The District Collector inspected the farm at Marungulam in Thanjavur, where horticultural and tropical crops are developed in an area of 10.77 hectares and inspected the ongoing cultivation and research work undertaken at the farm.

She also inspected the horticulture crops like dragon fruit and other rare fruits and their maintenance. She also inspected the mother plant preservation and nurseries for various cultivable areas. She asked the officials to allocate 0.65 ha of land for developing high-yield horticulture crops and distribute them to farmers and farm owners.

Joint director (Horticulture) Sakthivel, assistant director Muthamizhselvi and others accompanied the Collector.

The KTCC region has 37 Assembly constituencies. In the last Assembly election, the DMK, the principal Opposition party, lost its hold over the region, with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) winning a majority of the seats.

"Considering the poll debacle and the upcoming local body polls, the party has decided to strengthen the KTCC region. Owing to this, 18 districts have been created in the region," a party leader said.

Before the latest restructuring, the DMK had 11 organisational districts in the KTCC region. Chennai has 16 Assembly constituencies, for which the party has created 10 organisational districts.

Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur have 7 and 10 Assembly constituencies, respectively, with the DMK creating 3 organisational districts in each. Kancheepuram, one of the party's traditional strongholds in the region, has four Assembly constituencies and has been divided into two organisational districts.

The restructuring is expected to be followed by efforts to strengthen the party's grassroots network in the newly created organisational districts. It is also likely to pave the way for fresh appointments at the district level and create opportunities for younger party functionaries ahead of the local body elections.

The exercise aims to improve coordination between the party's organisational units and Assembly constituencies and to strengthen its electoral machinery in the region.

Nainar alleged that Prabhakar had publicly identified himself with a particular religion and sought reservation for a section of the community while occupying the Speaker's chair. The Speaker's post, he said, was a constitutional office that required complete neutrality and was above caste and religious considerations.

He also accused the ruling TVK government of giving prominence to religious identity since assuming office. Nagenthran alleged that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had projected the government as one for minorities, while finance minister N Marie Wilson had appeared in the Assembly with a rosary during the Budget presentation, spoken about his Christian faith and referred to Biblical verses.

"I am not questioning their religious beliefs. But bringing personal faith into the legislature and conducting oneself on that basis undermines the dignity of the Assembly and creates an impression that the House is being moved towards a particular religion," he said in a statement.

The former minister said previous Speakers had maintained the dignity of the office without publicly foregrounding their caste or religious identities. "It is particularly inappropriate for the Speaker to speak on such matters while occupying the chair," he said, urging Prabhakar and TVK ministers to refrain from bringing personal caste and religious issues into Assembly proceedings.

"The Assembly is a historic institution. Those holding constitutional positions must conduct themselves in a manner that preserves its dignity and neutrality," added Nainar.

Former Tamil Nadu minister VV Swaminathan was conferred the Dr Navalar Award for his contributions to the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu.

The awards were presented at a function held at VIT, Chennai, on Saturday. Former state minister and Navalar-Sezhiyan Foundation member N Nallusamy presented the Dr Navalar Award to Swaminathan, while former TN governor Banwarilal Purohit presented the Era Sezhiyan Award to Sarkar.

In his acceptance speech, Sarkar said the primary objective of education appeared to have been forgotten.

Swaminathan thanked the Navalar-Sezhiyan Foundation for honouring him with the Dr Navalar Award and recalled his services to the people of Tamil Nadu as a Member of Parliament and minister.

VIT founder and chancellor G Viswanathan presided over the function. VIT vice-president GV Selvam attended the event and welcomed the gathering.

The weavers condemned the State government and the Handlooms department for allegedly leaving them without work for the past four months and demanded that the wage for producing a saree in eight hours be fixed at Rs 500.

They also demanded Rs 40,000 each as relief for the families of weavers who have been without work for four months and sought employment through the year.

As talks with officials led by Handlooms department district deputy director Palanikumar failed, the weavers continued their protest by preparing and drinking kanji.

Addressing reporters at the Chennai Press Club here, he questioned the silence of legislators on the issue during the Assembly session. "Has anyone spoken about this in the House? Only paattukku paattu (antakshari) are taking place," he said.

He said his organisation had met a minister over the toddy ban and was assured that the demand would be considered soon. "They did not say that the toddy ban was justified," he said.

Nallasamy also announced that his organisation would field a candidate in the forthcoming Perundurai by-election, irrespective of the government's decision on toddy. The candidate, he said, would contest on the twin issues of restoring Tamil Nadu's Cauvery rights and lifting the toddy ban.

"People should not vote merely out of cinematic glamour. We will contest the election and see whether people vote as citizens or simply follow celebrity appeal," he added.

Nallasamy also accused the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments of failing to implement the Cauvery water-sharing order and demanded a review of the arrangements governing the river's waters.

"Both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have failed to accept and implement the Cauvery verdict. Both governments are at fault," he said, alleging that the State was not receiving its due share of water needed for kuruvai cultivation.

Thanikachalam (45), a former Hindu Munnani member, was waiting at the old bus stand after returning from Tirunelveli. Two people on a bike approached him for a query, and they suddenly stabbed him with a knife. Thanikachalam ran towards the police station to seek help; however, it was closed as no personnel were there.

The duo chased and stabbed Thanikachalam to death in front of the police station.

Based on CCTV footage recorded in the area, police arrested Muneeswaran (28) of Nakkaneri village near Rajapalayam, and Kaliswaran (24) of Mangapuram Street. The duo said they were drunk, and the conversation turned into an argument with Thanikachalam.

Even though the department's Minister V Sampath Kumar took the onus on himself, calling it an oversight on his part and ordering the booklet to be reissued with the missing images, the issue refuses to die down.

In a statement, Paranthamen said that the names of the three leaders mentioned in the previous policy notes had been omitted from the latest document placed before the Assembly.

Parandhaman criticised the Congress' non-response, pointing out that Nehru's name had been removed despite his role in the First Constitutional Amendment. He demanded that the government restore the names of Periyar, Ambedkar and Nehru and reissue the revised policy note.

He alleged that the government had also curtailed references to the history of reservation, including the Justice Party, communal representation, Periyar's agitations, the Mandal Commission and the 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in Central government jobs and educational institutions.

Parandhaman said the previous DMK government's policy note recorded that the Supreme Court's 1951 decision to strike down the communal representation order led to Periyar's protests in Tamil Nadu.

He added that the policy note had also recorded the roles of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Law Minister BR Ambedkar in the amendment.

"Removing the names of leaders who played a crucial role in the reservation movement from official government documents is a betrayal of history," Paranthamen said. He questioned how the government could remove the names of Periyar and Ambedkar from official records while claiming them as ideological leaders.

Association president Joseph John and vice president Yunus chaired the meeting in Tiruchy, where several resolutions were passed. Later, speaking to reporters, Joseph John said the old pension scheme applies only to those retired until April 1, 2003, but those who retired thereafter are put under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

"There are around 56,000 retired employees who are yet to get proper pension benefits due to the implementation of TAPS (Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme), which affects their livelihood. We have been fighting for the implementation of the old pension scheme for the past several years, which would only help the pensioners," Joseph John said.

He also appealed to the State government to withdraw the recent announcement of TAPS and implement the old pension scheme, and warned of a protest.

The GSLV-F17 was moved to the Second Launch Pad (SLP) around 8 pm. The mission is scheduled for launch on September 4 and will place the 2,367-kg EOS-05, also known as GISAT-1A, into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (SubGTO). The orbit will have a perigee (closest point to Earth from satellite) of 170 km and an apogee (highest point from the satellite) of 28,934 km.

EOS-05 is a civilian and strategic Earth observation satellite designed to provide frequent, near-real-time imagery of large areas of the country. It is being launched as a replacement for EOS-03, also known as GISAT-1, which was lost during the failed GSLV-F10 mission on August 12, 2021.

The GSLV-F10 mission failed because of a technical anomaly in its cryogenic upper stage. While the first and second stages performed normally after lift-off, the cryogenic engine in the third stage failed to ignite, resulting in the loss of the EOS-03 satellite.

Nearly five years after the setback, ISRO is now set to restore the Earth observation capability with the EOS-05 mission. The satellite is designed to capture images in multispectral and hyperspectral bands under cloud-free conditions at frequent intervals.

It is expected to provide images of selected regions every five minutes and cover the entire Indian landmass every 30 minutes, with a spatial resolution of around 42 metres.

The satellite is expected to support a range of applications, including weather tracking, disaster monitoring, particularly floods, cyclones and forest fires, agriculture, forestry, and strategic and national security surveillance.

The Opposition party demanded that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay apologise and clarify the government's stand on the traditional sport, reminding him of his earlier support for the Marina protest.

In a party statement, the AIADMK said it was shocking that the MLA, whose Sholavandan constituency includes the world-famous jallikattu venue of Alanganallur, had made such remarks about a sport deeply rooted in Tamil culture and heritage.

The party said jallikattu, also known historically as "eru thazhuvuthal", reflected the thousands-of-years-old relationship between Tamils and cattle dating back to the Sangam era. It questioned whether the MLA could have made the remarks without understanding the cultural significance of the traditional practice.

Recalling the massive student and youth-led protests, the AIADMK said the then AIADMK government had pressed the Union government to secure the continuation of jallikattu.

Questioning why the remarks had not been expunged from the Assembly records, the party alleged that the ruling government may have a hidden agenda regarding the future of jallikattu.

It demanded that Chief Minister Vijay apologise for his MLA's remarks and make a clear statement in the Assembly on the government's position on jallikattu. The AIADMK also referred to a video released by Vijay during the 2017 jallikattu protests and urged him to revisit his earlier stand on the issue.

The 21 pilgrims, who narrowly escaped the jaws of a catastrophic disaster, arrived at Chennai airport on Friday night, carrying with them the memories of horror and the astonishment of having survived it, with only seconds to react when the deluge struck without warning.

The group was part of a larger contingent undertaking the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra when tragedy struck on August 26.

Meanwhile, the relatives of another group of pilgrims, who are reportedly stranded in Nepal, staged a road blockade on GST Road in Chromepet on Saturday evening, demanding information about their safety and the immediate evacuation of those stranded.

A group of 49 people, including eight belonging to one family, had travelled on the pilgrimage through a private spiritual tourism company based in Chromepet. The relatives of the eight members haven’t heard from any of them since the tragedy struck. The members include Kishore (35), Amudha (57), Velavendhan (58), Rajalakshmi (55), Vikram (60), Senthil Palani (52) and Manjula (55), all reportedly from Jamin Rayapettai in Chromepet.

More than 100 relatives and others gathered in Chromepet amid growing concern over the missing pilgrims. Holding placards, they demanded to know the whereabouts of the group and urged the State government to expedite rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, the survivors who landed on Friday recalled how they initially mistook the approaching flood for dust rising from the mountains.

"We initially saw clouds of dust at a distance but did not make anything of it. We were looking at the scenery and even started taking videos, thinking it was part of the view. But, it soon turned into a rolling mass of boulders and debris," said Sathya Jayaraman, a government school teacher from Kundrathur.

People abandoned their vehicles and began running, as the danger became apparent, she said. “A few minutes later, local police asked everyone to evacuate immediately."

Passengers in Sathya's bus escaped through the driver's door. Vehicles around them, including one that had overturned, temporarily absorbed some of the force of the debris.

"Some vehicles around our bus acted as a shield, giving us time to get out. We left everything behind, including cash and passports. When I got down, it was into ankle-deep sludge," she said.

The group then climbed towards higher ground. Some used a tree for support, while others relied on a woman's sari to reach the ridge.

"For some, the sari had to be tied around their hips and they were pulled up. The floodwater gushed underneath us, making a sound that I cannot describe and will never forget," Sathya said.

Vijayabhuvaneswari, who was travelling with her husband Naavu Kabirdoss, said the sound of the flood resembled an explosion.

"There was a loud noise, like a bomb blast, when the flash flood struck our convoy. The vehicle in front of us and the one behind us boxed us in. We climbed up to save ourselves and then moved towards a hill where there was an Armed Police Force camp," she said.

The pilgrims spent the night at the camp before walking to a helipad.

"It took us three hours to walk from the police camp to the helipad. Some of us, including me, had to crawl because we could barely walk any longer," Sathya said.

M Sivaranjani of Tiruchy said a traffic-related halt at a curve proved crucial.

"There were 21 of us, including the crew, in the middle bus when the deluge struck. Our driver had stopped because of the traffic, while the bus ahead had moved on and the other bus was behind us," she said.

The passengers got out and climbed the mountain despite the difficult terrain, she said, adding that several members of the group were senior citizens.

Karpagam, another survivor from Tiruchy, said the debris quickly overwhelmed the bus ahead.

"Thirty to 40 feet of mud and debris rose and covered the bus in front of us. We did not know what had happened to the people inside. We survived because everyone in our bus acted quickly and got out through the driver's seat," she said.

Kirubakari of Kumbakonam said there was no time to collect belongings.

"We heard a huge blast-like sound and then saw black smoke, muddy water, trees, roots and rocks coming towards us. We prayed to Lord Shiva and jumped out through the driver's side. The driver and operator had fled, and we ran towards the Army camp," she said.

Despite reaching safety, the survivors remained worried about those who were still unaccounted for.

"We have survived, but we still do not know what happened to the others who travelled with us. That is very painful and distressing. Somehow, by God's grace, we survived," Manimekalai said.

Vijayabhuvaneswari said the experience had left her convinced that she might not make it out alive.

"I felt 90 per cent that I would not survive. At that moment, I thought only about my daughter," she recalled.

The girl stayed in her grandmother's house with her cousins. The man used to visit their house to see his children and had sexually assaulted her.

After the girl fell ill, she was taken to a private hospital in Devakottai, where it was found she was three months pregnant. The Ramanathapuram Childline officials conducted an inquiry and accompanied the girl to the Tiruvadanai All-Women Police Station, where a complaint was filed.

The 39-year-old relative was arrested and a report was submitted to detain him under the Goondas Act. He is now lodged in Madurai Central Prison.

Expansion of self-certification, introduction of third-party certification and granting more powers to local bodies to clear housing projects are among the measures.

For residential buildings, the self-certification limit has been increased from 3,500 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft for G+2 and Stilt+3 structures. Third-party certification will be introduced for residential buildings up to 8,070 sq ft.

CREDAI Chennai president Mehul Doshi said the 5,000 sq ft self-certification limit was below what the industry had sought. "We had asked them to increase it to 10,000 sq ft," he said, arguing that this would bring some smaller developer projects within the self-certification system.

Corporations and municipalities will now be able to approve residential buildings up to 16,140 sq ft against the earlier limit of 10,000 sq ft. Town and village panchayats will have powers up to 12,912 sq ft (1,200 sq m). The government has also proposed an end-to-end online process for land-use change applications, allowing applicants to track applications through the various stages.

Doshi also said the third-party certification route could be extended substantially beyond the proposed 8,070 sq ft. "Third-party certification is something which can definitely increase the limit substantially," he said, suggesting that it could go up to 20,000-25,000 sq ft.

Arivalagan, managing director of MAS Construction, also saw the move towards online and professional-led approvals as a positive, but stressed that implementation would determine whether the reforms deliver the intended benefit.

"Under the earlier system, applicants have to rely on engineers or middlemen to take applications through different stages, creating additional payments," he said.

CREDAI also suggested elimination of approvals from the local bodies, suggesting that it could instead be issued at the CMDA or DTCP level.

The government has also introduced third-party certification for commercial buildings up to 3,230 sq ft and industrial buildings up to 26,900 sq ft in SIDCO, SIPCOT, ELCOT and approved industrial layouts. Local bodies' commercial approval limit has been raised from 2,000 sq ft to 5,380 sq ft.

According to sources in Congress, the projection of Vijay as the next Prime Minister, even though it is only supported by a faction ostensibly to impress the party chief, has reportedly raised unease among the top brass of the alliance.

What started as a competition to sing the praises of star-turned-politician Vijay in the Assembly has virtually spilt onto the streets, with posters cropping up claiming Vijay as a PM candidate and viral reels promoting this in the north, in Congress' own backyard.

The issue gained further attention after a recent survey by a private TV channel placed Vijay third among potential prime ministerial candidates, with 9 per cent support, behind Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, much to the chagrin of the GoP.

Congress sources said the party was unhappy with TVK's apparent attempt to project Vijay for the Prime Minister's post within months of the alliance forming the government in Tamil Nadu. They pointed to recent remarks by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore, who criticised Ministers for continuing to display a “fan mentality.” This awkward moment is stark as Congress ditched DMK, the leader which openly declared Rahul as the PM candidate, while the newfound ally TVK is seen promoting its own chief for the post.

Congress MP Jothimani had also recently described the projection of Vijay as a prime ministerial candidate as an “election strategy”, while maintaining that no leader could surpass Rahul Gandhi in opposing and defeating the Narendra Modi-led government.

When reporters sought his response to the Congress's criticism in Madurai on Saturday, Minister Nirmal Kumar said people across India had aspirations for Vijay and that the leader would make decisions according to the prevailing political situation. “There is no need to discuss this now,” he said.

Sources said the Congress leadership had planned to project Rahul Gandhi as the alliance’s prime ministerial face while using Vijay’s popularity as a campaign advantage to secure additional seats in pockets across southern states. However, the growing campaign portraying Vijay himself as a prime ministerial candidate has reportedly caused unease within the Congress leadership, raising questions over the alliance’s political messaging and future dynamics.

Commission chairman and retired judge KN Basha said the panel wanted to consult all sections of society. It has already gathered representations from several Dalit outfits as well as the Mukulathor Pulipadai Katchi, headed by actor-politician Karunas.

"Some outfits have expressed concerns that when the law is enacted, it should not adversely affect or target any particular community or group. The commission is carefully considering these aspects," Basha said.

Political parties including the CPM, CPI and IUML have already met the panel and submitted their representations. "We have invited all recognised political parties, including the DMK, PMK and TVK, apart from the Left parties and IUML which have already presented their views," Basha added.

The commission is also examining factors beyond caste-based honour killings. "People are not affected solely by caste violence. We have received complaints from individuals affected by economic discrimination as well. We will take these aspects into account," he said.

Probe expanded to cover economic factors and legal gaps ahead of new legislation

Basha cited a case on the outskirts of Chennai where a marriage proposal was rejected by a family despite both sides belonging to the same caste, primarily because one family was economically weaker.

Commission members noted that the panel is thoroughly examining the underlying social and economic factors linked to honour killings, while seeking wider stakeholder participation prior to submitting its report.

The commission is also evaluating the existing legal framework and its shortcomings. It has drafted key recommendations focusing on generating public awareness against honour killings and strengthening law enforcement and investigating agencies.

During the Assembly session, Minister for Social Justice Vanni Arasu assured that the government would enact a separate law to prevent honour killings once the panel submits its report.

Sources said the move was made after a review by senior officials and consultation with the State police chief.

As part of the Z+ category, around 50 commandos and special wing police personnel were deployed on a rotational basis, around the clock, for intensive surveillance and protection. Police personnel with firearms were also deployed, along with a bulletproof vehicle and jammer facility.

As part of a periodic review in consultation with central and State intelligence, a report was produced. After examining the report, the government has downgraded Stalin's Z Plus security to Z category. Under this category, up to 22 personnel will be on duty.

Security arrangements at Stalin's residence on Cenotaph Road have been altered as per the decision.

While the Holy Flag hoisting event for the annual festival of the Basilica was under way with pomp and fanfare, firecrackers accidentally fell on the gas balloons placed near the flag mast, and they exploded, sources said. Four people, including H Kalaiselvan (38) from Periamet in Chennai and T Ramesh (38) from Abhiramapuram in Chennai, sustained injuries in the explosion.

Sources said that Kalaiselvan's skin was peeled off, while Ramesh sustained injuries to the face. The details about the other two are unknown, as they had minor injuries.

The injured were rushed to Government Medical College Hospital, Orathur, in Nagapattinam. Further investigations are ongoing.

In a statement, Dhinakaran said that describing jallikattu, a traditional sport closely associated with Tamil culture and heritage, as "corrupting the younger generation" was highly condemnable.

He questioned whether the remarks reflected the official position of the TVK government, particularly as the Sholavandan constituency includes Alanganallur, which is internationally known for its jallikattu events.

Dhinakaran also raised doubts over whether the remarks were part of a planned move, noting that the comments had not been removed from the Assembly records. He recalled the massive protests by students, youth and people from various sections across Tamil Nadu, from Alanganallur to Chennai's Marina, which played a key role in securing the continuation of the traditional sport.

"The remarks belittle the sentiments and contributions of the people who fought to protect jallikattu as a cultural right," he said, demanding that the TVK leadership clarify its stand on the sport.

Dhinakaran urged the Speaker to remove the MLA's remarks from the Assembly records. He also called upon Karuppaiah to express regret and withdraw his comments, stating that jallikattu was an integral part of Tamil culture and farmers' lives.

Speaking to reporters in Tiruchy, Durai Vaiko said that he has been requesting the Union government to establish a dry port in Tiruchy for over a year and submitted a petition with the senior ministers in this regard.

"Now, Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed that the recommendation was an apt one for Tiruchy and the State government should initiate steps for the feasibility," Durai Vaiko said. He said that he had already briefed Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay about the project.

He said that the Centre has sent an official intimation about the possible dry port and has also suggested starting the infrastructure facilities for the dry port. "We will follow this up and initiate all possible ways to realise the project," he said.

The parliamentarian pointed out that the dry port would support industrial development in Tiruchy and adjacent districts and play a crucial role in state development by attracting industrial investment.

The dry port in Tiruchy would generate at least 2,000 direct employment opportunities and 10,000 indirect opportunities, he said.

He also noted that the Tiruchy port should be established on at least 100 acres, as the one in Tirupur spans 21 acres. "The district administration has also been informed about the development and I hope the works will positively take off soon," Durai Vaiko added.

In a statement, Tagore expressed shock over the death of Sruthilaya, saying the loss of a young student who had worked hard to realise her dream of becoming a doctor was deeply painful. He conveyed his condolences to her family and said Tirunelveli MP Robert Bruce and Congress functionaries would meet the bereaved family and offer their support.

Tagore said lakhs of students in Tamil Nadu aspire to study medicine after completing Class 12, while the State has only 13,999 medical seats. He also claimed that the number of students qualifying in NEET in Tamil Nadu had fallen from 76,181 in 2025 to 61,306 in 2026, a decline of 19.5 per cent.

Alleging that the NEET system was destroying students' dreams and lives, Tagore blamed the Narendra Modi-led Union government for continuing the examination despite repeated demands from Tamil Nadu.

He urged the Union government and Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi to respect Tamil Nadu's sentiments and abolish NEET, stating that no more students should lose their lives due to the pressure associated with the examination.

According to a DGE press note, the registration numbers of candidates whose marks have undergone changes after re-totalling or revaluation have been published on dge.tn.gov.in. 

Candidates can check whether their marks have been revised by referring to the published list of registration numbers. The Directorate has clarified that there has been no change in marks for candidates whose registration numbers do not appear on the list. 

“Candidates who have secured changes in marks through re-totalling or revaluation process can access their revised provisional mark certificate online. They are required to enter their registration number and date of birth on the DGE website to download the provisional certificate containing their updated marks,” stated the press note. 

The date for distribution of the original mark certificates to candidates who wrote the supplementary exam will be announced separately. 

Email all your queries about re-totalling or revaluation process to dgeb3sec@gmail.com on or before September 8 

A special team arrested him near Periyapalayam on Saturday morning. On Friday, Police recovered the body of the woman, later identified as M Aruna.

Aruna hailed from Chittoor and had come to Uthukottai to attend a wedding. She had been staying at a relative’s house in Vadattur Kandigai, police said. Probe revealed that Bharathi Raja and Aruna were allegedly in an extramarital relationship. However, he had started avoiding her recently, following which she pestered him to meet her and explain his reluctance to continue their relationship.

On Friday, after Aruna allegedly called him continuously, Raja came to meet her and took her to a vacant agricultural field and attacked her with an iron rod, leading to her death. Police suspect that he poured an automotive lubricant on her face and set it on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.

The accused was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.

According to the RMC, a feeble trough running along and off the TN coast persists at lower tropospheric levels. Under its influence, light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely at one or two places in TN, Puducherry and Karaikal till August 31.

From September 1-3, isolated places in North Coastal TN, Western Ghats districts, Puducherry and Karaikal are likely to receive light to moderate rain, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph. The rest of TN is expected to receive light isolated showers during the period.

Meanwhile, daytime temperatures are likely to remain uncomfortable. Maximum temperatures may stay 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal in a few pockets of TN, Puducherry and Karaikal till September 2, while remaining near normal elsewhere in Tamil Nadu.

In Chennai, the RMC has forecast light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning during the evening and night on August 30. The city is likely to record a maximum temperature of around 38 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 27 degrees Celsius.

Anbazhagan (45) of Tiruneermalai near Pallavaram was a deputy organiser of the district volunteers’ wing of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). He was also a history-sheeter at the Shankar Nagar police station. He was facing murder cases in connection with the killings of Kumar from Tiruneermalai in 2009 and Ganesan, a DMK functionary from Pammal Nagalkeni, in 2021, besides assault cases.

On Thursday afternoon, Anbazhagan was speaking with a friend near the Ambedkar statue in Tiruneermalai when a seven-member gang arrived in an autorickshaw. Anbazhagan ran into a DMK branch office nearby in an attempt to escape, but the gang followed him and hacked him to death.

Based on a complaint, the Shankar Nagar police registered a case and launched a search for the suspects.

The police arrested seven people on Friday in connection with the murder. They were Venus alias Balachandar (48) of Pammal Nagalkeni, Hariharan (29) of Chromepet, Karthikeyan (23) of Mannivakkam, Vishnukumar (21) of Pallavaram, Mukesh Kannan (24) of Nedungundram, Vimal (26) of Kavanur, and Rajkumar (23) of Maraimalai Nagar.

According to police, Ganesan, a DMK functionary from Pammal Nagalkeni, was murdered in 2021 after he allegedly tried to prevent some people from selling government land using forged documents. Venus, Anbazhagan and another person were arrested and remanded in custody in that case.

Then, Venus was a member of the DMK and was also trying to contest the Pammal municipality ward councillor election. Police said Venus had no involvement in the murder, but Anbazhagan had allegedly implicated him in the case, resulting in his arrest and imprisonment. This led to his removal from the DMK, hampering his efforts to contest in the election.

The two, who had earlier been friends, subsequently fell out and developed a power battle, according to police.

Police further said the two also had disputes over real estate activities. Angered by Anbazhagan, Venus allegedly waited for an opportunity and hired men to kill him, police said.

On the Mettur release, the CPM warned that such a precedent will help Karnataka stop, once and for all, the monthly release of Tamil Nadu's share of the Cauvery, citing such a practice, and added that industrial projects should be brought in arid lands, avoiding fertile agricultural fields to save food production.

He also warned that a mere 45-day release would not be enough for samba cultivation and warned that Karnataka could use such an approach in future to deny Tamil Nadu its monthly share and release only surplus water.

The Mettur dam is scheduled to be opened for irrigation on September 1. Shanmugam said the Water Resources Minister N Anand's announcement that water would be released for 45 days had caused confusion among Delta farmers. "Forty-five days is not enough to raise any crop. Even short-duration paddy needs water for about 120 days, while samba requires water for around 150 days," he said, speaking during the CPM’s statewide people-contact campaign, held from August 26 to 31 at Kallukuttai in Velachery.

Shanmugam said Karnataka had not been releasing Tamil Nadu’s monthly entitlement under the Supreme Court’s 2018 Cauvery verdict and had instead been releasing surplus water when its reservoirs overflowed. "If this becomes the approach, Karnataka too may follow it in future and refuse to release Tamil Nadu’s rightful monthly share, saying it will release only surplus water," he said.

He urged the state govt to take steps to secure Tamil Nadu’s monthly entitlement through the Supreme Court and by pressing the Centre. The State should ensure that sufficient water is available for samba cultivation, he said.

Shanmugam said the failure to ensure adequate water had already hit kuruvai cultivation. In Nagapattinam, cultivation had been taken up on only around 200 acres, while in Thiruvarur, where 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh acres were normally cultivated, the crop had been raised on only around 20,000 acres, he claimed.

Responding to the Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan’s statement that agricultural land would have to be acquired for development projects, he said the State had lakhs of acres of wasteland and other land unsuitable for cultivation and should identify such land instead.

He said the CPM had opposed the Parandur airport proposal because it involved water bodies and more than 3,000 acres of multi-crop agricultural land. The govt should identify suitable non-agricultural land for the second airport, he said.

In Kallukuttai in Velachery, Shanmugam demanded house-site pattas for residents who have lived there for more than 40 years. He said the locality lacked roads, drinking water and drainage, leaving residents badly affected during the monsoon. He said the Madras High Court had already directed the Revenue Department to consider issuing pattas to Kallukuttai residents and urged the government to implement the direction.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased, Nagaraj of Vellimalaipattinam near Thondamuthur, was a trader and DMK functionary. Police said his friend Kandasamy, 65, who lives in the same area, allegedly attacked him.

What led Kandansamy to attack the DMK functionary?

According to the police, Kandasamy suspected Nagaraj of having an affair with his wife, and the two men had frequently argued over the issue.

Nagaraj had left his house on his motorcycle to buy tea when Kandasamy allegedly intercepted him on Naraseepuram South Rath Road.

Kandasamy threw chilli powder in Nagaraj's face, causing him to lose his balance and fall from the motorcycle. He then allegedly attacked Nagaraj repeatedly with a goat-shearing knife that he had concealed.

Nagaraj sustained multiple injuries, including to his neck, the back of his head and abdomen. He died on the spot.

What happened to the suspect who killed the DMK functionary?

Kandasamy allegedly fled the spot after the attack. On receiving information, Alandurai police reached the scene and launched a search to trace him. During the search, Kandasamy allegedly attempted suicide by cutting his right hand with a knife.

Police rescued him and admitted him to Coimbatore Government Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

An Indian Oil official gave the clarification in response to a letter from Pasha of Mettupalayam in Coimbatore, who had sought information on when the supply of cooking gas cylinders would be restored.

In the response, the official said oil companies had taken extensive measures to ensure uninterrupted availability of cooking gas cylinders to domestic consumers.

When can consumers book their next LPG cylinder?

To ensure equitable distribution and meet actual demand, the booking interval for domestic LPG cylinders has been temporarily revised.

Consumers in urban areas can book their next cylinder after 25 days, while those in rural areas can book one after 45 days.

The official said the measure was introduced to prevent unnecessary bookings caused by anxiety over supply amid the prevailing international situation.

How many cylinders can consumers book under the new intervals?

In rural areas, the 45-day booking interval allows a consumer to avail of a maximum of about eight cylinders a year.

However, the average consumption of rural consumers during 2025-26 was 5.07 cylinders a year, based on a 14.2-kg cylinder.

In urban areas, the 25-day interval allows a consumer to avail of a maximum of about 14 cylinders a year. The average consumption of urban consumers during 2025-26 was 6.41 cylinders a year.

The official said the rebooking intervals have been regulated based on current consumption patterns, balanced distribution, operational requirements and the need to prevent inappropriate or excessive bookings.

CTR Nirmalkumar had attended the school event, which was a drug awareness walkathon, along with TVK MLA Mustafa. In a clip from the event, the school song was sung first, followed by a devotional song, after which the Tamil Thai Vazhthu was sung.

Tamil Thai Vazhthu resolution passed in Tamil Nadu Assembly

The State Assembly had recently passed a special resolution on the Tamil Thai Vazhthu during the budget session. Chief Minister Joseph Vijay had proposed that the invocation be sung first at government events. The resolution received support from parties, including the DMK and AIADMK, and was passed unanimously.

DMK IT Wing criticises CTR Nirmal Kumar

At the Madurai school event, the school song was sung first, followed by a devotional song, while the Tamil Thai Vazhthu was sung third. Reacting to the incident, the DMK IT Wing criticised the TVK-led government and questioned how the Tamil Thai Vazhthu could be placed third at an event attended by Minister CTR Nirmalkumar when the government had recently backed a resolution to give it priority.

The DMK IT Wing said the Tamil Thai Vazhthu, which represents Tamil Nadu's language and identity, should be sung at the beginning of public and government functions. It alleged that placing the invocation after other songs amounted to disrespecting Tamil and Tamil heritage.

It also urged Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to ensure that Tamil and the Tamil Thai Vazhthu are not treated as matters of publicity.

The students of a private college in Pallavaram had travelled to Puducherry on a trip and were returning to Chennai. Around 9 pm, when the car was travelling at high speed near Maduranthakam, its rear tyre suddenly burst. The driver lost control, causing the car to overturn.

The car was severely mangled in the crash, leaving all seven students seriously injured. Passersby who rushed to the spot began rescue efforts. Police reached the scene after being alerted, and the injured students were taken to government hospitals in Chengalpattu and Maduranthakam.

Despite intensive treatment, three students, Deepak Raj (19) of Cuddalore, Piyuterin Stanigo (21) of Kanniyakumari, and Raj Prasad (20) of Karur died from their injuries. The other four – Raghu Prasad (19) of Karur, Hari Krishnan (19) of Alandur, and Aneeswaran (19) and Lokeshwaran (19) – both from Cuddalore – are undergoing treatment in the ICU.

According to police, the car belonged to one of the students’ friends and Hari was driving at the time of the accident.

The Maduranthakam police have registered a case and are investigating the accident. Traffic on the Chennai-Tiruchy NH awas affected for more than two hours following the crash.

In a social media post, the AIADMK questioned why the MLA’s remarks, which it described as “highly derogatory”, were not expunged from the Assembly records. The party also raised concerns over the comments coming from an MLA whose constituency includes Alanganallur, one of the most prominent venues for Jallikattu.

The AIADMK said Jallikattu, or ‘Eru Thazhuvuthal’, has been associated with Tamil culture since the Sangam era and symbolises the traditional bond between Tamils and bulls.

The party questioned whether an MLA representing Alanganallur could be unaware of the cultural significance of the sport. It also recalled the efforts of the then AIADMK government to secure legal protection for Jallikattu following widespread protests led by students and youth across Tamil Nadu.

The AIADMK alleged that the failure to remove the remarks from the Assembly records had raised suspicion among people about the government’s intentions towards Jallikattu.

The party further questioned whether the remarks could be an indication of a possible move to restrict or ban the sport, alleging that the Chief Minister could have used the MLA’s remarks as a “first look” at such an agenda.

The AIADMK demanded that the Chief Minister apologise for the remarks and that the government make its position on Jallikattu clear on the floor of the Assembly.

The accident occurred near the Anaivari village stretch. The deceased were identified as Subakannan (19), Vinoth (18) and Surya (19), all residents of Kavalakudi village. According to preliminary reports, the three were travelling on the motorcycle when the collision occurred.

The truck driver abandoned the vehicle on the side of the highway and fled the scene immediately after the accident, police said. Sethiyathoppu police have registered a case and launched a search for the driver. Further investigation is under way.

The deceased, Nagaraj, a DMK functionary from Narasipuram who was engaged in the manufacture and sale of areca leaf plates, was riding a two-wheeler to a tea shop in the morning when he was intercepted by Kandasamy (65).

According to police, Kandasamy threw chilli powder into Nagaraj’s face before he could bring his vehicle to a halt and then attacked him with a knife. Nagaraj sustained multiple injuries and died at the scene, police said. Kandasamy fled the spot following the attack.

On receiving information, personnel from the Alandurai police rushed to the spot and found as many as 13 stab injuries all over the body. Meanwhile, Kandasamy attempted to end his life by slitting his hand with a knife.

He was then admitted to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for treatment.

Inquiries by police revealed that Nagaraj, who was alone after the demise of his wife, and Kandasamy were friends for several years.

Police said Kandasamy suspected him of developing an affair with his wife, which led to a confrontation between them.

Police said Kandasamy had already made a failed attempt to kill Nagaraj once. Further investigations are on

Upon their arrival at the Delhi airport, the Union minister met with the group and listened to their accounts of the challenges they faced during the rescue process.

"Received a group of 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who were rescued from the floods in Nepal. Was moved to hear their experience first hand. Thank the @NepaliArmyHQ and Government for this rescue effort. Appreciate @IndiaInNepal’s facilitation of their smooth return to India," he said in two separate posts on X in English and Tamil.

In a separate post earlier, he shared visuals of his interaction with the pilgrims at the airport.

Speaking to reporters at the airport premises, he said the pilgrims were brought back to Kathmandu after their rescue, and the Indian Embassy arranged for their return to India.

Sharing what the rescued pilgrims recounted, he said, "They told me about exactly what happened to them, how the floods came, and they were very thankful, particularly to the Nepal Army, which made this great effort to get them out of that very difficult place where they were."

Jaishankar mentioned that slightly over 300 Indians are still uncontactable, with the number fluctuating around 315. "Roughly about 85 Indians have been rescued from various places, including this group of 21 people who have just arrived," he said.

Jaishankar affirmed that the Indian government is actively supporting Nepal in its relief efforts and in rescuing people. "We are still very much focused on contacting all the Indians who are there," he added.

He also mentioned that he spoke with the Nepalese Foreign Minister on Friday morning regarding the situation.

"We have given them a range of support offers. They are evaluating it. Whatever they feel is appropriate, they will pick up for their needs. The main thing is that in one place, where there is a hydroelectric project, there could be a possibility of people who may be in a tunnel. So, we are sending a team who are experts in tunnelling," the EAM said.

Additionally, Jaishankar noted that they will need Bailey Bridges, which the Indian government plans to supply. He stated that medical teams might also be deployed. "If they require NDRF people to go, we will send them. We have given them that option," the minister told reporters.

He emphasised that the priority is to respond to the situation, support relief efforts in Nepal, assist in the rescue and return of Indian citizens, and help other nationals, including Nepalese and stranded foreigners.

Massive flash floods originating from Tibet swept through central Nepal on Wednesday, razing down several towns and villages, washing away critical bridges and crippling a dozen hydropower projects as it gushed downstream, affecting multiple districts.

The death toll from flash floods in central Nepal rose to 547 on Friday, with more bodies recovered as search and rescue operations continue with caution due to fear of fresh floods following an increase in the water level in the Bhotekoshi River area.

At least 320 Indians remain missing, and around 400 others are stranded on the Chinese side following devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, and India is ready to extend all possible help to Kathmandu in its rescue efforts, the MEA said on Friday.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 96 Indian nationals who were stranded on the Chinese side have safely crossed over to Nepal by land route.

On Thursday, India dispatched a second batch of relief supplies in a military transport aircraft to flood-affected Nepal.

Jaishankar also told reporters that a third aircraft will be departing on Friday.

"A third flight carrying 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance has departed for Kathmandu. The assistance includes portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets. An 11-member team of doctors, paramedics and Recce team for Tunnel rescue operations is also on-board. India continues to support Nepal’s ongoing relief and rescue efforts," he later said in a post on X.

According to the police, the deceased, Sruthi Laya, was the daughter of Arikrishnan, an employee of an IT company, and a resident of Siddharthar Nagar near Anbu Nagar in Palayamkottai.

Sruthi Laya completed her Class 12 at a private school in Palayamkottai in 2023. She subsequently underwent NEET coaching with the aim of pursuing medical studies. After she failed to secure a medical seat last year, she prepared intensively for the examination this year.

After clearing NEET this year, she applied for admission to a medical course. However, her name did not figure in the list of candidates released during the first round of counselling. According to the police, she was reportedly distressed after her name was not included in the first-round counselling list.

On receiving information, personnel from the Perumalpuram police station reached the spot and sent the body to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

According to the police, Shruti was reportedly distressed after her name was not included in the counselling list

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

Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajkumar made the announcements in the Assembly on Friday before the commencement of the debate on his department's demands.

The initiative aims to protect the livelihoods of auto and taxi drivers while ensuring passengers are charged fair fares, the Minister said.

The launch of the app is a long-pending demand of autorickshaw drivers in the State, who have also been seeking a revision of fares that have remained unchanged for 14 years. Since the TVK government came to power, it has held three rounds of discussions with autorickshaw drivers on revising fares.

The drivers have sought a minimum fare of Rs 60 for the first 1.5 km and Rs 30 for every subsequent kilometre. They have also sought a waiting charge of Re 1 per minute and a night-time fare of 1.5 times the normal tariff.

Rajkumar also announced several housing and urban development initiatives.

The Tamil Nadu Housing Board will construct 842 housing units at Anna Nagar, Purasaiwalkam, Nandambakkam and Ernavoor in Chennai, as well as in Madurai, Tiruvallur and Kanniyakumari, at a cost of Rs 914 crore.

Under the plot development scheme, 564 plots will be developed at a cost of Rs 45 crore in Valasaravakkam, Sholinganallur, Tiruvanmiyur, Hosur, Cuddalore, Edappadi in Salem, Namakkal, Madurai and Dindigul.

People who had failed to obtain sale deeds for housing units and plots allotted on an instalment basis will be eligible for a waiver of penal interest. Around 7,000 allottees are expected to benefit from the measure.

The government will also expand the self-certification scheme for building approvals. The limit will be increased from 3,500 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft. Permission for small commercial buildings of up to 1,500 sq ft will also be granted under the self-certification scheme.

The permissible limits for building approvals will also be increased. Corporations and municipalities will be allowed to grant approvals for buildings of up to 16,140 sq ft, while town panchayats and village panchayats can grant approvals for buildings of up to 12,912 sq ft.

Poor families living on roadsides and in objectionable locations in Perambur will be provided 462 housing units at a cost of Rs 111.08 crore.

To ensure smooth traffic flow in the expanded areas of Chennai and prevent congestion in the future, a grid road scheme will be implemented at a cost of Rs 12 crore.

Chandran cited an instance in Ward 167, SIP Colony, where an OSR parcel was allegedly assessed for property tax, adding that officials had failed to identify it as OSR land and steps were now being taken to cancel the assessment.

He said that the issue was not confined to the particular property and urged the GCC to conduct a comprehensive survey of OSR lands across all zones. Mayor R Priya agreed that several OSR parcels were either under private maintenance or had not been handed over to the Corporation.

This was preventing the civic body from taking up public projects on some of the lands.

“Zones 11 and 13, in particular, had several locations where residents were seeking projects but the Corporation could not proceed because the land was not in its name,” she said. “Steps will be taken to identify such properties, complete the necessary transfer of records and ensure that OSR lands are secured for public use.”

Earlier in the day, nearly 5000 people, mostly rural women, gathered at a marriage hall in Melur town near Madurai to lodge complaints with the police. They had invested in the scheme, which promised to double their money in 45 days and offered returns in US dollars. Some victims described the fraud similar to the plot of the Tamil film ‘Sathurangam’.

The police suspect that people could lose more than Rs 100 crore in the alleged scam that spans the lengths of Madurai and neighbouring Sivaganga district.

The scam, which largely targeted rural women, allegedly operated through agents in several areas, including Kattayampatti, Kottanathampatti, A. Vallalapatti, Ayyapatti and Melavalam, in Melur taluk.

“As the agents spoke the local slang, they could easily win the trust of the people,” said a police source.

They convinced people if they invested Rs 50,000, it could be doubled in 45 days through an application called FQL Exchange (fqlin.com), which they helped download on their mobile phones.

“The agents helped us download the application and asked us to invest Rs 50,000. The amount was then credited to our account as $500, with a daily bonus between $3 and $5,” said one of the complainants.

“If we added two persons to the scheme, we would receive a daily bonus of up to $6 or $7, which is nearly Rs 700,” said another complainant.

When many people initially received returns on their investments, the scheme attracted more villagers through word-of-mouth recommendations.

“I held off on the invitation to join the scheme for a few months, but gave in eventually, pledged my jewellery and invested in the scheme, only to be cheated,” said Kamaladevi, from a village near Melur.

“Many women pledged their jewellery or borrowed money at high interest rates and invested in the app. We wanted to make quick money,” she added.

According to the police, some villagers even stopped going to work after they started receiving payments on their investments and bonuses amounting to Rs 1,000 a day.

“Once they won the confidence of the people, the agents introduced a Rs 1 lakh scheme, and it attracted thousands of people,” said the police. People did not just stop at Rs 1 lakh, some invested between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, hoping to earn huge returns in a short period. However, the application was suddenly disabled about a month ago, triggering panic among the investors, the police added.

During their inquiry, the police found that two accused, Ranjith and Arun of Kattayampatti near Melur, were introduced to the mobile investment application while working in Saudi Arabia.

“After returning to Melur, they ran the fraudulent business with the help of a person from Saudi Arabia,” said the police, adding that seven computers had been seized from their house.

The duo first suspended the application service last month, citing network problems. “Later, they claimed that all the customer data had been lost and demanded the investors to pay $200 to recover their money,” said the police.

“They sensed trouble when people started raising uncomfortable questions, and shut down the whole service on Thursday and went underground,” the police said, adding that a lookout notice has been issued for the duo.

The police are now planning to refer the case to the Economic Offences Wing for a detailed investigation.

A team comprising personnel from the Madurai District Superintendent of Police Devanathan's special branch and the Melur Deputy Superintendent of Police are conducting a detailed inquiry into the alleged fraud.

The debate began when DMK MLA G V Markandeyan, speaking during the discussion on the Housing Department's grant demands, questioned the government's decision to purchase cars for MLAs. Referring to the government's failure to waive farmers' loans, he asked, "In this situation, what is the need to buy a car from the government?"

Intervening, Minister R Nirmalkumar said the Chief Minister's announcement was based on a demand raised by a VCK MLA. "If an MLA has a government car, he can travel across his constituency. Based on this, the Chief Minister made the announcement," he said.

House Leader KA Sengottaiyan backed the minister and criticised the previous DMK government for holding a car race at a cost of Rs 24 crore. "Whose father's funds were spent on this event?" he asked.

Clarifying the DMK's position, LoP Udhayanithi said the issue was being discussed in the context of the Chief Minister's remarks about the State's financial position. He said the Chief Minister had alleged that the previous DMK government had emptied the State treasury. CM Vijay had funds to buy cars, but not to waive farmers' loans, he added. By demeaning a prestigious international car race, the ruling party isn't abusing the Opposition, but instead the players involved in the sport, he added.

Meanwhile, Minister KG Arunraj then questioned the DMK over the proposal to install a pen structure in the sea, asking how such a project could have been announced. He also said the government's decision to provide cars to MLAs could not be termed a luxury.

Responding to him, DMK whip E V Velu said the pen memorial proposal had originated in the Public Works Department following demands from the public and writers. However, he said then Chief Minister MK Stalin had rejected the proposal even after it received clearance from the Union government.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar intervened and asked both the Treasury benches and the DMK to avoid further discussion on providing cars to MLAs. "It is a settled issue, as the DMK has already announced that it would not receive the cars from the government," he said.

According to the police, P Thavamani, in her complaint, alleged that the headmistress had humiliated her daughter when they went to the school seeking admission for the girl to Class XI.

Thavamani had taken her daughter to the school after the girl did not join Class XI where she completed Class X. She secured 415 marks in Class X.

When they approached the government school for admission on August 24, the headmistress allegedly became angry and asked the girl to leave the school when she allegedly told her mother not to fold her hands while seeking admission, according to the complaint.

The girl was in distress when she returned home with her mother. The following day, they went to the school where the girl had completed Class X and collected her Transfer Certificate. The girl died by suicide later that evening.

The police said the complaint did not mention any caste-related remarks by the headmistress. However, they would examine the CCTV footage from the school and consult the Revenue Department before taking further action.

The District Child Welfare Committee and the District Education Department will also conduct separate inquiries into the incident. Further action will be taken based on their findings.