Detailing the state's monsoon relief efforts, Sengottaiyan said families of the deceased have been provided Rs 4 lakh each as compensation.

He firmly dismissed media reports claiming 35 rain-related fatalities in a single day.

"Whether the remaining reported casualties are natural deaths or caused by incidents like minor wall collapses is being investigated by the respective District Collectors," the minister clarified.

On the widespread impact, the minister noted that heavy rains triggered 62 landslides in the Nilgiris district, all of which have been swiftly cleared by authorities. Tragically, a rock fell on a bus in the district, killing the driver on the spot, while the conductor sustained a fracture.

The government has issued Rs 4 lakh to the driver's family, he added.

Highlighting the administration's prompt response, Sengottaiyan stated that heavy waterlogging in Coimbatore and Tiruppur caused by overnight downpours was entirely drained by 4 am, restoring normalcy.

He also pointed to the unpredictable nature of the monsoon's cloud movements, saying, "Pudukkottai was given a red alert expecting heavy rain, but not a single drop fell there."

Preliminary agricultural assessments indicate that 3,500 acres of crops are currently submerged in Nagapattinam district, according to him.

As a precautionary measure, the state has temporarily barred tourist entry into hill stations, including the Nilgiris, Kodaikanal, and Yercaud, until the rains subside.

"Locals are permitted to travel only between 6 am and 6 pm with proper authorisation passes issued by the District Collector," Sengottaiyan added.

Meanwhile, continuous downpour has severely disrupted daily life in Dindigul district. In the Moonjikkal-Dobikana (Topikkanal) area of Kodaikanal, over 20 houses were flooded, forcing residents to spend sleepless nights safeguarding their belongings and livestock.

Local washermen, whose livelihoods depend on daily work, reported a complete halt in their routine.

"Rainwater has entered our homes, and our livelihood is completely paralysed. We request the municipality and the state government to build a retaining wall on both sides of the water channel to prevent this recurring issue," Ganesan, a local washerman, told PTI Videos.

Another resident, Anita Mary, a daily wage worker, highlighted the severe distress caused by the deluge, stating families were forced to sit awake through the night to save their domestic animals.

Residents also expressed deep concern over a 30-year-old bridge in the area that has developed cracks in the heavy rains. Serving as a crucial link for 600 to 700 families, locals warned that if the structure collapses, the neighbourhood would be completely isolated, cutting off emergency access for ambulances.

The active monsoon has also brought a significant surge in inflows to the state's reservoirs.

In the neighbouring Theni district, the water level at the Vaigai Dam in Andipatti reached the 50-feet mark (full depth 71 feet) after a gap of nine months, officials said.

According to a Maalaimalar report, the deceased was identified as Jesudas of Panikanenthal village near Keelappasalai, close to Manamadurai.

Jesudas was married to Valarmathi and had a 13-year-old daughter.

How did the incident take place?

Jesudas had reported for work as usual in the morning and was handling a strong acid as part of his assigned task when it leaked and spread across the area.

Other workers immediately moved away from the area. However, Jesudas inhaled a large quantity of toxic gas and fainted within seconds.

His colleagues later found him motionless and discovered that he had died.

Police register case

On receiving information, Manamadurai SIPCOT police rushed to the factory, recovered the body and sent it to the Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Further investigation is underway.

According to a Maalaimalar report, the deceased were identified as Tirupathi (17), son of Ramesh, and Tiruchselvan (21), son of Karthikeyan, natives of S Patti village in Harur taluk of Dharmapuri district. Both were students of Government Polytechnic College in Krishnagiri.

According to police, the duo was returning home after visiting Bengaluru on a motorcycle when their vehicle collided with another two-wheeler near the toll plaza.

The second motorcycle was ridden by Sarathi (24) and his brother Velu (18), natives of Mothakkal village in Tiruvannamalai district. The brothers were involved in buying and selling used mobile phones, old silk sarees and other items. They had left for Bengaluru around 4 am on Monday to sell the goods they had purchased.

Two injured, hospitalised

The impact of the collision caused both motorcycles to catch fire. Tirupathi and Tiruchselvan suffered severe burns and died on the spot.

Sarathi and Velu sustained serious injuries. Bystanders rescued them and rushed them to the Mathur Government Hospital in a 108 ambulance. They were later referred to Krishnagiri Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment, where they are undergoing intensive care.

Police probe underway

More than 100 new and used mobile phones were found scattered across the road at the accident spot.

Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. They are examining whether the collision caused a petrol tank to explode and trigger the fire, or whether an unidentified heavy vehicle hit the motorcycles and fled the scene.

The Mettupalayam-Ooty passenger train scheduled to depart Mettupalayam at 7.10 am, and the Ooty-Mettupalayam passenger train scheduled to leave Ooty at 2 pm, have been cancelled on all three days.

Heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris has triggered earth slips at several locations, with boulders, mud and fallen trees obstructing the railway track. Southern Railway said that restoration works are under way to remove the obstructions and resume train services. However, continuous rainfall and the difficult terrain are hampering the work. Railway personnel are currently engaged in clearing the track.

The deceased was identified as Amit Babu of Uthukottai. He was riding pillion with his son, Abdul, who escaped with injuries.

Police said that the duo were travelling from Tiruvallur towards Arakkonam when the over-speeding car hit their motorcycle. The impact threw both men off the vehicle. Babu sustained severe head injuries and died on the spot, while Abdul suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to his left arm and leg.

Authorities reached the scene and moved Babu’s body to the GH for an autopsy while Abdul was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Tiruvallur Taluk police registered a case against the car driver and launched an investigation.

In another accident in T Nagar, Chennai, a 26-year-old man died after his bike rammed into a load van that was coming in the opposite direction. The deceased man was E Praveen Kumar of Tiruvallur. He was employed at a private car manufacturing company in Kancheepuram.

Around 2:15 am on Monday, Praveen was riding back home when he lost control of bike and rammed into the load-vehicle. He suffered severe injuries to his head and died on the spot.

The Pondy Bazaar Traffic Investigation Wing (TIW) sent the body to the GH in Royapettah. The load vehicle driver Alam (24) of Assam has been detained for inquiry.

Health Minister KG Arunrajdistributed appointment orders to candidates selected through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) at a function held at the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services campus in Teynampet on Monday.

The appointments come amid reports that district entomologist posts were vacant in more than 40 of the state’s 45 Health Unit Districts, raising concerns over the monitoring and control of mosquito-borne diseases ahead of the northeast monsoon. The specialists will oversee vector surveillance, mosquito control, disease prevention, monitoring of zoonotic infections, implementation of national health programmes and coordination of preventive measures at the district level.

Emphasising the importance of early intervention, Arunraj said the specialists must identify disease transmission patterns, strengthen scientific surveillance and supervise health inspectors to improve field-level disease control. “Government service is a responsibility and a noble duty. Helping people without expecting anything in return brings immense satisfaction,” he said, recalling that he had received an appointment order as a primary health centre doctor in 2004. “Direct recruitment to senior entomologist posts has not taken place for nearly 30 years. Of the 69 posts in the state, only 17 were occupied before the latest appointments. The government has also issued a notification to recruit another 13 senior entomologists.”

The appointments are expected to improve district-level capacity to assess mosquito density, identify breeding sites, monitor disease transmission risks and initiate timely interventions. Entomologists play a crucial role in ensuring that vector-control measures are guided by scientific evidence rather than relying solely on fogging and insecticide application.

Arunraj urged the appointees to prioritise prevention and work towards detecting and containing outbreaks before they spread. Health Secretary Darez Ahamed, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project Director S Uma, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services Rajmohan and Additional Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Sambath, attended the event.

State Public Prosecutor R John Sathyan informed Justice V Lakshminarayanan that the charge sheet would be filed within three weeks.

YouTuber Varaaki and advocate ML Ravi had approached the court seeking a transfer of the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation, apprehending that the SIT might not conduct an independent investigation. In his plea, Varaaki submitted that high-ranking officials were involved and sought to ascertain whether there had been any interference, improper influence, or financial or other consideration affecting the probe. He also sought to ascertain whether the pen drive had been properly preserved and forensically examined, and whether any relevant investigative leads had been omitted, disregarded or prematurely abandoned.

When the matter came up for hearing, the SIT filed its second status report detailing the progress of the probe.

Meanwhile, Varaaki filed an additional affidavit stating that properties connected with GEM Granites, valued at Rs 147.87 crore, were transferred on February 2 and 5, shortly before the filing of the Action Drop Report on February 18. He further alleged that Arun, IPS, purchased gold worth approximately Rs 24 crore from GRT Jewellery in Chennai, using funds received as illegal gratification in connection with the closure of the criminal case against Veeramani. He alleged that the funds were routed through Prakash Kannaiyan, who reportedly left India and has remained absconding since further investigation commenced.

Varaaki submitted that the transactions, the source of funds, the persons involved and the ownership of the gold warranted an independent investigation. He sought an examination of the purchase bills, payment records, bank statements and other financial documents to ascertain whether the suspected proceeds of illegal gratification had been converted into valuable assets to conceal their origin and ownership.

After perusing the status report, the court adjourned the hearing to November 10.

Techie flees after running over sleeping senior citizen in Chengalpattu; nabbed

An elderly man was killed after a techie who was reversing his car from a marriage hall reportedly ran over him, unmindful of the man sleeping on the roadside in Chengalpattu on Saturday.

Visuals showed the victim's friend sitting beside the body, holding an umbrella over it to protect it from the rain while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

The deceased was identified as Kumar (77), who lived in a thatched hut in the neighbourhood. According to local residents, Kumar was sleeping along the roadside when a car reversing from a nearby marriage hall ran over him, killing him on the spot.

Police sources said the techie, who was behind the wheel, got down to check on the man but drove off upon seeing a mob gathering at the scene, as his wife and child were inside the vehicle.

The elderly man was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Meanwhile, the Chengalpattu police traced the car using CCTV footage and arrested the driver, G Saravanan (43), an employee with a private IT firm.

Bizman held under Pocso in Tirunelveli

A 52-year-old real estate businessman was arrested under the Pocso Act at Panagudi in Tirunelveli district for allegedly sexually harassing a six-year-old girl on Sunday.

According to police the accused was found committing the sexual offence after examining the CCTV footage. The accused was sitting in front of a church in the area on the night of October 23 when the girl walked alone on the road, said the police, adding that he allegedly called her over and sexually abused her.

The girl went home crying and told her parents, who lodged a complaint. The police registered a case under the Pocso Act and arrested him.

Special Sub-Inspector transferred to Armed Reserve on bribe charges

Tirunelveli District Superintendent of Police Viswesh Sastri on Saturday transferred a Special Sub-Inspector attached to the Seethaparpanallur police station to the Armed Reserve following a complaint that he accepted a bribe in a sand smuggling case.

According to the police, Special Sub-Inspector Muthupandi (54) is alleged to have received Rs 5,000 from the owner of a lorry linked to a sand smuggling case under investigation.

The money was reportedly transferred through his wife's GPay account.

Guest worker killed over card game in Chennai

A 26-year-old guest worker from Nepal was murdered after an argument during a card game in Perungudi on Saturday. Thoraipakkam police have registered a murder case and launched a search for the absconding suspect.

The victim has been identified as Ganeshkumar, who had been employed at a metal fabrication unit in Perungudi and was staying with his brother-in-law Umesh. The police said the suspect, Saurav (25), also a Nepali national, was working at a private eatery. Ganeshkumar and Umesh had gone to Saurav's house on Friday night. During a card game, a heated exchange between Ganeshkumar and Saurav turned into a physical confrontation. Saurav attacked Ganeshkumar with a knife.

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

According to a Daily Thanthi report, rubber cultivation is one of the major agriculture-based industries in the district, supporting thousands of farmers, workers and traders involved in latex extraction and related activities. However, persistent northeast monsoon showers have disrupted tapping across both large and small plantations, affecting overall production.

Though rain guards have been installed on rubber trees in many plantations to facilitate tapping during wet weather, they have proved ineffective during continuous rainfall.

Rubber industry faces production setbacks

The disruption has also affected rubber processing units, as the shortage of latex has reduced the supply of rubber sheets to factories. The business of felling and selling mature rubber trees has also taken a hit.

Small plantation workers seek compensation

While workers employed in organised rubber plantations receive a certain amount as rain-day compensation, those working in small plantations are left without wages when tapping operations are suspended.

With the prolonged rains affecting their daily earnings, workers in small rubber plantations have urged the government to extend financial assistance to help them tide over the period of lost employment.

Defending the state government's transparency and commitment to public safety, he challenged the opposition DMK's claims regarding the current state of law and order in Tamil Nadu.

He asserted that the state police have been conducting an intensive search, with the DGP monitoring the progress daily to ensure a thorough investigation.

Speaking to reporters here, the minister addressed law and order concerns, political allegations from the principal opposition DMK, and updates regarding the state's power sector and recruitment plans.

Providing an update on the Gingee girl missing case, Minister Nirmalkumar said, "The police department is investigating the case from every conceivable angle to locate the missing girl at the earliest. The Director General of Police (DGP) is personally reviewing the progress of the investigation on a daily basis to ensure a transparent and thorough inquiry."

"Under the present administration, no criminal would escape justice."

The Crime Branch-CID police intensified the search for the girl who remains untraced 15 days after going missing from her home near Gingee, triggering severe political backlash and public outrage. The class 2 student went missing in the early hours of October 12, hours after celebrating her seventh birthday.

According to the police, the child was last seen sleeping with her parents - agriculture labourers and grandmother the previous night after celebrating her birthday on October 11.

The initial investigation by the Sathiyamangalam police, who registered the case, yielded no results. The police deployed over 100 police personnel, drones, sniffer dogs, and forensic experts to search local wells, water bodies, agricultural fields, and forest areas, but found no concrete leads.

The incident sparked massive public outrage and political protests, and the opposition DMK staged a road blockade to draw the government's attention to the case and demand that the girl be traced soon.

The PMK and other parties too have demanded swift action in the case.

Rejecting criticism regarding law and order in the state, Nirmal Kumar launched a scathing attack on the opposition, questioning its track record during its previous tenure.

"Those lecturing us on law and order today failed to solve high-profile cases during their own governance, such as the Ramajayam murder case," he alleged.

He further accused the DMK of "indulging in systemic corruption", claiming that the opposition party had previously demanded money from educational institutions in exchange for issuing safety certificates. "The opposition continues to prioritise political point-scoring and financial gain over legal procedure and public safety," he said, defending the administration's transparency and commitment to public welfare.

Turning to infrastructure and energy management, the minister outlined long-term forecasting strategies to meet rising electricity demand, particularly during extreme summer months when the state relies heavily on power purchases from central grid corridors.

A formal announcement regarding the recruitment of gangman personnel in the electricity department will be issued within a week, pending final formal approvals.

Explaining the temporary pause on new solar power applications, the minister stated it was necessary to streamline grid capacity and prevent overload. The government is currently finalising battery storage policies and targeted subsidies to efficiently store and utilise excess solar generation during peak demand hours.

Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister K A Sengottaiyan on Monday said 14 people have died due to lightning strikes since the onset of the Northeast monsoon, even as intensifying rains triggered red alerts and prompted authorities to bar tourist entry to major hill stations.

Detailing the state's monsoon relief efforts, Sengottaiyan said families of the deceased have been provided Rs 4 lakh each as compensation.

He firmly dismissed media reports claiming 35 rain-related fatalities in a single day.

Red alert in Kodaikanal

With the Northeast monsoon intensifying across Tamil Nadu, a red alert has been sounded in Kodaikanal, keeping tourists away and leaving popular spots in the hill station deserted.

The continuous downpour has not only impacted the local hospitality and tourism sectors but has also severely disrupted the daily lives of residents in Dindigul district. In the Moonjikkal-Dobikana (Topikkanal) area of Kodaikanal, over 20 houses were flooded, forcing residents to spend sleepless nights safeguarding their belongings and livestock. - PTI

Cyclone Arnab likely to intensify into severe cyclonic storm by midnight today

Cyclonic Storm Arnab over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight on October 26 and a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27.

It is expected to move northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28.

At landfall, the storm is likely to bring maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, with gusts reaching 140 kmph.

At 8.30 am on October 26, Cyclonic Storm Arnab was centred over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.

It was located 580 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha, 610 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 620 km northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands, 690 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 790 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam and 860 km east-southeast of Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh, according to the IMD.

Cyclone warning: No 1 signal hoisted at 9 ports in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

 Cyclone warning signal no. 1 has been hoisted at nine ports in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as strong winds prevail amid the likelihood of a cyclone forming over the Bay of Bengal, according to officials.

The ports where the warning signal has been hoisted are Chennai, Ennore, Kattupalli, Cuddalore, Thoothukudi, Pamban, Puducherry, Nagapattinam and Karaikal.

Red alert for Theni, Dindigul, Madurai amid heavy rain forecast for TN

A red alert has been issued for Theni, Dindigul and Madurai districts, with the Regional Meteorological Centre forecasting extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places on Sunday as the northeast monsoon remains vigorous over Tamil Nadu.

The three districts could receive more than 20 centimetres of rain at one or two locations, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds.

As deep depression forms, IMD warns of heavy rain in Chennai, across Tamil Nadu from today

A depression over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a deep depression and further develop into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 26, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday, forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry over the next two days.

The system, moving west-northwestwards, is expected to intensify as it approaches the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast by October 28.

The IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in Theni, Dindigul and Madurai on Sunday. Heavy to very heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds of 40-50 kmph is likely in Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchy, Karur, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Sivaganga, besides Karaikal.

Over 150 school students rescued after landslide blocks Ooty road

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.

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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.

READ FULL REPORT HERE

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 case against Mahesh was registered based on a complaint by DC Elangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, alleging that Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association president BT Arasukumar and other office-bearers collected several crores from private schools by promising to secure permanent recognition, licences, school upgradation approvals, clearances from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and other statutory permissions during the previous DMK regime, when Anbil Mahesh was the School Education Minister (2021-2026).

According to the investigating agency, 177 private schools have been identified in connection with the alleged collection of at least Rs 100 crore. The money was allegedly collected in the guise of "party funds", with assurances that the schools’ pending applications for government approvals would be cleared.

The FIR was initially registered under Sections 316(5) [criminal breach of trust] and 318(4) [cheating], read with Section 3(5), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Later, the prosecution filed an alteration report before the Metropolitan Magistrate seeking to include Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) and array Anbil Mahesh as an accused.

After being named as an accused in the case, the DMK leader had approached the Madras High Court seeking to quash the FIR.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe the suspected financial trail related to the alleged scam.

(With inputs from Bureau)

In a statement, Dhinakaran said the engineer who held the post retired in June after completing his tenure, but the government had yet to appoint a successor.

He said the Vice-Chairman's post was crucial to safeguarding Tamil Nadu's rightful share of water in inter-State river disputes involving the Cauvery, Mullai Periyar, Krishna and Parambikulam-Aliyar rivers.

The official was responsible for monitoring water inflows into Tamil Nadu, analysing technical data and representing the State at meetings of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, Dhinakaran said.

He accused the TVK government of failing to protect the interests of farmers in Tamil Nadu and warned that keeping the post vacant could hamper technical and administrative efforts to safeguard the State's water rights.

Dhinakaran urged the government to appoint a qualified and experienced person to the post immediately, without compromising Tamil Nadu's interests.

He also said that if an appointment had already been made, the government should disclose the details transparently.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana rejected a plea filed by advocate K Suthan challenging a Madras High Court order dismissing his plea.

"Somebody resigns and becomes minister, it's part of political process," the bench said while rejecting the plea.

The high court on September 24 dismissed the PIL seeking framing of an "Election Expenditure Security" mechanism and five-year disqualification of the six AIADMK defectors, observing that the right to resign a legislative assembly seat is a facet of the constitutional scheme and cannot be burdened with extra-statutory conditions by judicial order.

The petition had sought a direction to the Election Commission and the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer to frame an "Election Expenditure Security" mechanism under which a sitting MLA who resigns voluntarily from a seat and later wants to contest the by-election necessitated by the resignation, must first deposit an amount equal to the public money spent on holding the by-election.

The Madras High Court on October 13 upheld the decision of Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar accepting the resignations of six AIADMK MLAs, who later joined the ruling TVK.

The high court had directed the speaker to decide on the petition from AIADMK whip Krishamurthy seeking disqualification of S Jayakumar, Maragatham Kumaravel, P Sathyabama and Esakki Subaya from the assembly within two months.

S Jayakumar, Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama, elected from Perundurai, Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly constituencies, respectively, resigned as members on May 25, 2026.

Esakki Subaya, elected from the Ambasamudram constituency, resigned the following day. C Vijayabhaskar (Viralimalai) and M R Vijayabhaskar (Karur) resigned on June 16 and 29, respectively.

All of them had been elected on AIADMK tickets in the April Tamil Nadu assembly polls.

After resigning, they joined the ruling TVK led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabama won the bypolls -- as TVK candidates -- held on October 6 for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly segments, respectively.

The bench passed the order on the petition by Krishnamurthy, besides a PIL plea filed by Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi.

The bench said the resignations tendered by the MLAs were genuine and voluntary, and in keeping with provisions under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

The speaker was not required to undertake a roving or detailed inquiry into the alleged motives behind them. Accordingly, their acceptance and the consequential declaration of vacancies were constitutionally valid, the bench said.

It said the AIADMK's whip was defied by 25 MLAs on May 13, in pursuance of which, immediately, disqualification proceedings were instituted by the AIADMK before the speaker.

However, the petitions were withdrawn unconditionally against 14 MLAs, including C Vijay Bhaskar and M R Vijay Bhaskar.

The bench said pendency of a plea seeking disqualification did not constitutionally bar the speaker from accepting the resignations, as resignation and disqualification are distinct constitutional processes.

The speaker was, therefore, competent to accept the resignations notwithstanding the pending petition seeking disqualification, the bench added.

The bench said the acceptance of resignations does not render the pending disqualification proceedings infructuous.

The speaker shall still finally adjudicate and decide on the plea seeking disqualification.

The bench said the high court possesses the power under Article 226 to intervene where the speaker fails to decide on the disqualification plea within a reasonable period of time.

"In the peculiar circumstances, a time-bound mandamus is being issued directing the speaker to conclude the disqualification proceedings finally within a period of two months," the Madras High Court had said in its order.

The political landscape intensified after Dhanush organised a massive women's wing meeting on the Chennai outskirts, drawing thousands of functionaries. Adding fuel to the fire, the actor gifted attendees silver traditional 'Kamatchi' lamps engraved with a lotus motif, a detail seized upon by political rivals.

The ruling TVK has stepped up its rhetoric to systematically dismiss the actor's potential electoral clout.

TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna took a direct jibe at the development, alleging that new political entrants are being backed and sent by high-level leadership in Delhi.

TVK leader N Marie Wilson firmly asserted that Dhanush can never be a true competitor to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Finance Minister Wilson warned that relying on another film icon would only lead to public "disappointment" rather than serving as a genuine political turning point for the state, arguing that Chief Minister Vijay's movement stood uniquely positioned after decades of grassroots groundwork.

The political buzz has officially crossed over to other major camps, with TNCC chief B Manickam Tagore claiming that Dhanush's sudden organisational restructuring and sudden momentum are part of a covert BJP and RSS strategy dubbed "Operation D" or "Plan C".

Asked about the reports surrounding actor Dhanush's possible entry into politics, Tagore told reporters here, explicitly linking it to the BJP leadership in Delhi. "These are all ideologically leaning towards only one ideology, that is Amit Shah's ideology. Therefore, we feel that this new kind of party... anyone has the freedom to start a party."

He further stated that the BJP and RSS were executing a 'Plan C' / 'Operation D' to introduce a new actor into Tamil Nadu politics to create political turmoil and target specific vote banks after failing to launch a party with other film icons.

According to Tagore, the BJP having failed to establish a strong foothold in Tamil Nadu through past attempts with cinematic icons like Rajinikanth, is now attempting to prop up a popular, established star base to indirectly align with its ideology and expand its electoral footprint in the state.

While Dhanush maintained strict silence and refrained from making any overt political declarations at his recent fan meet, the swift, coordinated pushback from major political quarters indicates that his welfare movement's activities are already being viewed through a high-stakes electoral lens.

The meeting of Dhanush Narpani Iyakkam (Dhanush Welfare Movement) - formerly Dhanush Narpani Mandram - took place at a private college in Thoraipakkam, here on Sunday, with approximately 3,000 members in attendance. A 49-second highlight video of the event was released by Dhanush's team, showing Dhanush interacting with his women administrators, who greeted him with great enthusiasm.

The actor spent about four hours at the event taking photographs with the attendees. The backdrop of the stage featured images of Dhanush in attire and poses often associated with political leaders, such as wearing traditional Dhoti and shirts, and performing gestures like waving or folding hands in greeting. This has fueled speculation in political circles regarding whether he intends to launch a political party. The images appeared to mirror the branding often used by politicians once they officially launch a party.

Asked about his potential entry into politics while leaving the venue, Dhanush avoided a direct answer and instead offered Diwali greetings.

At a meeting here, Public Works and Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna criticised the potential move, alleging that the BJP is actively "planting" new entrants into the state's political arena to challenge existing dynamics.

Addressing the trend of actors entering politics, implying that some are allegedly aligned with external influences from Delhi rather than focusing on local issues, he said the new political movement, led by his leader Vijay, is built on principles of secularism, social justice, and anti-corruption.

Dhanush's meeting was primarily a fan engagement session and the popular actor spent time taking individual photos and interacting with the attendees, and even sang songs from his films to entertain them.

The Dravidian majors too reacted to the development.

Senior DMK leader and former state minister S Regupathy said that in a democratic country, anyone has the right to enter politics and asked, "When Vijay can enter politics, why not Dhanush?"

He said the sharp pushback from TVK members indicated the ruling party is genuinely concerned about Dhanush's growing public traction.

AIADMK senior leader KT Rajendra Balaji invited Dhanush to join the party under the leadership of general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. The party would welcome him with open arms, he said highlighting the actor's popularity among the youth and his film history of giving a voice to underprivileged and oppressed communities.

In a post on X, she expressed shock over the murder of Isakki Raja near Srivaikuntam and said the incident had occurred before the wounds of the Sathankulam custodial deaths had healed.

She claimed that more than five murders had taken place in Thoothukudi district in the past week alone. She also alleged that incidents of hacking and the abduction of minor girls pointed to a worsening law and order situation in the district.

Kanimozhi urged the TVK government to stop playing with public safety and take immediate steps to restore law and order.

College student hacked to death in Thoothukudi

According to a Daily THanthi report, a dispute between the families of Mariappan and Sundararajan over sewage water flowing in front of a house in Alwarkarkulam near Srivaikuntam had developed into a longstanding enmity.

On Sunday, after residents returned home from a local temple festival, the two families reportedly resumed their argument over their previous rivalry. The dispute escalated into a clash, with members of both sides allegedly attacking each other with knives and sickles.

Isakki Raja, Mariappan’s 20-year-old son, sustained serious injuries in the attack and died at the spot.

Both sides subsequently lodged complaints at the police station. Police recovered the body and sent it to a government hospital for postmortem examination.

Police book 14 people in murder case

Based on the complaints, police registered cases against four people from Mariappan’s side and 10 people, including Sundararajan, from the opposing side. An investigation is under way.

The deceased were identified as Divijasri, a contract worker at a private factory in Hosur, and Pradeep, who was employed at another private factory in the region. The incident has caused a stir in the area, with the Bagalur police investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths.

Hosur murder: Argument turns fatal

Divijasri, was a resident of Ramanur near Ponneri. Pradeep, son of Maniyarasan, hailed from Chinna Veppampatti near Jolarpettai. The two were in a relationship. According to the report, Pradeep brought Divijasri to his room on the night of the incident. The two were reportedly talking when an argument broke out between them. The dispute allegedly escalated, following which Pradeep attacked Divijasri repeatedly with a machete kept in the room. She suffered severe injuries and died at the scene. The reason for the argument remains unclear.

Man dies after jumping in front of lorry

After the alleged murder, Pradeep reportedly ran out of the room in distress and jumped in front of a lorry travelling along the Hosur-Bagalur road. He sustained critical injuries in the incident. Passers-by rescued him and took him to the Hosur Government Hospital, where he later died.

Bagalur police begin investigation

After receiving information about the incident, Bagalur police reached the spot and recovered Divijasri’s body. It was sent for a post-mortem examination as part of the investigation. The police are questioning the couple’s friends to establish what led to the argument. Investigators are also examining the circumstances surrounding Pradeep’s death.

The continuous downpour has not only impacted the local hospitality and tourism sectors but has also severely disrupted the daily lives of residents in Dindigul district. In the Moonjikkal-Dobikana (Topikkanal) area of Kodaikanal, over 20 houses were flooded, forcing residents to spend sleepless nights safeguarding their belongings and livestock.

Local washermen, whose livelihoods depend on daily work, reported a complete halt in their routine. "Rainwater has entered our homes, and our livelihood is completely paralysed. We request the municipality and the state government to build a retaining wall on both sides of the water channel to prevent this recurring issue," Ganesan, a local washerman, told PTI Videos.

Another resident, Anita Mary, a daily wage worker, highlighted the severe distress caused by the deluge, saying that families were forced to sit awake through the night as water inundated their homes, leaving them to scramble to save their domestic animals.

Residents also expressed deep concern over a 30-year-old bridge in the area that has developed cracks in the heavy rains. The bridge serves as a crucial, primary link for 600 to 700 families and provides access to the government playground.

Locals warned that if the structure collapses, the neighbourhood would be isolated like an island, completely cutting off emergency access for ambulances. They urged authorities to urgently repair and raise the height of the bridge.

Meanwhile, the active monsoon has brought a significant surge in inflows to the state's reservoirs. In the neighbouring Theni district, the water level at the Vaigai Dam in Andipatti reached the 50-feet mark after a gap of nine months, officials said.

It also upheld the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order barring the Kayalpattinam municipal slaughterhouse in Thoothukudi district from operating without consent from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

A Division Bench of Justices M Dhanapani and N Dilip Kumar observed that all existing slaughterhouses in the State should be brought in line with a uniform framework to ensure compliance with applicable laws and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines.

On a petition filed by the Mass Empowerment and Guidance Association, Thoothukudi district, the NGT's Chennai bench had on July 24, 2026, directed the Kayalpattinam Municipality not to operate the slaughterhouse without complying with TNPCB conditions.

The Kayalpattinam municipal slaughterhouse falls under the 'Red' category of units. To issue consent for its operation, the TNPCB directed it to install an adequate Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and a rendering plant with a blood coagulator for processing animal waste. The NGT stopped the slaughterhouse's operations because the municipality had failed to obtain TNPCB consent by complying with these directives.

The Kayalpattinam Municipality then filed a writ petition seeking to quash the NGT order. The court noted that although slaughterhouses function across several local bodies, including town panchayats, municipalities and corporations, there is no uniform model or standard mechanism for their construction and waste management.

Referring to the Supreme Court's 2014 judgment in Laxmi Narain Modi vs Union of India and others, which calls for proper regulation and periodic supervision of abattoirs across the country, the court suo motu impleaded the Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, and the Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Chennai. It directed them to prepare a model plan for the construction of slaughterhouses and submit a report.

The two authorities informed the court that a uniform framework for the construction, operation, waste management, pollution control and monitoring of slaughterhouses under local bodies would be formulated, based on technical requirements in the CPCB's Revised Comprehensive Industry Document.

They sought a month for preparatory work, including an expert study of existing slaughterhouses, preparation of designs and estimates, completion of the tender process, and obtaining statutory approval from the Pollution Control Board for operation. They sought a further six months to execute the works, including installing the ETP and other pollution control infrastructure, and two months for commissioning by competent authorities.

The government assured the court that during this period, each slaughterhouse would be designed, executed and commissioned in accordance with applicable laws and CPCB guidelines.

Recording the submission, the court directed the State to implement the framework within the stated timeline and disposed of the writ petition.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan has dismissed a review application filed by former DMK Minister K N Nehru in the cash-for-jobs scam case, refusing to make any changes to its earlier direction. The Bench also closed the contempt petition filed by AIADMK MP I S Inbadurai.

The matter relates to a communication sent by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking registration of a case over allegations that bribes amounting to Rs. 634 crore were collected for 2,538 appointments to posts, including Assistant Engineer, Junior Engineer and Sanitary Inspector, in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department. It was alleged that candidates were recruited by obtaining illegal gratification ranging from Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 35 lakh per post.

Based on the ED’s communication, AIADMK MP I S Inbadurai and K Athinarayanan, president of the Maruthu Senai Society, Madurai, filed a petition before the Madras High Court seeking directions to the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) to register a case.

After hearing the parties, the Chief Justice-led Bench, on February 20, 2026, directed that an FIR be registered forthwith. Subsequently, Inbadurai filed a contempt petition, contending that no FIR had been registered despite the court’s direction.

Former Minister K N Nehru later filed a review petition seeking reconsideration of the order on the ground that it had been passed without hearing him.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the warning signals have been hoisted at Chennai, Ennore, Kattupalli, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Pamban, Thoothukudi, Puducherry and Karaikal ports.

Fishermen who have ventured into the sea have been advised to return to the shore immediately.

Cyclone Arnab formed over the central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal on Monday. The system is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and subsequently a very severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday, according to forecasts.

The cyclone is expected to bring rain to parts of Andhra Pradesh. However, reports indicate that the system is not expected to cause rainfall in Tamil Nadu, and the rain received in the State so far is not attributed to the cyclone.

The deep depression over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal moved westwards at a speed of 15 kmph over the past six hours and intensified into Cyclonic Storm Arnab, the IMD said in its bulletin issued on Monday morning.

The system was centred at 5.30 am on October 26 over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, about 590 km northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 650 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 730 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 830 km east of Machilipatnam and 910 km east of Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh.

The cyclone is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by midnight on October 26. It is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm over the same region tomorrow (October 27).

Thereafter, the system is expected to move northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm by the forenoon of October 28, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115-125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph, the IMD added.

Meanwhile, a low-pressure area persists over the coastal Tamil Nadu region and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level. A trough extending from Lakshadweep to this circulation is also persisting, as per the bulletin.

Heavy rain alerts for Tamil Nadu

Under the influence of the system, rainfall will continue across several districts of Tamil Nadu on October 26 and 27, with the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, issuing heavy to very heavy rain warnings for parts of the State.

It has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Pudukottai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts on October 26. Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts on the same day.

On October 27, a yellow alert has been issued for heavy rainfall in Ramanathapuram district.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph are also likely at one or two places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on October 26 and 27, the RMC said.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, Tamil Nadu has around 2,000 spinning mills, of which nearly 1,000 operate in and around Coimbatore. These mills source cotton from northern states and overseas to meet their production requirements. However, rising and volatile cotton prices are putting pressure on the industry as the 2026-27 cotton marketing season gets underway.

A candy of cotton weighs 355.62 kg. Its price has increased from Rs 64,000 to Rs 68,500, marking a sharp rise at the beginning of the new season, which started in September.

Cotton price rise raises textile industry concerns

Nishant Asher, secretary of the Cotton Association, attributed the price increase to lower production, farmers holding back stocks in anticipation of better prices, and the proposed reintroduction of import duty from November 1.

According to the Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA), domestic cotton consumption stood at 336 lakh bales in the 2025-26 season, which ended on September 30. Imports accounted for 67 lakh bales, while the closing stock was estimated at just 40 lakh bales.

Against an expected demand of 360 lakh bales, domestic production is projected to reach only 260 lakh bales in the current season. This supply-demand gap is likely to keep cotton prices firm, SIMA said.

The association noted that higher prices could benefit cotton farmers, but warned that the reintroduction of import duty would make it difficult for the textile industry to remain competitive.

Textile industry seeks permanent import duty exemption

Industry representatives have urged the Union government to make the exemption from cotton import duty permanent, pointing to declining domestic production and the growing dependence of textile mills on imported cotton.

Many domestic cotton farmers have shifted to other crops, contributing to the decline in production, they said.

With the textile sector supporting lakhs of workers and export demand remaining significant amid free trade agreements with overseas markets, industry representatives said the Centre must take a balanced approach that protects farmers while ensuring affordable raw materials for textile manufacturers.

They urged the government to take an early decision on cotton import duties and price stability to prevent further pressure on the textile sector.

After a brief lull until noon, heavy rain resumed in Ooty and Coonoor. Trees fell across the suspended Nilgiri Mountain Railway track near Lovedale railway station and on the Ooty-Manjoor road, disrupting movement. Another tree fell on a parked car near the Rose Garden. Over the past two days, tree falls, mudslides and boulders blocking roads were reported at around 30 locations on the Ooty-Mettupalayam and Kotagiri-Ooty ghat roads.

Continuous rain hampered restoration work, a day after a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus driver was killed and its conductor injured in a landslide near Burliyar on the Mettupalayam-Ooty road.

All tourist attractions remained closed across the district while Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru advised tourists to avoid visiting the hills. As a precaution, vehicle movement, including government buses, was prohibited between 6 pm and 7 am, except for vehicles carrying essential supplies. Traffic was allowed only through the Kotagiri route in the daytime, resulting in congestion. Residents of floodprone Muthamizh Nagar were accommodated at a relief camp in a government school. Meanwhile, a 15-member rescue team continued the search for Bojan (58) of Solur Mattam, who was swept away by flash floods.

Explaining the issue, VR Durai, director and senior atmospheric scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), told DT Next, “A small technical glitch has occurred at the weather monitoring radar at NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology), Pallikaranai, which was commissioned with the support of ISRO.”

Further, he said, “The glitch will not affect weather predictions, as we are receiving advance data from the satellite, which we can use to monitor the cyclone and forecast the weather.

Additionally, the S-band radar at the port is 15 years old and is currently non-functional. Work is under way to replace the weather monitoring radar at the port, and it will be replaced within a few months.”

In an order dated October 22, the commission approved the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd's (TNPDCL) proposal to procure the power from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) at a discovered tariff of Rs 3.12 per unit, plus a trading margin of Rs 0.07 per unit payable to SECI.

The arrangement includes a 300 MW/1,800 MWh energy storage system, enabling the state to draw 300 MW of storage-backed power for six selected hours within the peak-hour window of 6 pm to 9 am the following day. TNPDCL will receive 600 MW during solar generation hours.

According to TNPDCL's projections submitted to the commission, the state's peak-hour power shortage could rise to 16,332 MW by 2034-35, compared with 9,735 MW in 2026-27, before accounting for the planned procurement considered in its analysis. Even after factoring in proposed procurement, the utility projected a peak deficit of 7,037 MW in 2026-27, increasing to 14,457 MW by 2034-35.

The order noted that variations in solar generation and the need for electricity after sunset posed challenges to meeting demand. Energy storage would help make renewable power available during selected hours when solar generation was unavailable, while supporting grid stability and the state's renewable energy purchase obligations.

The tariff of Rs 3.12 per unit was determined through an e-reverse auction conducted on January 9, 2026. TNPDCL's board had approved the proposed procurement at its 135th meeting on February 24, 2026. Supply is expected to commence 24 months from the effective date of the power purchase agreement.

However, the commission clarified that TNPDCL must approach it separately for tariff adoption after finalising the tender, in accordance with Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The approval is subject to applicable bidding guidelines, scheme conditions and relevant regulations.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Ombudsman has acknowledged that the billing error was entirely attributable to the officials, but refused to waive the revised charges, ruling that the consumer remains liable to pay for the electricity actually consumed.

In an order dated October 22, Electricity Ombudsman K Indirani upheld the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum's (CGRF) decision rejecting a plea by Suja Thomas, a resident of Kerala who owns a property in Chennai, for a waiver or refund of the disputed amount. The ombudsman found that the assessor had recorded incorrect readings without physically inspecting the premises between March 2024 and September 2025.

Thomas's tenant had occupied the property during the period and paid the bi-monthly bills based on the readings recorded by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL). The discrepancy came to light after the tenant vacated the premises in July 2025. A subsequent verification found that nearly 7,000 units of electricity consumption had not been accounted for in the bills over 11 billing cycles.

The department subsequently revised the assessment to Rs 76,907 based on data downloaded from the meter. With Rs 376 towards current consumption charges for November 2025, the total demand stood at Rs 77,283. The consumer had also paid Rs 4,000 with an earlier bill, which the Ombudsman found was separately reflected in the consumer ledger.

Arguing that the accumulation of arrears was caused entirely by the department, Thomas sought a complete waiver and a refund of the amounts already paid, or reassessment at a lower tariff. She told the ombudsman that her former tenant had refused to pay the arrears, leaving her to shoulder the financial burden for electricity consumed by someone else.

The ombudsman, however, held that the error in recording the readings did not extinguish the consumer's liability to pay for the actual electricity consumed. The revised assessment was based on the meter's downloaded data, the applicable slab-wise tariff and credit for payments already made, the order said.

The TNPDCL informed the ombudsman that the meter was in good working condition and that the error arose solely from the incorrect assessment and recording of readings. It also said the assessor responsible for the error had been placed under suspension and departmental action initiated against the officials concerned.

The department argued that, under the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code, the registered consumer remained liable for the charges, particularly as advance intimation about leasing out the premises had not been given. It had allowed the revised amount to be paid in six monthly instalments.

The ombudsman noted that the CGRF had found that the assessor short-assessed consumption without physically inspecting the premises and had directed the department to take appropriate action against the staff concerned. However, it had rejected the consumer's request for a waiver.

Meanwhile, Look Out Circular (LOC) notices have been issued against five suspects to prevent them from leaving the country, an official release stated.

On Friday, police had detained his daughter, Archana when she attempted to board an international flight. She was questioned about his alleged crimes and the financial transactions that took place to save him from legal action.

Archana was let off later on Friday evening after questioning. She eventually complained of ill health and got admitted to a hospital.

So far, 12 victims have come forward and filed complaints against Veeramani and his associates. The SIT has taken custody of Veeramani and three other associates on Saturday and are questioning them at Peravallur police station, as per court orders.

A week ago, SIT arrested his manager, Sakthivel for aiding him to evade legal action. His role came to light after police teams carried out intensive searches at Veeramani’s house on Lloyds Road, his farmhouse at Kanathur and his office and seized key documents and digital evidence related to the cases.

Before Sakthivel, the SIT had arrested three of his long-time drivers for ferrying minor girls to the houses where they were abused. The arrested persons were identified as Lasar, Parthiban and Babu. Lasar was with Veeramani for 23 years while the two others were employed for eight years.

Another employee, Ganesan was arrested few weeks ago for not alerting the police despite knowing Veeramani’s behaviour.

Veeramani and his associates, Mahendra Simhan (63) and Shanthi (60) have been in prison since August 29. A pendrive with the video was sent to the city police’s ITPU (Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit) in October 2025 and a case was registered on October 7, 2025.

When a closure report was filed by the city police in February 2026 stating that the video was unclear, it was rejected by the special court judge after which police began investigations again.

As per the forecast from the Regional Meteorological Centre, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Thoothukudi districts received rain accompanied by strong winds and lightning from early Sunday morning.

Rain lashed Papanasam, Vikramasingapuram, Panagudi, Manur and surrounding areas, while Palayamkottai, Perumalpuram, Vannarpettai, Town and Thachanallur in Tirunelveli city also received heavy rain. Most people stayed indoors on the weekend holiday. In Manur, a cow died after being struck by lightning.

Inflow into the dams increased thanks to heavy rains in the Western Ghats. The level at Papanasam dam, which has a capacity of 143 feet, rose by a foot to nearly 56 feet. It is receiving 670 cubic feet of water per second. The level at the Servalar dam is 70.37 feet, and at the Manimuthar dam is 63.78 feet.

The Gundar dam, which has a capacity of 36 feet, has crossed 34 feet, with an inflow of 21 cubic feet per second. The level at Kadana dam is 60.50 feet, the Ramanathi dam at 52 feet and the Karuppanathi dam at 48 feet.
As of Sunday morning, Uthu recorded the highest rainfall in Tirunelveli district at 26 mm. Nalumukku recorded 23 mm, Kakkachi 17 mm, Papanasam 16 mm, Manjolai 11 mm, the Kodumudiyar dam area 5 mm, the Servalar dam area 5 mm, Manimuthar 4.20 mm and Radhapuram 3 mm.

In Tenkasi district, Gundar recorded the highest rainfall at 35 mm. Tenkasi and Sengottai recorded 15 mm each, Ramanathi 10 mm, Kadananathi 9 mm and Ayikudi 7 mm. As the flow increased in all the waterfalls at Courtallam and Manimuthar, tourists were barred from bathing there, disappointing many tourists who had arrived for the weekend.

Meanwhile, Thoothukudi remained cloudy from Sunday morning. A sudden heavy downpour around 11 am lasted about 30 minutes, followed by occasional drizzle. Rainwater stagnated in low-lying areas. To alert ships arriving at VOC Port, storm warning cage no. 1 was hoisted. Ships were advised to travel along safe routes, and fishermen who had gone deep-sea fishing were told to return to shore. All fishermen were advised not to venture out until October 29.

Clarifying that the national space agency would not be privatised, Narayanan emphasised that partnering with private firms was essential to meet surging global and domestic demands for thousands of satellites.

“ISRO will handhold startups and private enterprises, transferring technological expertise to foster economic growth and generate thousands of high-tech jobs,” he said while speaking at a graduation ceremony at a private university here on Saturday. “India will expand its space operations significantly with four functional launch pads by 2029, supported by an increasing reliance on private industry partnerships to handle commercial operations.”

He stated that the upcoming Kulasekarapattinam spaceport facility would feature crucial infrastructure such as integration buildings, launch pads, rail-track systems, telemetry, tracking, and command systems. However, he did not elaborate on the other three proposed launch pads.

“ISRO plans to conduct the first uncrewed Gaganyaan test within the next two months, followed by two subsequent uncrewed tests before the crewed mission,” he added. “These tests will evaluate environmental control, safety systems, crew escape mechanisms, and module interiors under varying pressure, temperature, and humidity conditions.”

ISRO has successfully conducted approximately 8,000 ground-based experiments for the mission, and four astronaut-designates are currently undergoing specialised training. Narayanan revealed plans for Chandrayaan-5, a collaborative lunar mission with Japan’s space agency featuring a 350-kg rover designed to conduct 100 days of surface experiments.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had announced in the state assembly that 2X800 MW Supercritical Thermal Power Plant units would be set up at Rs 20,800 crore to replace the aged 5X210 MW Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station.

CRH estimated that power generated at the new coal power plant would cost Rs 8.75 per unit at a 75% plant load factor, rising to Rs 10.40 at 55%. The solar-plus-storage alternative would require 3,490 MW of solar capacity and 9,067 MWh of battery storage, with an estimated capital cost of Rs 27,289 crore, Rs 6,489 crore more than the coal project. However, lower generation costs could offset the additional investment by the second year, the report said. Over five years, it estimated generation costs at Rs 33,965 crore for coal, against Rs 17,581 crore for solar and battery storage.

The report also flagged the financial burden on Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL), estimating fixed-cost payments of about Rs 4,120 crore in the first year of commissioning and nearly Rs 20,000 crore over five years.

Tamil Nadu’s power utilities have accumulated debt of over Rs 2.47 lakh crore, accounting for 77.6% of the state’s public sector debt, according to CRH. It warned that the proposed coal capacity could add to the burden, with borrowing costs ultimately reflected in electricity tariffs.

The report also questioned the project’s compatibility with Tamil Nadu’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and raised concerns over additional pollution in Thoothukudi.

CRH estimated that power generated at the new coal power plant would cost Rs 8.75 per unit at a 75% plant load factor, rising to Rs 10.40 at 55%

“Given the economic situation that Tamil Nadu is in and the clear financial benefits of solar PV and battery storage, it makes no financial sense to build new coal plants to meet growing electricity demand,” said Ashish Fernandes, director of CRH.

CRH said the renewable option’s capital cost could rise to Rs 28,921 crore if viability gap funding for battery storage was unavailable. The estimates are based on assumptions about coal plant utilisation, solar generation and battery costs.

In Chennai, marches were organised at seven locations — Tiruvottiyur, Kolathur, Egmore, Korattur, Ayyappanthangal, Medavakkam and Chromepet. The Egmore procession began near the Ramada Hotel and proceeded towards Rajarathinam Stadium, where a public meeting was scheduled. BJP senior leader Tamilisai Soundararajan attended the event and performed aarti to the saffron flag.

Talking to reporters at Egmore, Tamilisai Soundararajan criticised successive state governments for requiring the RSS to seek judicial intervention and urged the government to recognise it as a service organisation.

She alleged that while "drug abusers and culprits are roaming freely" in the state with "no law and order situation at all," the government ironically cites law and order concerns to deny permission for a peaceful march.

The BJP leader also hit out at political figures, including VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan and CPI(M) leader Shanmugam, accusing them of consistently painting a negative picture of the RSS.

"The true nature of RSS is mispropagated in Tamil Nadu," she said, urging the state government to recognise the RSS as a service organisation and grant permissions voluntarily for its activities in the future.

The remaining marches under the court-approved programme are scheduled for November 1, extending the RSS's centenary observances across the State.

In an announcement, AICTE said that some edtech companies advertise in newspapers, social media and TV, about courses in engineering, technology, management, applied arts and crafts, computer applications and more through conventional, open and distance learning and online modes.

“Such arrangements have no permission from the council,” it added, and advised students, parents and other stakeholders to verify the recognition status of institutions and courses in the AICTE official website. Also, AICTE has clarified that it would not approve any edtech companies that merely collaborated with a university or any educational institution, and entered into a partnership franchise arrangement. “Qualifications from unapproved institutions or programmes will not have the required recognition. Such programmes will not be acceptable for higher studies or jobs where AICTE approval is mandatory,” it stated.

The council has also provided a mechanism for students, parents who have already enrolled in such programmes to file complaints through its official website. The announcement comes amid educational institutions and private companies claiming to have entered into partnership and offering professional courses by using online and distance learning platforms.

The clarification came amid speculation that Dhanush could launch a political party named ‘Tamilaga Ezhuchi Kazhagam’ and allegations by Congress and other political critics that the BJP could be seeking to leverage his potential entry into Tamil Nadu politics.

Speaking to DT Next on condition of anonymity, a key office-bearer of the Dhanush Narpani Iyakkam denied any links with other political parties. “Even if there were any political association, we would not be foolish enough to openly use another party’s election symbol,” the functionary said, dismissing suggestions that the lamps indicated an understanding with the BJP.

The meeting, held at a private college in Semmancheri, was organised as part of efforts to strengthen the organisation’s statewide network. Though scheduled to begin at 11 am, the event commenced only around 3.30 pm, leaving several attendees who had arrived as early as 9 am waiting for hours to meet the actor.

Estimates of the turnout ranged from 3,000 to more than 5,000 women from across Tamil Nadu. Dhanush, dressed in a white shirt and veshti, posed for photographs with the functionaries and distributed silver Kamakshi lamps.

The actor’s address lasted barely a few minutes, falling short of expectations among supporters who had anticipated a more substantive interaction after the prolonged wait. According to attendees, he expressed happiness at meeting them, extended Deepavali wishes, advised them to study well and urged them to return home safely. He also reportedly sang a song.

The meeting comes amid a wider organisational restructuring, with Dhanush’s fan clubs being consolidated under the Narpani Iyakkam and new functionaries reportedly appointed across the State. Dhanush Narpani Iyakkam’s All India president Subramaniya Siva had announced the transition and unveiled its logo at a recent meeting in Coimbatore.

Dhanush’s organisational activities have fuelled speculation about a possible political entry, but he has made no formal announcement on launching a party or contesting elections.

The inflow into the 52-ft-high KRP dam rose to 2,382 cusecs on Sunday, pushing the water level to 48.75 ft. The entire surplus water has been released into Thenpennai river and irrigation channels to ensure the dam's safety. Authorities warned residents along the riverbanks to avoid crossing streams and taking livestock into water bodies.

As heavy rains continued, the police stopped tourists at the foothills of Yercaud in Salem on Sunday and turned back cars and two-wheelers amidst concerns of landslides along the ghat road. However, government and private buses continued to operate on the hill stretch. Salem District Collector K Elambahavath urged tourists to avoid visiting the hill station due to rains.

Meanwhile, heavy rain caused waterlogging in several parts of Krishnagiri town, with rainwater entering more than 10 houses on Nallathambi Street in the Old Town area. Residents struggled to remove water from their homes through the night. The old bus stand and several roads were also inundated. A temporary bridge across a channel at Savuttahalli village was damaged by floodwaters, cutting off road access to a village and forcing residents to take a five km detour.

Rajeswari (42) of Rayakottai was electrocuted after a live power cable snapped and fell on her while she was travelling pillion on a motorcycle during heavy rain.

The rider, Rajan, was injured and taken to hospital.
In Namakkal, a 50-ft stretch of the compound wall at the Collector's bungalow collapsed after heavy rain on Saturday night. Rains in Kolli Hills in Namakkal also triggered landslides and tree falls near the 21st hairpin bend, briefly disrupting traffic.

Salem has 13 of its 14 taluks in the overexploited category, while six of the nine taluks in Thanjavur, a key Cauvery delta district, have crossed the threshold. The findings highlight mounting pressure on groundwater resources used for agriculture, domestic consumption and other needs.

CGWB classifies an area as overexploited when annual groundwater extraction exceeds 100 per cent of the assessed annual resource available for extraction. Areas where extraction is above 90 per cent fall under the critical category.

In Salem, Thalaivasal recorded the highest extraction at 228.6 per cent, followed by Gangavalli at 192.5 per cent, Salem West at 172.3 per cent and Attur at 167.3 per cent.

Mettur, a key location along the Cauvery's course, was also classified as overexploited, with extraction at 119 per cent. Hill station Yercaud was the only taluk in the district not listed in the overexploited category.

The figures indicate that extraction in several taluks has substantially exceeded the assessed annual availability, raising concerns over the long-term sustainability of groundwater supplies and the vulnerability of local water sources to fluctuations in rainfall and recharge.

In Thanjavur, Tiruvidaimarudhur recorded groundwater extraction of 124.8 per cent, followed by Tiruvaiyaru at 110.9 per cent, Kumbakonam at 109.6 per cent and Orathanadu at 108.2 per cent. Papanasam and Pattukkottai were marginally above the threshold at 100.7 per cent and 100.1 per cent, respectively. Thanjavur taluk was classified as critical, with extraction at 92.3 per cent. This classification for an agrarian district is quite significant.

However, the assessment does not establish the extent of groundwater decline in individual wells or identify the specific causes of overexploitation in each taluk.

PR Pandian, general secretary of the Tamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam, told DT Next that around 13 lakh acres of agricultural land in Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Tiruvarur districts depended on the Cauvery, while only around 2.5 lakh acres relied on groundwater.

Cauvery was the primary source of groundwater recharge in the delta, which lacked large lakes capable of supporting recharge on a substantial scale, he said. With a deficit in the southwest monsoon and inadequate Cauvery water releases this year, prospects for Samba cultivation had become uncertain, he added.

Pandian also expressed concern over hydrocarbon exploration by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), which involves drilling to depths of around 10,000 feet in the delta. He alleged that such activities could contribute to concerns over seawater intrusion into groundwater in Nagapattinam district.

He urged the government to implement the Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery project to protect the Delta's agricultural resources and improve water management.

Sundaresh Prasanna Chandran, climate activist and founder of Neer Vazhvu (neervazhvu.org), said Salem's groundwater stress underscored the need to improve access to surface water for irrigation.

Although the Mettur dam is located in Salem district, farmers in several parts of the district do not directly benefit from its water and remain heavily dependent on groundwater, he said, adding that this dependence was among the factors contributing to the high number of overexploited taluks in the district.

Chandran called for immediate measures, including the construction of a new canal to supply water to farmers in Salem. He also urged the government to promote water-efficient agricultural practices, including drip irrigation and the cultivation of crops requiring less water.

With the possibility of a strong El Niño event raising concerns over rainfall patterns and the risk of a dry summer in 2027, the government should act in advance to protect groundwater resources and prevent further depletion, he said.

The assessment underscores the need for district-specific water management measures, including improved groundwater recharge, tighter monitoring of extraction and greater access to sustainable irrigation sources to protect agriculture and long-term water security in Tamil Nadu.

The police identified the deceased as Naganandhini, daughter of Marudhupandi of Sundarapuram. According to the police, Naganandhini, along with her siblings Nagameena (13) and Sakthi Aravind (11), had gone to bathe in the tank near their house. It is said that the children regularly bathed there.

According to the villagers, the local panchayat had recently deepened the tank, and some portions were dug deep. Unaware of this recent infrastructure work carried out by the local panchayat, the children could not sense the sudden depth in those areas, said the police.

As Nagameena and Naganandhini drifted into a deep area, they were unable to keep their balance and began to drown, a police source said.

A shepherd nearby threw a saree towards them. Both caught hold of it, and he pulled them towards the bank with all his strength, but he could save only Nagameena. Sakthi, who was sitting on the shore, shocked by the incident, ran to inform his parents.

The parents and villagers hurried to the tank and searched for Naganandhini but could not save her. Villagers immediately informed the Kamuthi police, who recovered her body and sent it to the Government Hospital at Kamuthi for postmortem. The police have registered a case and are investigating.

Speaking at a family wedding of former minister KKSSR Ramachandran here on Sunday, Leoni invoked the Ramayana to highlight the continuing benefits of welfare schemes introduced by the previous DMK government.

"Just as Lord Ram's sandals ruled Ayodhya, the sandals you left behind are ruling Tamil Nadu today," he said, addressing Stalin.

Leoni cited the KMUT scheme for women, the breakfast scheme for school children and Metro Rail projects to argue that people continued to benefit from initiatives associated with the previous regime.

"People continue to remember you while benefiting from these schemes. In that sense, your sandals are ruling Tamil Nadu," he said.

Turning his attack on the TVK government, Leoni drew a parallel with the Ramayana episode in which Bharata placed Ram's sandals on the throne and governed Ayodhya during his elder brother's 14-year exile.

"Do not mistake the person in power for Bharata. Just as the sandals ruled for 14 years, this government will not last that long. It may survive for 14 weeks or 14 months," he said.

Leoni also expressed confidence that the DMK would bring the TVK government's tenure to an end and return to power, invoking the party's rising-sun (Udhayasuriyan) symbol.

Speaking to reporters in Madurai after attending a wedding, Tagore alleged that the BJP’s various operations over the years, including the present one, 'Plan C', were aimed at creating political turmoil in the State under the direction of the party’s leadership in Delhi.

The BJP’s main target was to capture the AIADMK’s vote bank, as the party’s DNA is strongly associated with cinema, he said.

Tagore said the BJP and RSS had first tried 'Plan A' with AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami and AMMK leader TTV Dinakaran, but the people rejected them. They then tried to persuade actor Rajinikanth to launch a political party, but that did not materialise.

'Plan B’ was former BJP leader K Annamalai, who was given a new mask to leave the party and start an NGO-like movement, he said, adding that his actions and speech, however, remain in line with the BJP’s tone.

Tagore alleged that the current political moves, including the possible entry of another actor, were part of a larger strategy directed from Delhi, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah exercising remote control over political developments in Tamil Nadu.

Reiterating his confidence in the Congress-TVK alliance, he said the Congress, the IUML and the VCK had fought for secularism and social justice for several years, while the relatively young party TVK led by Vijay had gained public acceptance because of the actor’s personal popularity. The alliance is strong and would remain in power for a long time, he asserted.

Teachers said that the existing system of different pass marks based on community has resulted in thousands of candidates narrowly missing the qualifying mark, with at least 10,000 teachers reportedly failing the exam this time by marginal marks.

Teachers’ representatives said that a uniform qualifying mark would ensure fairness for those already working in schools and preparing for the eligibility test while continuing to discharge their teaching responsibilities. They also argued that reservation-based relaxation could be applied to fresh candidates appearing for the regular TET, rather than extending different qualifying thresholds to in-service teachers.

S Neelakandan, Tiruchy district secretary of TN Elementary Teachers Organisations-Joint Action Committee (TETO-JAC), said, “In-service teachers are facing difficulties preparing for the exam alongside their regular work. They have to take classes, complete academic responsibilities and prepare for the TET simultaneously. A uniform pass mark of 60 would be a fair approach for all in-service teachers, regardless of their community. The government should consider their working conditions and provide a level playing field.”

He also stressed for weightage marks for TNTET depending on the tenure of teachers. The demand comes after the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) announced the results of the Special TNTET, with 1.08 lakh candidates qualifying out of more than 2.20 lakh who appeared for the exam conducted in July. The overall pass percentage stood at 49.34%, while more than 1.11 lakh in-service teachers failed to clear the test.

Of the 59,535 candidates who appeared for Paper I, 47,628 qualified. In contrast, only 61,153 of the approximately 1.60 lakh candidates who took Paper II. Consequently, 11,907 candidates failed Paper I, while 99,776 candidates did not qualify in Paper II, highlighting the difficulties faced by graduate teachers.