importance of preventive action before rainfall intensifies, directing officials to work in coordination, continuously monitor field-level measures and take all necessary steps to protect farmers’ livelihoods.

The department has also underscored the need to ensure the safety of field personnel deployed for emergency operations during adverse weather conditions.

The boy, Tamil, was the son of Praveen Kumar and Haripriya, a couple from Kungumampalayam near Palladam. He had been suffering from persistent fever for the past few days.

His parents initially admitted him to a private hospital in Palladam for treatment. Doctors who examined him confirmed that he had dengue fever.

As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to the Coimbatore Government Hospital for further treatment and admitted to the intensive care unit. However, he died on Friday night despite receiving treatment.

Following the incident, the public had requested urged the health department to intensify mosquito-control measures and sanitation work in the locality.

The existing e-Sevai platform provides 275 services across 38 departments through 25,277 centres. It handles an average of 50,000 to 60,000 requests a day, with demand reaching 80,000 on peak days. The proposed platform is designed to accommodate an average of 60,000 to 1.2 lakh requests a day, with peak demand of up to 1.5 lakh, supporting at least 50,000 concurrent users.

Named as Vetri Tamil Nadu Integrated e-Sevai 2.0 Platform, the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA) issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting technology providers to propose solutions for a common platform to manage applications, approvals, documents, payments and certificates across government departments.

The platform is also intended to support a “No Application” service delivery model, under which authorised government databases would be used to identify eligible beneficiaries and pre-fill application details. Where service rules permit, eligible citizens could receive services without submitting a separate application.

The platform is expected to connect around 15 departmental portals and 18 State and national digital systems. These include Aadhaar-based authentication, e-Sign, DigiLocker and payment services, as well as government databases. TNeGA estimates that around 110 terabytes of data, including databases and supporting documents from the existing e-Sevai and e-District systems, would have to be migrated.

The existing e-Sevai centre network is expected to remain part of the service-delivery ecosystem. The proposed platform will have mobile applications, messaging services, call centres and IVRS, alongside other digital government platforms.

A substantial part of the transition will involve migrating data from the existing e-Sevai and e-District systems including databases and supporting documents, which would have to be transferred to the new platform.

The proposed AI tools include a conversational interface in Tamil and English to help users find services, document-processing capabilities and a workbench to assist government officers in handling applications. AI is also proposed for classifying grievances, routing them to the appropriate authorities and identifying duplicate complaints. The AI system would operate within TNeGA’s environment, with citizen data not leaving that environment. The proposed platform is to run on government-provided infrastructure rather than depend on a vendor-hosted cloud service to provide seamless service.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rain accompanied by light thunder and lightning is likely in six Tamil Nadu districts till 1 pm on Saturday, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, as reported by Daily Thanthi.

The six districts likely to receive rain are the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Erode, Krishnagiri and Salem.

Meanwhile, according to the IMD, the well-marked low-pressure area is likely to persist over the same region and intensify into a depression on October 24. It is then expected to move west-northwestwards and strengthen into a deep depression on October 25 before becoming a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26.

Moving west-northwestwards, the system is likely to intensify further and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28.

The cyclone will be named Arnab, as suggested by Bangladesh.

According to the prosecution, Shyabu Khan, a resident of Rajasthan, created fake AI-generated videos impersonating Chief Minister Vijay on Facebook to lure the public into seeking assistance. He allegedly operated two Facebook profiles, “All India Help Vijay Thalapati” and “All India Help,” and circulated digitally manipulated videos asking people to contact him for help in return for registration fees.

Based on a complaint, police arrested Shyabu Khan on September 12, 2026, for offences under Sections 204, 318(2), 319(2), 336(3), and 340(2) of the BNS, and Sections 66C and 66D of the IT Act.

Shyabu Khan subsequently filed a bail petition before the Madras High Court. Justice N Ramesh granted him conditional bail, noting that he had been in judicial custody since September 12, 2026, the investigation had been completed, the chargesheet was ready, and the mobile phone allegedly used in the offence had been seized.

The court directed him to appear daily before the DSP, CB-CID Cyber Crime Cell.

In a circular dated October 19, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said employees must not express views criticising government policies, schemes or administrative actions through newspapers, magazines, radio, television, social media or public meetings. The restrictions also cover memes and other content circulated online.

The circular also bars employees from making statements that could adversely affect relations with other governments, participating in unauthorised meetings where resolutions are adopted, or delivering speeches that criticise the government.

State can't gag right to dissent, says CPM

Responding to the issue, the CPM has urged the State government to withdraw a circular prohibiting government employees from criticising the policies, schemes and actions of the Union and State governments, warning that the directive undermines democratic rights.

In a resolution adopted at its two-day state committee meeting held here on Friday, the party condemned the circular dated October 19, 2026, issued as an oral instruction by the Director of Public Health. The circular reportedly warns that government employees who criticise government policies or actions would face disciplinary action.

The CPM said expressing dissent, criticising government policies and organising protests against measures affecting people's interests were constitutional rights. It said government employees and those working in public sector undertakings were also entitled to oppose policies that affected their interests.

The party pointed to the implementation of neoliberal policies, privatisation, contractual appointments and outsourcing, which it said had weakened social security and left a large number of government posts vacant, denying employment opportunities to Tamil Nadu's youth. It said criticism and protests against such policies were legitimate and necessary.

Citing the assured pension scheme as a recent example, the CPM said the earlier government had announced an interim benefit of 30% of the last-drawn salary, against the originally stated 50%. Subsequently, a government order capped the benefit at Rs 10,000 for employees with less than 18 years of service. The government withdrew the order after the CPM, other political parties and associations of government employees and teachers criticised the decision, the party said.

Describing criticism as an inseparable part of democracy, the CPM said threatening employees with disciplinary action for expressing dissent amounted to suppressing democratic rights. It demanded that the government immediately withdraw the circular.

The four companies - Dream Bake, Elite Natural, Britannia and ITC will supply cake pieces to students in schools across the State. Elite Natural was the lowest bidder, followed by Dream Bake, Britannia, and ITC.

Dream Bake alone will supply 33.7 lakh cake pieces to 20 districts, while the other three companies will supply cakes to six districts each, according to the Tamil Nadu government's Information Integrity Desk.

The government has decided to distribute 62.46 lakh cakes to students in government and government-aided schools at a total cost of Rs 7.54 crore. The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation invited bids to procure around 62 lakh sponge cake slices, each weighing up to 45 grams.

The cakes will be available in four varieties: fruit, vanilla, chocolate, and butter or milk sponge cake. The products will carry details such as ingredients, nutritional information, batch number, date of manufacture and expiry date or best-before date.

The order was passed on a petition filed by Malaikozhunthan of Karur, on behalf of the Tamil Nadu High and Higher Secondary School Graduate Teachers’ Association. The petitioner said that despite the abolition of the collection of question paper fees from the 2026-27 academic year, the fee was still being collected from students.

Citing information obtained under the Right to Information Act, he said the details of the fees collected should be examined to confirm whether proper receipts and account records were maintained.

He also sought legal action against all government officials involved in illegally collecting the unauthorised fee from students of Classes 6 to 12 in government high and higher secondary schools across the state, particularly children aged between 10 and 14 years. He further sought an inquiry into whether the amounts collected in previous years were properly accounted for and used for the intended purpose.

After hearing, Justices GR Swaminathan and Murugan issued an interim ban on the collection of the fee and ordered the School Education Secretary and the government to file their responses. The court adjourned the hearing of the case.

Higher Education Minister P Viswanathan chaired a meeting on Friday; NSS and NCC coordinators from across the State were present.

As part of the plan, student volunteers will assist district administrations in flood-prone areas with evacuation, distribution of food, drinking water and essential supplies, setting up relief camps, and creating public awareness about safety measures.

The department has instructed educational institutions to keep their NSS and NCC units on standby and coordinate with district collectors. Special teams will be formed in vulnerable districts to ensure a swift response during periods of heavy rain.

Students will receive basic training and safety equipment before being deployed. Institutions have also been asked to maintain updated lists of volunteers for immediate mobilisation whenever required.

Officials said the initiative aims to ensure timely relief operations by making effective use of trained student volunteers during monsoon-related emergencies.

DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi criticised the government over the alleged caste discrimination faced by a 15-year-old student in Coimbatore, who died by suicide. He demanded action against all those allegedly responsible for the incident.

In a statement, Udhayanidhi said the student had faced caste-based discrimination after being asked about his food habits, wrongly objecting to his beef consumption. He alleged that the discrimination had led to the student's death.

Udhayanidhi urged the TVK-led government to ensure that schools did not become places where caste discrimination prevailed. He also called for action against those allegedly involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi condemned the murder of Mary Ragila at her house in Sathankulam by unidentified persons. Kanimozhi said that despite the Chief Minister's assurance that everyone would be provided security, people were increasingly facing an atmosphere of insecurity.

"The government has failed to fulfil its election promises and is focusing on criticising the previous administration. It has also failed to fulfil its promise to reduce alcohol consumption and has not adequately addressed crimes associated with alcohol abuse," she said.

The appointment was announced in a press release issued on Friday by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary KC Venugopal. The leadership change has drawn political attention after reports surfaced of Ranjan Kumar’s alleged association with the case, though the party has not indicated any connection between the developments and its decision. He faced allegations of extorting Veeramani, which the Congress leader denied, saying he was actually a whistleblower.

Earlier, responding to allegations, Ranjan Kumar said he lodged a complaint over the Veeramani issue in 2024 but claimed the city police failed to act on it. He also denied having any connection with Gem Granite Veeramani.

However, the timing of the organisational change has fuelled speculation about its possible political implications. The AICC has not cited any specific reason for replacing Ranjan Kumar, and its announcement does not link the decision to the case or the allegations surrounding it.

According to the AICC announcement, R Senthamil Selvan will assume charge as chairman of the TNCC SC department with immediate effect.

The new Chief Information Commissioner and three Information Commissioners will assume office after the Governor approves the nominations. Government officials indicated that the process could take about a week.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay recently chaired the selection meeting. The Leader of the Opposition, who is also a member of the selection committee, boycotted the meeting. Vijay finalised the four names with the assistance of Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar, the committee's other member.

“The selected names have been sent to Lok Bhavan for the Governor’s approval. He is expected to give his assent in a day or two. The Commission currently has only four commissioners and is functioning without a head. Considering all aspects, the Governor is expected to give his assent as early as possible,” a Secretariat official said.

The selection process began after four members retired, including Chief Information Commissioner Md Shakeel Akhter.

The government constituted a search committee, headed by retired High Court judge Justice R S Ramanathan, to shortlist candidates for the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission. Principal Secretary C Samayamoorthy and retired IAS officer R Sudalaikannan were its other members. The committee forwarded its recommendations to the State government for consideration.

According to available information, VPR Elamparithi, M Natesan, Athulya Misra, Abey Kumar Singh and A Vijayaram remain in office. The latest nominations are expected to pave the way for appointing a new Chief Information Commissioner and three commissioners.

The Tamil Nadu State Information Commission is a statutory body responsible for implementing the Right to Information Act, 2005, in the State by addressing appeals and complaints from citizens seeking access to information.

"Dhanush being a competitor to our leader Vijay is out of the question. Please withdraw that question. Chief Minister Vijay is the only leader," Marie Wilson told reporters here.

However, he said anyone is free to launch a political party and contest elections in a democracy, adding that Dhanush's decision to enter politics, if he chooses to, will have to be judged in time. "He is someone I know well and am very close to. But he has to make his own decision. Whether it is right or wrong will be known only in the future," Wilson said.

Referring to the 2026 Assembly elections, the minister said voters had delivered a clear verdict after five decades of rule by the two major Dravidian parties. He argued that elaborate electoral calculations and political alliances could not override the people's mandate.

"Another star may enter the scene, and some may believe he will bring about a turning point. But there will be no turning point; there will only be disappointment," he said.

Wilson also cited actor Rajinikanth's political interventions over the years, referring to the elections held in 1991, 1996 and 1999. He said the influence of celebrity endorsements on electoral outcomes could not be taken for granted.

On whether Rajinikanth would campaign in the future, Wilson said the decision rested with the actor, adding that Tamil Nadu had already witnessed how celebrity interventions played out in electoral politics.

"Who supported whom and how far they could influence voters — we have seen all that. The people of Tamil Nadu have already delivered their verdict," he added.

According to the prosecution, the husband and wife married in September 2008. The husband allegedly subjected his wife to cruelty over dowry demands, had an illicit relationship with another woman and failed to take proper care of his wife and child. The wife allegedly died by suicide by jumping into the water along with their one-and-a-half-year-old child. The husband was charged under Sections 498A and 306 of the IPC.

The trial court acquitted the husband, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove the dowry demand or cruelty that drove the wife to suicide. Challenging the acquittal, the wife's brother argued that the trial court had ignored the evidence of his mother and other witnesses.

After hearing both sides, Justice Sunder Mohan noted that although the witnesses had referred to an alleged dowry demand, the allegation was vague. Their evidence suggested that the marital discord was primarily due to the husband's illicit relationship with another woman.

The court noted that the complaint filed by the wife's brother about her disappearance mentioned the husband's illicit relationship but made no reference to any dowry demand. The complainant claimed that the deceased had told her mother about the dowry demand and asked her not to disclose it to her father or brother. However, the court found this explanation unconvincing, observing that there was no reason to keep such an allegation secret and that the complainant would have mentioned it in the complaint if the demand had been made.

The court held that the trial judge's finding that the illicit relationship had not been proved because the woman concerned was not examined was perverse. However, it clarified that an illicit relationship alone would not amount to cruelty under Section 498A of the IPC.

Regarding the dowry demand, the court rejected the deceased's mother's claim that the deceased had told her about it a few days before the incident. It noted that the allegation was vague, was not mentioned in the earliest version, but was subsequently improved upon by the prosecution witnesses.

The court concluded that the prosecution had failed to establish its case, though it disagreed with the trial court's reasons for acquittal, and dismissed the criminal appeal.

A Division Bench comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and P Murugan also held that the prosecution failed to produce evidence that the grounds of arrest had been communicated to him, in violation of the constitutional safeguards under Articles 21 and 22.

Sugumaran was arrested on October 9 following allegations that he had extorted money from Saravanan, one of the partners of A to Z Speciality Hospital in Thanjavur, following a dispute between the hospital partners. On October 16, the Judicial Magistrate, Thiruvaiyaru, dismissed his bail application.

The court noted that Sugumaran had appeared before the CB-CID on October 9 in response to a notice issued under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and he was arrested at 5 pm after questioning.

The judges observed that under Section 35(5) of the BNSS, a person who complies with a notice to appear cannot be arrested unless the investigating officer records reasons for considering the arrest necessary. The authorities failed to produce any material to establish compliance with this mandatory requirement. The court held that this alone was sufficient to declare the arrest and remand illegal.

The Bench also referred to Saravanan's allegation that the Rs 5 crore he claimed to have been coerced into paying was intended for Sugumaran and his higher-ups. However, the court clarified that it was not examining the merits of the criminal allegations or deciding whether the CB-CID case should be quashed.

“No doubt, Sugumaran is a police officer accused of having played an unauthorised mediator. But even such a person deserves due process,” the Bench observed, emphasising that constitutional protections must apply regardless of the nature of the allegations or the person accused.

The court allowed the habeas corpus petition and directed the authorities to release Sugumaran forthwith and unconditionally. It clarified that the order was not a grant of bail but an order for unconditional release because his arrest, detention and remand were illegal.

Krishnamoorthy (52) and Sathish (50), both residents of George Town in Chennai, jointly operated Murugan and Kalikambal Silks, located near Rangasamy Kulam in Kancheepuram.

According to police, the duo purchased silk sarees in bulk from suppliers across the country and sold them through their showroom. They allegedly bought sarees worth around Rs 18 crore from Mahendra Singh, a supplier from Rajasthan, and sarees worth Rs 2 crore from Suchithra of Chennai, but failed to settle the payments.

When the suppliers demanded their money, the showroom owners allegedly claimed that the sarees remained unsold and promised to clear the dues once the stock was sold. However, the suppliers later learnt that most of the sarees had already been sold, but the payments had not been made.

Following this, Mahendra and Suchithra lodged complaints with the Kancheepuram District Crime Branch, which registered a case and launched an investigation. As the investigation progressed, both accused allegedly went into hiding. A special police team was formed to trace them. Sathish was arrested a few days ago and remanded in judicial custody.

Continuing the search, police arrested Krishnamoorthy in Chennai on Thursday. He was produced before a court in Kancheepuram and remanded in judicial custody. The District Crime Branch police are continuing their investigation into the alleged fraud.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the Minister at the Secretariat, S Balasubramaniam, state executive president, TN Auto Thozhilalar Sammelanam and coordinator of the All Autorickshaw Drivers Unions Federation, said that representatives of 9 trade unions, including 7 union leaders who attended the meeting, submitted a memorandum seeking an immediate fare revision.

“The minister assured us that the CM would announce the revised meter fares before Diwali. A final review meeting on the issue is being held on Friday,” he added.

In their memorandum dated October 23, the unions said that autorickshaw fares had remained unchanged since 2013, despite a sharp rise in the prices of fuel, spare parts and other essential commodities. They also cited increases in house rent, electricity bills, medical expenses and education costs, which they said had eroded drivers’ earnings. They also said that the Madras HC had directed the State government 4 years ago to revise meter fares in line with rising prices, but the revision had not been implemented.

The memorandum also sought the immediate launch of a government autorickshaw booking app, regulation or prohibition of bike taxis, permission for autorickshaws to cross district boundaries when carrying passengers, and exemption from online penalties that the unions consider unjust. Other demands include a Rs 15,000 subsidy for autorickshaw drivers, similar to assistance provided in Andhra Pradesh, parking facilities at government hospitals, Rs 5,000 as a festival bonus for drivers, expansion of CNG filling stations and fuel subsidies.

The unions said that the expansion of alternative transport options, including metro rail, minibuses and bike taxis, along with free bus travel for women, had affected autorickshaw drivers’ earnings. They urged the government to announce the fare revision before Diwali and recommend a festival bonus for drivers who have suffered a loss of income.

Kancheepuram has been witnessing continuous heavy rainfall over the past few days. Following the persistent rain, a wall of a house on Thumbavanam Street, within the Kancheepuram Corporation limits, suddenly collapsed on Thursday night.

Muralidharan (65), his wife Kousalya (61) and their son Deenadhayalan (38), who were inside the house, got trapped under the debris and were unable to come out. Neighbours immediately rushed to their assistance and attempted to rescue them.

However, they were unable to bring the three out and alerted the Kancheepuram Fire and Rescue Services Department. Firefighters arrived at the spot and carried out the rescue operations. They safely brought all three family members out of the damaged house.

The timely intervention of the fire and rescue personnel helped prevent a major tragedy, bringing relief to the family and residents.

The deceased, M Gokul (27), a native of Kanniyakumari district, worked as a lorry driver for a private transport company in Alamathi. His younger brother, Rahul, lodged a complaint with Sholavaram police stating that Gokul had been missing since October 7.

Following the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. They examined CCTV footage from the Alamathi area and identified two suspects, Ayyappan (18), and Sathish (33), who worked as lorry drivers.

During questioning, the two allegedly confessed that they had consumed alcohol with Gokul at a Tasmac outlet before a quarrel broke out among them.

According to police, the trio continued arguing after leaving the outlet. The suspects allegedly attacked Gokul on the head with a helmet at an isolated spot. He collapsed and died following the assault, police said.

The duo allegedly dug a pit near the Tiruvallur highway at Alamathi and buried Gokul's body before leaving the spot.

During the investigation, the suspects reportedly led police to the location where they had allegedly buried the body.

The masked gang attacked the security guard with an iron rod, tied him up before breaking into the silver storage facility owned by M Balasubramaniam, a wholesale silver trader and manufacturer near Salem New Bus Stand.

The prime accused, S Abishek (21) of Coimbatore, and his four alleged accomplices, Sridhar, Gnanaprakasam, Arunkumar and Annamalai, were arrested on Friday. The police recovered 323 kg of silver anklets and bars from them. Two cars used in the robbery, along with masks, gloves, spray cans and iron rods, were also seized.

The police traced the gang by tracking the car, in which they travelled through several districts, including Coimbatore, Tiruchy, Madurai and Thanjavur. Salem Police Commissioner AG Babu said the accused had avoided toll plazas and travelled around 2,400 kms within 24 hours without stopping anywhere. “We analysed the CCTV footage in at least 1000 places in various districts to track down the accused persons,” he said.

The prime accused, Abishek, is facing several criminal cases, including a murder case in Coimbatore and a case under the Arms Act, the police said. Further investigation is under way by special teams to apprehend three more persons allegedly involved in the robbery and recover the remaining stolen silver.

The move comes amid complaints that delayed meter readings are pushing consumers into higher billing slabs. The utility has also decided to outsource meter reading in staff-starved divisions for six months to address the shortage of assessors.

The new feature will allow consumers to enter their service connection numbers, photograph their electricity meters and upload the readings to TNPDCL app. The billing software will automatically calculate consumption and generate bills, which will be sent to registered mobile numbers through WhatsApp and SMS, a TNPDCL official said.

“The feature is being tested and will be rolled out in selected divisions within the next two weeks, before being extended across the State by December,” the official added.

Currently, the application allows consumers to apply for new connections, pay bills and register complaints.

Separately, TNPDCL will engage private firms through limited tenders to read meters of low-tension (LT), non-CT services in divisions facing a shortage of staff. The number of contract meter readers will be decided division-wise, based on the availability of assessors and the volume of LT services.

A Revenue Division circular issued on September 24 said vacancies in the assessment cadre had resulted in meter readings being taken beyond the prescribed billing cycle, leading to consumer complaints and increased workloads for existing staff.

The shortage is particularly acute among assessors, who undertake door-to-door meter readings. Of the 7,590 sanctioned assessor posts, 5,602 are vacant, accounting for 73.81% of the total. Overall, 7,119 of the 14,804 sanctioned posts in the assessment and revenue hierarchy are vacant. Among inspectors of assessment, 1,073 of the 3,976 posts are vacant.

TNPDCL has around 3.5 crore low-tension services across the State, including 2.5 crore domestic connections.

Addressing the party’s district executive committee meeting, chaired by district president Rajendran, Balaji said the organisational restructuring was being undertaken based on voter count. He batted for the party's call to create new organisational units at the union and branch levels to accelerate election-related activities ahead of the upcoming bypolls and local body elections,

He said the party would also form new unions, zones and branches, with representatives tasked with coordinating election work and maintaining direct contact with voters through booth-level agents.

He added that the proposal for the new organisational structure has been sent to the party leadership for approval. Once cleared, Balaji added that the party would appoint office-bearers and begin mobilisation for the upcoming bypoll in the Karur Assembly constituency and the local body elections.

MLAs R Elango (Aravakurichi) and Suriyanur A Chandran (Kulithalai), among others, attended the meeting.

The total value of the unaccounted cash and suspicious digital transactions detected during the checks stood at Rs 1.59 crore, according to the department.

The joint surprise checks were conducted at various government offices, including Corporation offices, Block Development Officer (BDO) offices, government hospitals, panchayat offices, municipality offices, Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) offices, Deputy Director of Health Services offices, union offices, town panchayat offices and municipality planning section offices.

During the checks, officials seized unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 8,21,750. They also detected suspicious transactions through Google Pay (GPay) totalling Rs 1,50,96,281.

The combined amount of cash seized and suspicious digital transactions identified was Rs 1,59,18,031.

The coordination committee meeting, chaired by Kancheepuram Collector Sneha, was attended by Thennarasu, who represents Sriperumbudur, Alandur MLA Harish, Kancheepuram Corporation Mayor Mahalakshmi Yuvaraj, Additional Collector Ashiq Ali and senior officials from various departments.

The Collector spoke about the administration’s preparedness for the northeast monsoon. Thennarasu said that he had inspected several flood-prone areas, including Varadharajapuram and Ashtalakshmi Nagar in Kundrathur union, over the past two days.

“While the Adyar canal had been desilted properly, several other canals remained uncleared,” he said. “Residents in these areas faced flooding every monsoon despite repeated complaints. Officials must expedite desilting and complete the preventive works soon.”

Warning officials against negligence, the Minister said residents had been regularly approaching him with complaints about inadequate preparedness. He insisted that all departments act urgently to ensure that such complaints did not recur during the monsoon.

Harish subsequently questioned the delay in allocating vehicles for monsoon preparedness in his constituency. “I had asked for at least two vehicles to carry out precautionary works but was told that only one was available. Given Alandur's size and importance, officials should provide adequate resources for flood prevention and relief operations,” he added.

The sharp criticism from the Minister and the MLA at the outset of the meeting appeared to catch officials off guard. Collector Sneha directed the officials concerned to detail the status of ongoing works, the locations covered and the time required for completion.

Officials said that the waterbody restoration works were under way at 8 locations in Kancheepuram, 6 in Sriperumbudur and 2 in Uthiramerur. Desilting along the Manimangalam canal was also in progress and would be completed within a week, they said.

The preliminary work to identify a site follows Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's announcement in the Assembly on September 2 that a new desalination plant would be established at Minjur. 

The proposed plant is expected to cater to drinking water requirements in Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, RK Nagar, the harbour area, Royapuram, Perambur and Kolathur, besides Avadi, Ponneri and Minjur. The government estimates that around 27 lakh people will benefit from the project. 

According to the Metro Water board, around 91 lakh people in Chennai and its surrounding areas receive drinking water drawn from reservoirs and other sources, as well as desalination plants. The Board supplies an average of 1,260 MLD through around nine lakh household connections. 

Desalination plants at Nemmeli, with capacities of 100 MLD and 150 MLD, supply several parts of South Chennai. A separate 400 MLD desalination plant is under construction at Perur, near Nemmeli. 

Officials also reviewed preparatory work to resume production at the existing 110 MLD desalination plant at Minjur and instructed officials to ensure that production restarted within the stipulated time-frame.

They all hailed from different areas in Salem and were heading to Poolampatti to drop off Murugan at his home, when the car rammed into a lorry while attempting to overtake on the Ariyanur flyover on the Salem-Coimbatore NH. The lorry, laden with cement bags, was heading to Coimbatore from Salem.

On receiving information, the Attayampatti police rushed to the spot and rescued and sent them to hospital. Police said Vikram Surya died at night, while two others succumbed to injuries on Thursday morning. The Attayampatti police have registered a case and further inquiries are on.

Dindigul, Erode, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Tiruvarur, Theni and many interior districts also received heavy rain.

A 17-year-old girl died, and her mother was injured after a wall of their rented house collapsed due to heavy rains at Mettamalai near Sattur in Virudhunagar district on Thursday night, police said on Friday. Sattur and its surrounding areas had experienced heavy downpours for over five hours prior to the collapse.

The deceased was identified as Muthuchelvi, a Class 12 student. Her mother, Solaiyammal, who sustained injuries in the incident, was admitted to the Sattur GH.

Meanwhile, the water level in the state's 89 reservoirs stood at 27.9% of their total capacity as on October 22, retaining 62.53 TMC against a capacity of 224.3 TMC. The storage rose by 1.02 TMC in the last 24 hours, but remained 134.4 TMC below the corresponding period last year, sources said.

The IMD said that a low-pressure area formed over East Central and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Friday is most likely to persist over the same region and intensify into a depression on October 24. Thereafter, it is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a deep depression on October 25 and into a cyclonic storm over the Westcentral Bay of Bengal by October 26 morning.

An official said that northern districts of Tamil Nadu may experience continued rain until October 26 due to existing atmospheric circulation. The arrival of the cyclone is expected to draw moisture away, leading to a decrease in rainfall across the state after October 26. Rainfall activity may resume in the first week of November after the storm makes landfall, he said.