The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Thoothukudi, registered the case in 2006, when the DMK came to power, alleging that he had accumulated assets worth Rs 2.07 crore disproportionate to his known sources of income. The prosecution alleged that he amassed the wealth between 2001 and 2006, during the AIADMK regime, when he was a minister. He later joined the DMK.

The DVAC booked seven people in this case: Anitha Radhakrishnan, his wife Jeyakanthi, sons Anantha Padmanabhan, Anantha Ramakrishnan and Anantha Maheswaran, and brothers Shanmuganathan and Sivanandathan.

The trial was held before the Thoothukudi principal district court. After examining and cross-examining 108 witnesses, the court heard from Anitha Radhakrishnan and his family, who appeared at about 4 pm on Tuesday.

Judge Suba Devi acquitted all seven accused, observing that the DVAC and the prosecution had failed to establish the charges.

The case, pending for nearly 20 years, has ended with the acquittal of all the accused.

Raghavan alias Kozhikkaran (27), a resident of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camp at Bhavanisagar in Erode, was arrested by Coimbatore police on Monday, two days after he escaped from police custody while being taken to the Coimbatore Central Prison on October 31. After interrogation, he was produced before a court and lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison on Tuesday.

Raghavan, who faces several cases of theft and robbery, had first escaped from the custody of Karnataka police while he was being brought to Annur in Coimbatore a few months ago. After his latest escape, Coimbatore police traced him to a hideout in a forest area in Bhavanisagar and arrested him.

Police inquiries revealed that Raghavan had stolen a two-wheeler parked near the Siddhapudur signal after escaping from the prison premises and rode it to Sathyamangalam, where he took shelter in the forest.

“Fearing that he would be arrested if he returned home, Raghavan met his wife and children at a secluded location. He had planned to take them to Sri Lanka, his native country, and had discussed the plan with friends,” police said.

He had remained in the forest for two days and was exhausted when he was arrested, police added.

According to the protesting members of the Karur Bar Association, a dispute arose between Sathyaseelan, who is involved in a cheating case and Natesan, an advocate representing the victim in the case.

Late on Monday night, Sathyaseelan, along with his supporters, went to advocate Natesan's office and manhandled him, during which Natesan sustained severe head injuries. The injured advocate Natesan was admitted to the Karur Medical College Hospital for treatment. He was later shifted to a private hospital, according to the protestors.

In this backdrop, on Tuesday, members of the Karur Bar Association gathered in front of the district collectorate and staged a protest demanding the arrest of the accused Sathyaseelan and his supporters. Suddenly, the protesting advocates blocked vehicle movement on the Collectorate Road.

Based on the information, Thanthondrimalai police rushed to the spot and held talks with the protesting advocates. Upon assurance by the police, they dispersed from the spot. Traffic was disrupted for an hour due to the agitation. The advocates also announced a boycott of court proceedings on Wednesday if the accused was not arrested.

The northeast monsoon has been bringing rain to Cuddalore district, and it also received widespread rainfall due to Cyclone Arnab, which formed over the Bay of Bengal. Erratic weather is suspected to be one of the reasons.

Meanwhile, chickens raised on farms in several places in Cuddalore district, including Tiruchopuram, Thammanampettai and Kurinjipadi, have been dying suddenly. Farm owners are concerned as batches of chickens raised for sale ahead of the Deepavali festival have been dying in large numbers.

The Cuddalore District Animal Husbandry Department officials were informed about the deaths. Accordingly, a team led by Joint Director Murugavel, along with Assistant Director Vengadalakshmi and other officials, inspected four farms in and around Thammanampettai. They examined the possible reasons for the sudden deaths of the chickens.

He added that weather conditions had been fluctuating between rain and sunshine. The farms were also located in areas prone to waterlogging and near the coast. As a result, humidity levels at the farms had been high, which could also be one of the reasons for the deaths. However, the cause could be confirmed only after the analysis of the test results.

History sheeter hacked to death in Madurai

A notorious history-sheeter was hacked to death by an unidentified gang near Samayanallur in Madurai district in the wee hours on Monday, police said.

The deceased, identified as Surya alias ‘Kuttisaku’, a resident of Sadachiamman Nagar in Samayanallur, had over 10 pending criminal cases against him, including charges of murder and assault. According to the police, the incident occurred when Surya was consuming alcohol at the old panchayat office complex located on the Madurai-Dindigul National

Highway around 2 am. An armed gang confronted him and attacked him with lethal weapons. His face was severely disfigured in the attack, and he died on the spot before the assailants fled the scene.

Upon receiving information, the Samayanallur police rushed to the site, recovered the body, and sent it to the Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Preliminary investigations suggest that prior enmity and retaliation could be the motive behind the murder.

The police have launched an intensive investigation and are currently on the lookout for the absconding gang members, officials added.

VCK man’s murder: DMK cadre among 5 held

Five people, including a DMK functionary, have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a VCK functionary at a petrol pump here, police said on Monday.

The Police apprehended all five suspects within six hours of the incident after reviewing CCTV footage from the fuel station. The deceased, Balamurugan (40), was a former VCK union secretary for Ottapidaram who ran a vegetable shop and worked as a van driver.

According to the police, the murder was the fallout of a dispute over the placement of flex banners on the Sottaiyan Thoppu main road. The fatal attack occurred around 6 am on Sunday. Balamurugan had gone to a fuel outlet on Sethupathi Road to refuel his two-wheeler when a five-member gang arriving on two motorcycles surrounded him. They hacked him with sickles, and he died on the spot.

The Thalamuthunagar police recovered the body and sent it to the Thoothukudi Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Based on a complaint filed by Balamurugan’s wife, Sudha, a case was registered at the Thalamuthunagar police station.

The incident triggered tension in the highly populated area. Hundreds of locals and relatives of the victim staged a road blockade on the Sottaiyan Thoppu main road, disrupting traffic and demanding immediate action against the killers. The protest was withdrawn after senior police officials held talks and assured them of swift arrests. Over 200 police personnel have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.

Woman smuggles 800g gold, held in Coimbatore airport

A woman passenger from Sharjah was arrested for smuggling 808.27 grams of gold, valued at around Rs 1.15 crore, at the Coimbatore International Airport on Monday. Acting on a tip-off, officials of the Customs Intelligence Unit intensified surveillance and screened over 200 passengers. During the checks, they found that the woman had concealed gold in paste form inside her garments. The officials recovered 808.27 grams of gold, valued at approximately Rs 1.15 crore, from her possession. The woman was detained, and the seized gold was confiscated. An investigation is ongoing to ascertain whether others were involved in the smuggling operation.

Ennore: Week after son's arrest in Pocso case, father held for similar offence

Days after his 32-year-old son was arrested for alleged sexual assault on a two-and-a-half-year-old girl child in Ennore, his 61-year-old father was arrested in a similar complaint.

The arrested person was identified as Desingh. He had allegedly behaved inappropriately with a 7-year-old girl in June, according to the police. The police said the two families had earlier tried to resolve the matter through a local community meeting, and no complaint was filed at that time.

The matter came to light again after the accused's son was taken into custody last week in a separate case registered under the Pocso Act concerning a toddler from the same locality.

Following the recent arrest of his son, the mother of the 7-year-old survivor approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. Based on her complaint, Ennore police registered a case and arrested Desingh on Saturday. He was produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.

Earlier, Desingh's son, Ranjithkumar, was arrested on October 26 after he allegedly lured a child to his house twice last week and had allegedly sexually abused her.

63-yr-old woman killed as tanker rams bike near Pallikaranai

A 63-year-old woman died on the spot, and her husband was injured after a private water tanker hit their two-wheeler from behind near Pallikaranai on Saturday.

The victim was identified as Indumathi (63) of Radha Nagar, Perumbakkam. She was riding pillion with her husband Balachandar (67).

According to the Pallikaranai Traffic Investigation Wing, the couple was heading home on Velachery Main Road when the tanker rammed their bike near Mayilai Balaji Nagar.

Due to the impact, both fell on the road. Indumathi was run over by the tanker and suffered fatal injuries. Balachandar escaped with minor injuries.

Residents rushed them to a nearby private hospital, where Indumathi was declared brought dead. The police sent the body to Tambaram Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. The police registered a case and arrested the driver, Chinnarasu (31) of Tiruvarur

5 held for circulating counterfeit notes in Vellore

The Vellore police arrested five people for circulating counterfeit currency notes.

Rafiq Ahmed (46) of Gudiyatham had paid for a Flipkart delivery using two counterfeit Rs 500 notes.

The delivery agent tipped off the police, and Rafiq was arrested. He told the police he acquired the notes from Zubair Ahmed (52), who in turn revealed that Gopal (47) and Kamaraj (48) were his suppliers.

The duo named Babu (65) as their supplier. Further probe revealed that Babu had been arrested in counterfeit currency cases in West Bengal around 10 years ago and had served a prison term.

Police have seized counterfeit currency notes worth Rs 1.50 lakh and are Babu's connections in West Bengal.

Chennai: 26-year-old Siddha medical student dies by suicide

A 26-year-old postgraduate Siddha medical student dies by suicide at the girls hostel of the National Institute of Siddha in Tambaram on Thursday. The deceased was identified as T Shenbagavalli, who was pursuing her third year of postgraduate Siddha medicine at the institute and was staying at the college hostel along with two other students.

Police said that Shenbagavalli was also preparing for central government recruitment examinations. The question papers were difficult, and she was worried about whether she would clear the exam and secure a government job.

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12-year-old FSC detainee accused of sexually abusing infant in Tiruchy

 A 12-year-old Bangladeshi boy, lodged as an alleged illegal immigrant at the Foreigners Special Camp (FSC) in Tiruchy, has been accused of sexually abusing a one-year-old girl inside the facility.

Sources in the Centre said the incident occurred because the boy, who should have been housed in the men’s block, was instead allowed to stay with his mother in the women’s block. The child he allegedly abused belongs to another Bangladeshi family lodged in the women’s block, they said.

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Thanjavur: 3-yr-old girl sexually abused; mother, lover held

Thanjavur police arrested a man for sexually abusing a three-year-old child.

The police also arrested the child’s mother for supporting the accused on Friday. Yogaraj (32), a collection agent in a finance firm in Kumbakonam, had an extramarital affair with a 24-year-old woman whose husband was said to be working abroad.

On October 26, Yogaraj, who went to the woman’s house, had reportedly sexually abused the woman's three-year-old child. Yogaraj had also bitten the baby in several places.

When neighbours inquired about it, the mother gave an evasive response. Based on the alert, the Natchiyarkoil police found that the child was sexually abused and arrested Yogaraj and the baby’s mother.

Tamil Nadu: 3 assault cop and HG personnel, held

A gang of three arrested for attacking a policeman and a home guard personnel after being warned against consuming alcohol in a public place in Ariyalur in the wee hours of Friday.

When Raja Kannan (37), a policeman from Thalavai station near Sendurai, along with home guard personnel Venkatesan (47), were on routine patrol in the late hours of Thursday, a gang of three were consuming alcohol at a shed along the main road.

Both personnel urged them to leave the spot immediately. However, they picked up a quarrel and hurled abusive words at the personnel.

Soon, the police constable Raja Kannan contacted the Thalavai police station and passed on the information. Suddenly, the trio attacked the duo and escaped.

However, the police secured the trio, identified as Mathivanan, Thamaraikannan and Elamparithi, all from Silappanur village.

Tiruchy: 3 held in separate ganja peddling cases

Three persons, including a woman, were arrested for peddling ganja across Tiruchy City.

Based on a tip-off, the City Commissioner of Police Rupesh Kumar Meena ordered an elaborate raid across the city.

When a team from E-Pudhur police were searching at Panjapur, they found one Pavithran (22) from Ramji Nagar selling ganja.

Soon, the police arrested him and seized ganja packs. Similarly, another team found Sakthivel (24) from Ramji Nagar selling ganja in Rettamalai and arrested him.

A 35-year-old woman selling ganja was arrested from a house in Ariyamangalam.

Jewellery dealer cheated of 7.3 kg gold; man arrested in Triplicane

A 30-year-old man was arrested for allegedly cheating a jewellery dealer of 7.30 kg of gold ornaments worth several crores of rupees in Triplicane.

The accused, Masook Jain of Vepery, was arrested by the Triplicane police on Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody.

According to the police, the complainant, Seerak (25), runs a jewellery shop and workshop on Irulappan Street in Sowcarpet. Jain had reportedly been collecting gold ornaments from him on a commission basis, claiming that he would sell them to jewellery shops operated by his contacts.

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Chennai man, Bangladeshi mother-in-law held for serial robberies

Thanjavur police arrested a Chennai man and his Bangladeshi mother-in-law for stealing 30 sovereigns of gold jewellery from a house. The duo were habitual offenders involved in a series of theft cases across the state, targeting houses locked for a long period.

On October 23, K Karthi, who runs a finance firm at Pillayarpatti near Tiruvidaimaruthur in Thanjavur, returned home in the evening after work, and he found the front door of his house broken and 30 sovereigns, 250-gram silver articles and Rs 2.50 lakh cash were missing. A complaint was filed.

During a vehicle check, on suspicion, the police secured B Gunasekar (40) from Choolaimedu in Chennai and his mother-in-law Hannah Begam (59) from Bangladesh. The probe found that the duo had been involved in the robbery at Karthi's house, and valuables were recovered. The duo was lodged in prison.

Further investigation revealed that Gunasekaran had befriended Hannah Begum's daughter on social media and managed to go to Bangladesh illegally and married her. He returned with his mother-in-law and they targeted several locked houses in a similar manner in Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Tiruchy.

Villupuram man strangles 14-year-old daughter to death for having a relationship

A 14-year-old Class 10 student was allegedly strangled to death by her father following an argument over her relationship with a young man in Villupuram district's Vanur on Thursday night (October 29).

According to a Maalaimalar report, the accused, identified as Sivasastri (40), a lorry driver, later surrendered before the Vanur police and was arrested.

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Poverty drives Panruti woman to sell newborn boy for Rs 4.5 lakh; auto driver arrested

A three-day-old baby boy allegedly sold for Rs 4.5 lakh by his mother, who was struggling with poverty, was rescued by the police from a woman in Tiruchy.

An auto driver, identified as Zafar Khan (41), who allegedly acted as a middleman in the transaction, has been arrested.

Fatima (30), from Thattanchavady near Panruti, gave birth to the boy at the Panruti Government Hospital on October 19. Already having two daughters and living separately from her husband, she reportedly struggled to raise the children.

Taking advantage of Fatima's financial difficulties, Zafar Khan, an auto driver from Panruti, allegedly persuaded her to sell the baby. Through him, the child was handed over to Renuka Devi of Tiruchy for Rs 4.5 lakh on October 22.

Zafar Khan allegedly took a major portion of the money, leaving Fatima with only a small amount. This led to a dispute between the two. Fatima later asked Renuka Devi to return the baby. However, Renuka Devi allegedly refused.

Fatima subsequently lodged a complaint at the Panruti police station on October 28. The police registered a case and formed a special team, which went to Tiruchy, rescued the baby from Renuka Devi and safely handed him over to Fatima. The police have arrested Zafar Khan in connection with the case.

Two arrested in separate Pocso cases in Ambattur, Guduvanchery

Two men were arrested and remanded in judicial custody on Thursday in separate cases involving the alleged sexual assault of minor girls in Ambattur and Guduvanchery.

In the first case, the Ambattur All-Women Police arrested Mohammad Rafeeq alias Sarphul Dewan (40), a native of Jharkhand, for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl who had gone to a mosque to attend Quran classes.

According to the complaint lodged by the girl’s father, the accused had assaulted the child while she was returning from the mosque after her classes. The girl later informed her parents, who approached the police.

In the second case, Kilambakkam All-Women Police arrested Manoharan (50), a financier, for sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl at her house near Guduvanchery in Chengalpattu. Police said Manoharan, a resident of Thailavaram, runs a small chit fund business.

On October 24, he visited the house, located two streets away from his residence, to collect money. The child was alone at the time, and he sexually assaulted her. Following a complaint from her parents, police registered a case, arrested Manoharan and produced him before a Chengalpattu court, which remanded him in judicial custody.

20-year-old son beats woman to death after quarrel in Dharmapuri

A 20-year-old construction worker, who was released on bail three days ago, beat his mother to death with an iron rod following a quarrel at their house in Dharmapuri district on Thursday night.

The police identified the accused as Devaraj of Old Indur village. Earlier on August 3, the Indur police had arrested him for creating a public nuisance while wearing a police cap and brandishing a knife. He had chased passers-by on the road and attempted to attack a man identified as Veeramani, according to the police. After a complaint, police arrested him and remanded him in judicial custody at Salem Central Prison. On October 28, he secured bail and returned home.

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Villupuram man argues with wife, then throws six-year-old son into well; arrested

A 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly throwing his six-year-old son into an agricultural well following an argument with his wife over money near Senji in Villupuram district.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased boy, identified as Sanjay, was the couple's only son. His father, Selvaraj, allegedly threw him into a well behind the government hospital in the area after a prolonged argument with his wife, Devi, over the spending of borrowed money.

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Two arrested for murdering 19-year-old, burying body near Pulicat

Two men from Cuddalore were arrested for murdering a 19-year-old youth at Thirupalaivanam near Ponneri and burying his body on Sathankuppam beach near Pulicat. The arrested men were identified as G Dinesh (23) and S Devarasu (18), both from Siruvathur village in Cuddalore.

The body was exhumed on Friday following their confession, police said. The deceased, Prashanth (19), was working as a tile layer along with his maternal uncle Ramesh in Cuddalore. He is the son of Ezhilarasi, a domestic help working at actor Radhika Sarathkumar’s house in Chennai.

On October 27, Prashanth informed his uncle that he was travelling to Chennai to meet his mother. The following day he went missing. Based on a complaint lodged by Ramesh, Cuddalore police registered a missing person case and launched an investigation.

During the probe, police found that Prashanth was in a relationship with Devarasu’s wife. During interrogation, the accused confessed to assaulting Prashanth to death at Thirupalaivanam before burying his body at Sathankuppam beach near Pulicat.

Following the confession, Cuddalore police, with the assistance of Thirupalaivanam police, exhumed the body on Friday. It was subsequently sent to the Ponneri GH for a postmortem examination.

Kancheepuram: Three, including school student, killed in accident

CHENNAI: Three people, including a school student, were killed and three other school students injured in two separate road accidents in Kancheepuram district on Wednesday night.

In the first incident, four school students — Sanjay (16), Joshua (15), Jaswanth (14) and Chandru (14) from Echur near Sriperumbudur — were travelling on a bike towards Panrutti near Sunguvarchatram on Wednesday night. 

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Rashly driven MTC bus kills woman on way to hospital near Puzhal

CHENNAI: A 49-year-old woman who was on her way to a hospital for a health check-up was killed in a road accident at Kathirvedu near Puzhal on Wednesday after a rashly driven MTC bus hit the two-wheeler she was travelling on.

The deceased woman was identified as K Savithri, a resident of Sholavaram. On Wednesday, Savithri, along with her husband, Kumar, were on their way to a hospital, police said.

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22-yr jail for kidnap, assault of minor

CHENNAI: The Tiruvallur Pocso court on Wednesday sentenced a 22-year-old man to 22 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2018. Police said that the incident occurred on Dec 28, 2018.

The accused, Peter (aged 21 at the time) lured a 13-year-old girl on the pretext of marrying her and sexually assaulted her. Based on a complaint from the victim’s mother, a case was registered at the All Women Police Station, and the accused was arrested and remanded. After investigation, a charge sheet was filed before the Pocso Court.

Retired Warden killed inside CSI school in Sivaganga

A woman was murdered by unidentified persons who allegedly broke into her house inside the premises of the CSI School in Manamadurai, Sivaganga district, on Thursday evening. Vasantha Mallika, wife of Easwaran, was killed, and the assailant snatched the jewellery she was wearing before fleeing the scene. The incident occurred while the school was functioning. The deceased had worked as a warden at the school. The incident came to light only after her husband found her dead upon his return home. Sivaganga Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta inspected the spot. Further probe is under way.

5-member armed gang robs car dealer of Rs 1 crore in Erode

A five-member armed gang robbed a used-car dealer of Rs one crore at knifepoint near Perundurai in Erode on Thursday.

The police said Arun Kumar (55) of Rajendra Prasad Street in Perundurai was engaged in the used-car business and was also overseeing the construction of a temple on a 55-cent plot on Kanjikovil Road through receiving donations.

The police said a businessman from Tirupur had donated Rs one crore towards the temple's construction. On learning about the cash, some unidentified persons contacted Arun Kumar over the phone and offered to give him Rs 1.15 crore through online transfer in exchange for Rs one crore in cash.

Tempted by the prospect of making an additional Rs 15 lakh, Arun agreed to the deal and asked them to come to Perundurai. “Arun Kumar was counting the cash using a currency-counting machine at a house on Kanjikovil Road when five men arrived armed with knives and iron pipes on Thursday. When he attempted to raise an alarm, the gang threatened to stab him to death. The assailants then fled with the Rs one crore kept in a suitcase,” the police said.

Following the robbery, Arun Kumar lodged a complaint with the Perundurai police, who registered a case and special teams have launched a search for the accused.

Theni jailbreak: Last four inmates nabbed, all 17 back in custody

The police on Wednesday recaptured four more inmates, bringing all 17 inmates who escaped from the Theni District Jail on Monday night after assaulting three prison staff back into custody. The inmates had pretended that one of them was suffering from an epileptic seizure to trap the guards and carry out their escape plan.

On Wednesday morning, around 100 police personnel intensified their search in the Amachiyapuram hills to trace four inmates: Rejin from Kanyakumari, and Tirupathi, Meenatchisundram and Ponmuthuselvam from Madurai.

The police team recaptured Rejin and Ponmuthuselvam from the hills. The other two, Tirupathi and Meenatchisundram, who are brothers, allegedly fled after learning that police had entered the area where they were hiding. They allegedly assaulted a motorist who was passing by on a motorcycle, seized his bike and escaped, a police source said.

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Trio snatches gold chain from home alone woman

An unidentified trio robbed a home alone woman of a 2.5-sovereign gold chain in Tiruchy on Wednesday after gaining entry into the house and locking it from inside.

The victim, a 41-year-old woman, lived alone in KK Nagar and works as a domestic helper. On Monday evening, while the woman was cooking, three unidentified persons had reportedly gained entry into the house and locked the doors from inside.

On seeing them, the woman raised an alarm, but one of them gagged her. They snatched her 2.5-sovereign gold chain and fled. She immediately ran out of the house, raising an alarm, but the trio had escaped. She lodged a complaint with the KK Nagar police, who registered a case and are searching for the culprits.

Thanjavur ganja peddler nabbed in Ariyalur

A notorious peddler from Thanjavur was arrested in Ariyalur while attempting to smuggle ganja from Odisha on Wednesday evening.

A police team led by Jayankondam inspector Balaji conducted a vehicle check following a tip-off and suspected a youth, who fled. After a chase, the man was caught and identified as R Shanmuga Ganapathi (29) of East Street, Thanjavur.

They found 6 kg of ganja concealed in his belongings and arrested him. Further probe revealed that the accused sold to regular customers in the neighbouring districts and procured the contraband from Odisha. He faces several pending cases in Thanjavur.

Two murdered in Otteri, Avadi

Two people were murdered in separate incidents in Chennai and Avadi on Tuesday night. In one incident in Otteri, an elderly man was beaten to death after an argument with a neighbour.

The deceased has been identified as S Ponnurangam (69), a resident of Rettaimalai Srinivasan Street in Otteri. Police said there was an existing enmity between Ponnurangam’s family and the family of his neighbour, Subramani.

A few days ago, Ponnurangam’s daughter-in-law was cleaning the entrance of their house when Subramani’s sons – Sathish (27) and Santhosh (25) – allegedly spat near the spot, which triggered an argument between the two families. On Tuesday night, an argument broke out between Ponnurangam’s son Kandhan and Sathish and Santhosh.

Hearing the commotion, Ponnurangam came out of the house and reprimanded the brothers after which they attacked him and pushed him to the ground. Ponnurangam was severely injured, and collapsed after which he was rescued and rushed him to the Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital.

Doctors who examined him declared him brought dead. The Otteri police have registered a case and are searching for the duo, who fled after the incident.

In another incident in Thirumullaivoyal in Avadi city police limits, a 30-year-old man was hacked to death by his friend during a drinking session in the victim’s house on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Gokul.

Police said that Gokul and the accused, Rajesh (25) lived in the same neighbourhood and would argue often. On Tuesday, Rajesh made fun of Gokul, which had infuriated him and both of them argued and left.

The same night, the duo gathered again for a drink when Gokul questioned Rajesh about his comments and took a knife from the kitchen and attempted to attack him. Rajesh dodged the attacks, managed to retrieve the weapon from Gokul and stabbed him to death. On information, Thirumullaivoyal Police arrested Rajesh.

Man arrested for kidnap, murder of a Chennai woman

A 45-year-old man was arrested for kidnapping and murdering a woman from Aminjikarai and dumping her body in a farm well in Sirunagalur village near Melmaruvathur in Chengalpattu district.

Police said the murdered woman had failed to repay the loan which she had borrowed from him. The deceased was identified as Manimegalai (41), wife of Gurunathan, and a resident of Aminjikarai in Chennai.

Two days ago, the body of an unidentified woman with a slit throat was found in a private farm well in Sirunagalur village near Melmaruvathur. The Melmaruvathur police recovered the body and sent it to the Chengalpattu GH for a postmortem.

During the investigation, the police found that Manimegalai had borrowed money at interest from Jani Anbu Das (45), a resident of Egmore. He had allegedly threatened to kidnap her when she failed to repay the loan.

A special police team from Melmaruvathur detained Das for questioning. During interrogation, he confessed to kidnapping Manimegalai and murdering her by slitting her throat over the unpaid debt. Police said that the accused also allegedly removed the gold earrings and silver anklets worn by the woman, along with her mobile phone, before dumping her body in the farm well and escaping from the spot.

Following that, the Melmaruvathur police arrested Das for the murder, and he was remanded to judicial custody and sent to Puzhal prison.

Kanniyakumari: Four arrested for murdering panchayat staffer after he refused to steal lotuses from ponds

Four people, including Cyrus (32), have been arrested for allegedly murdering Kavin (27), a temporary electrician with the Alagappapuram Panchayat, after he refused to help them steal lotus flowers from local ponds, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

According to the police, Cyrus, a resident of Alagappapuram, had been illegally cultivating lotus flowers in ponds in the area. He allegedly asked Kavin, who hailed from Achankulam near Kottaram, to switch off the lights to facilitate the theft. Kavin’s refusal reportedly led to a dispute, following which Cyrus allegedly plotted to kill him.

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Man hacked to death by friend following argument in Thoothukudi market

A man was allegedly hacked to death with an axe by his friend following an argument at a daily market in Tittangulam near Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district in the early hours of Tuesday (October 27).

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased, identified as Kaliraj, was employed as a load lifter at a private daily market in the area. According to the available information, Kaliraj and his friends were talking at the market premises when a light-hearted exchange of jokes and teasing reportedly escalated into an argument. One of his friends, identified as Ayodhya, allegedly attacked him with an axe, killing him on the spot.

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Newborn rescued from pvt clinic toilet succumbs, cops mull altering case to murder

A newborn girl rescued from a private clinic's toilet succumbed on Tuesday. Police are contemplating altering the case based on postmortem findings.

A 19-year-old girl who was in a relationship with a lorry driver went to a private clinic on October 24 after experiencing labour pains. Despite her parents' knowledge of her pregnancy, she went alone.

She told the clinic staff that she had diarrhoea and locked herself in the toilet for nearly two hours. When the staff checked in on her, they found she had given birth there and shifted both of them to Government Stanley Hospital.

The girl is undergoing treatment; however, the newborn succumbed and was taken for autopsy. The reports indicated injuries, following which officials are considering altering the case to murder. The girl has not been arrested yet. The lorry driver has married another woman. Further probe is ongoing.

Woman arrested for allegedly setting husband on fire after domestic quarrel in Virudhunagar

VIRUDHUNAGAR: A 35-year-old construction worker, Shankar Guru, died after his wife, Sankareswari, allegedly poured kerosene on him and set him on fire following a domestic quarrel at their house in VVR Colony in Allampatti, Virudhunagar, in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to police, Shankar Guru frequently returned home intoxicated and quarrelled with his wife. The couple had divorced in 2022 but later reunited and resumed living together.

On Monday night, Shankar Guru returned home after consuming alcohol and picked up a quarrel with Sankareswari in the early hours of Tuesday. In a fit of anger, Sankareswari allegedly poured kerosene on her husband and set him on fire, said the police source. She subsequently surrendered at the nearby Virudhunagar East police station.

The police recovered Shankar Guru's body and sent it to the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Virudhunagar SP Gautham Goyal conducted an inquiry.

History sheeter hacked to death in Indira Nagar

Chennai: A 22-year-old history sheeter was murdered in broad daylight in Adyar's Indira Nagar on Tuesday. The police identified the victim as Maithreyan, originally from Mylapore and currently residing in Tiruvanmiyur.

According to officials, Maithreyan was listed as a C-category history sheeter with multiple criminal cases. Last week, he had secured bail in a case with a condition to report at Mylapore police station every day. Around 11 am on Tuesday, he was returning from the station in his autorickshaw when he was intercepted by a gang.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Missing 7-year-old found dead in Madurai's abandoned house

A seven-year-old boy who went missing while playing near his house at Thaniyamangalam near Melur in Madurai district yesterday was found dead in an abandoned house nearby on Monday.

The deceased, Muthuchelvan, a Class 3 student, had left home around 11 am on Sunday to play and did not return. His relatives and villagers searched for him with police assistance. Police recovered the body and sent it to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for a post-mortem examination. Senior police officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

College student killed in clash over wastewater

A 20-year-old college student was hacked to death on Sunday night following a clash between two families over wastewater flowing in front of their houses at Alwarkarkulam near Srivaikuntam in Thoothukudi district.

The deceased, Isakkiraja, son of Mariappan, was a second-year student at an arts and science college near Srivaikuntam. The families of Mariappan and Sundararajan had reportedly been at loggerheads for a long time over the issue, the police said.

During an argument on Sunday night, both parties took to weapons and Isakkiraja was killed during the clash. The police have booked over 10 people in the issue.

Man held after pregnant wife dies by suicide in Otteri

Police have arrested a man on charges of abetment to suicide after the death of his pregnant wife in Otteri. The arrested man was identified as Santhosh (29), who worked in a mobile phone accessories shop.

Santhosh had married Kokila (26) on March 6 this year after being in a relationship with her. The couple lived in a rented house in Pudhu Vazhai Nagar.

Police said differences had developed between them within months of their marriage and the duo had frequent arguments. The couple had an argument on Saturday too after which Santhosh left the house. Kokila had video-called Santhosh on Saturday night and threatened to kill herself.

When Santhosh reached the house, he found her unconscious and rushed her to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Doctors declared her brought dead after which Otteri Police rescued her and sent the body for a postmortem. 

Meanwhile, Kokila’s family filed a complaint alleging that she had been subjected to dowry harassment by Santhosh’s family and protested demanding his arrest.

After investigations, police arrested Santhosh. As the couple had been married for less than a year, the police have recommended an RDO inquiry.

Man held for sexual assault of toddler in Ennore

Avadi City Police on Monday arrested a 32-year-old man for sexually assaulting a two-and-half-year-old girl child in Ennore. The arrested person was identified as D Ranjithkumar, a fisherman, a neighbour of the victim.

Police said that he was separated from his wife and lives alone, and that he had lured the child to his house twice last week and had sexually abused her.

The child’s parents, who noticed injuries on her body, took her to the Institute of Child Health in Egmore. The incident came to light on October 23, when doctors examining the child suspected sexual abuse and alerted the authorities. 

Based on the information received from the hospital and a complaint filed by the child’s mother, the Ennore All Women Police Station registered a case and launched an investigation on the same day. After investigations, Police arrested the accused under the Pocso Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences).

The child is undergoing treatment. The accused was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. 

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

As part of the initiative, Vijay handed over Rs 1,110 crore in bank credit assistance to 9,000 SHGs at the function organised by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women under the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department.

So far, the government has facilitated bank-linked credit of Rs 2,62,311 crore to 5.23 lakh SHGs, comprising 60 lakh women. The State Budget for 2026-27 targets extending bank credit worth Rs 38,000 crore to 4,18,673 SHGs. Of this, the government has already extended Rs 16,560 crore to 1,70,624 SHGs.

The Chief Minister visited an exhibition showcasing products manufactured by SHG members under the theme 'One Root, Many Businesses' and a photo exhibition tracing the success stories of women’s self-help groups.

A group from Tirunelveli presented him with a portrait woven on a traditional Pathamadai mat, while a women's group from Kallakurichi gifted him a wooden sculpture of his portrait. Members of a SHG from Chennimalai presented another portrait of the Chief Minister woven into fabric using traditional handloom techniques. A group from the Nilgiris served him traditional tea. Vijay paid the groups for the gifts and products they presented.

Earlier, the Chief Minister held a 12-km roadshow from Vijayamangalam to the function venue, drawing large crowds along the route.

On his way back to Coimbatore International Airport, Vijay made a surprise inspection at the Karumathampatti police station near Coimbatore. Additional Director-General of Police TS Anbu, West Zone Inspector-General of Police RV Ramya Bharathi and Coimbatore Superintendent of Police A Pavan Kumar Reddy accompanied him.

The Chief Minister enquired with Inspector Navaneethakrishnan about the station's functioning and jurisdiction. He reviewed the status of complaints, inspected the lock-up room and instructed the inspector to ensure prompt investigation and appropriate action in cases involving crimes against women and children.

Kamali said the Animal Husbandry Department was conducting a detailed investigation into successive poultry deaths reported at farms in Thammanampettai village under Thiyagavalli panchayat in Kurinjipadi taluk.

Samples collected from the affected farms were sent for laboratory analysis. According to the report from the Poultry Disease Research Laboratory in Namakkal, LPAI infection had been ruled out. However, the results of tests to determine whether the poultry feed contained toxic substances were awaited.

The department has stepped up disease surveillance in the affected areas and initiated preventive measures, including the safe disposal of dead birds in accordance with prescribed protocols, disinfection of poultry farms and enforcement of biosecurity measures.

Kamali said the department was taking all necessary steps to contain further poultry deaths, prevent the spread of any infection and safeguard the livelihoods of poultry farmers.

Appealing to poultry farm owners and the public not to panic, she urged them to follow the precautionary advisories issued by the department and extend their cooperation to officials. The cause of the poultry deaths remains undetermined, with the outcome of the feed analysis expected to provide further clarity.

In a statement, Palaniswami said the government had announced that it would procure onions from northern states and sell them at subsidised rates through fair price shops to contain the sharp rise in market prices.

He alleged that a goods train had transported around 250 tonnes of onions procured last week to Chennai and kept them at a warehouse in Korukkupet for distribution to other districts. However, the onions had not been unloaded from the lorries for three days and were allegedly going to waste. He said 10 lorries carrying the onions had remained stranded at the location, resulting in the wastage of public money.

Raising another concern over onion procurement, Palaniswami alleged that 450 tonnes of onions procured in the fourth phase through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) had gone unaccounted for.

He said reports indicated the State government refused to accept the consignment, citing poor quality, while NAFED maintained the stock had not been returned to it. "Where have the 450 tonnes of onions brought to Tamil Nadu gone?" he asked.

Accusing the government of functioning in confusion and showing a lack of seriousness in handling the price rise of essential commodities, Palaniswami said public welfare and taxpayers' money could not be treated casually.

"Is this a cinema where one can simply say 'cut' if a take goes wrong and move on to the next take?" he asked, urging the government to implement measures to control prices with greater care and accountability.

He condemned what he described as the government's lethargic approach to handling essential commodities.

Taking a swipe at the Chief Minister, the party accused him of relying on social media reels and using preventive action as a pretext to arrest political functionaries. It termed the arrest highly condemnable and alleged that the change in government had made little difference to the treatment meted out to opposition party workers.

Questioning the police action, the AIADMK said officers quickly arrested a party functionary for his social media activity but failed to rein in ruling party supporters allegedly creating disturbances in front of the Chief Minister's convoy.

The party accused the TVK government of adopting the very practices it had condemned while in opposition and alleged the arrest was aimed at muzzling political voices. It urged the government to release Senapathy immediately.

The true measure of a police force was not how it treated eminent personalities when the press was watching, but how it treated ordinary citizens when nobody was watching, Justice N Ramesh said. He noted that the handling of political speech, including the case before him — the anticipatory bail petition filed by DMK councillor D Sudha — had to be assessed against this standard.

Referring to the recent detention of A Kalaiyarasan, associate professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, the judge said the incident highlighted serious concerns over the handling of complaints involving political speech.

Kalaiyarasan was picked up from his residence around 5 am by plainclothes policemen over an abusive social media comment targeting a ruling party legislator. The account, which carried Kalaiyarasan's photograph, was subsequently found to be fake. He was released the same day, after which Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay received him at the Secretariat. A minister also publicly acknowledged the lapse.

Clarifying that the incident was not before him and that he was not making any findings on it, the judge said the manner in which the detention was done raised many questions that remained unanswered despite the subsequent apology and intervention.

He asked what verification had been carried out before plainclothes cops were sent to a citizen's residence at dawn and what action had been taken against those responsible. An apology, however high its source, does not amount to accountability, he observed, adding that a remedy dependent on the Chief Minister's personal intervention could not be considered a remedy.

The judge also pointed out that Kalaiyarasan's prominence helped secure his release within hours and an audience with the Chief Minister. However, an ordinary citizen without access to power, detained on the basis of a similar mistaken complaint, could face police custody, remand and prolonged legal proceedings before the authenticity of the social media account was even questioned, he observed.

A division bench comprising Justices N Sathish Kumar and GK Muthukumaar, which is hearing cases relating to forest and environmental issues, passed the directive after considering a status report filed by the Erode District Collector.

According to the report, a total of 87 resorts are functioning within the area, and none of them has a planning permission or building approval from the directorate of town and country planning to establish or operate a resort. Further, there are no records to show that permission had been obtained from the Hill Area Conservation Authority (HACA) for converting the land use from residential to commercial purposes.

The bench observed that immediate action should be taken to close down all the illegal buildings and that further steps should be initiated for their demolition. The petitioner's counsel also brought to the court's notice that some resorts continued to operate through the backdoor even after their closure.

Taking note of the submission, the bench directed that resorts found to be operating without valid licences and permissions should be proceeded against, locked and sealed in accordance with law, followed by demolition.

The bench directed the authorities to file a status report and adjourned the matter to November 27.

In the writ appeal challenging the restrictions on sleeping hours in reserved coaches, S Balasubramanian said when he was travelling with his unwell wife, she was not permitted to use the sleeping berth beyond the prescribed hours despite her illness.

He challenged the railway rule restricting sleeping accommodation to between 10 pm and 6 am as unconstitutional, and contended that the safeguards provided for sick persons, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women were ineffective, as his request to co-passengers to allow his wife to continue sleeping was not heeded.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan observed that the restriction was intended to ensure that all valid ticket holders could travel comfortably, as passengers allotted middle and upper berths required seating space during the day. The rule also permits sick persons, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women to sleep beyond the prescribed hours, while requesting co-passengers to cooperate.

A solitary instance in which co-passengers declined to extend the sleeping hours for the appellant's unwell wife could not justify invalidating a rule designed to serve the broader public interest, the court observed.

The court further said that the appellant could have approached the onboard railway staff, the Railway Protection Force, or officials at the next station instead of challenging the restrictions as unconstitutional.

"This challenge is entirely baseless and misplaced. We find no error in the order of the learned Single Judge dismissing the writ petition, " the court held.

However, the court clarified that passengers facing difficulties could report them to railway officials, who were bound to ensure that the safeguards for sick persons, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women were properly enforced.

The order comes on a plea filed by social activist SMA Pon Gandhimathinathan of the district after officials failed to act on his representation to the state government.

The plea stems from the accident on May 17, 2025, in which five people, including an 18-month-old child, died when a vehicle plunged into an unprotected roadside well on the Meerankulam-Chinthamani road, prompting the activist to approach the court.

Petitioner’s counsel PR Priya Dharshini told the court that, ironically, the accident occurred after the petitioner had submitted a representation to the state government earlier that month. The representation highlighted violations of a Supreme Court order and a July 2023 direction from the Chief Secretary asking all district collectors to identify abandoned open wells, borewells and quarry pits and ensure safety measures in place to prevent fatal accidents.

It also pointed out that the number of such uncovered and unprotected wells and pits had been rising in the district in recent years. Besides human beings, cattle and other animals also risk falling into them, causing avoidable deaths, the counsel noted.

She also pointed out that the Supreme Court issued detailed guidelines in August 2010 to prevent fatal accidents. The guidelines required authorities at the district, block, village and municipal corporation levels to assess the status of borewells and tube wells and fill them up to ground level.

After hearing, the division bench of Justices P Velmurugan and KK Ramakrishnan observed that village administrative officers would have acted had higher officials informed them. The court then directed the authorities to close the wells and pits in the district and file a compliance report within six weeks.

Tarachand owns a private jewellery shop in Padappai. Kesavan (60) and Pandieswari (55), visited the jewellery shop pretending to be a married couple and expressed interest in purchasing gold ornaments.

While checking various ornaments, including earrings, Kesavan attempted to hide a pair of earrings inside his lungi. However, Tarachand noticed his suspicious movement and called him out. Kesavan dropped the earrings that he had hidden in his clothes. The entire incident was captured on the shop’s CCTV cameras.

When the staff attempted to catch the duo, they tried to escape but were caught and detained in the shop. The shop owner subsequently alerted the Padappai police, who rushed to the spot and took the duo for questioning.

During interrogation, police found that the duo had visited jewellery shops in Padappai, Tambaram and other surrounding areas, pretending to purchase ornaments before attempting to steal them. Police sources said the two were natives of Ramanathapuram and had been staying in Koyambedu.

They are also suspected to be involved in similar theft cases reported at jewellery shops in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu. Several cases are already pending against them at different police stations. The Padappai police arrested both suspects, produced them before the court, and remanded them to judicial custody. Further probe is on.

The directive follows an interim injunction issued by a division bench of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in October. The order was passed in a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu High and Higher Secondary School Graduate Teachers Association.

The association had approached the court seeking intervention against the collection of exam question paper fees from students studying in government high and higher secondary schools. The petition particularly highlighted children in the 10–14 age group who are entitled to free and compulsory education under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

Hearing the matter, Justices GR Swaminathan and P Murugan issued an interim injunction, and also ordered notice to the respondents, including the State government, Director of School Education and Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption. Following this, the School Education Department has asked all district-level CEOs to communicate the instructions to school heads.

The directive is expected to provide relief to students and parents in government and government-aided schools who have been facing demands for exam-related payments.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the government has also allowed six shows on local festival days, public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The decision follows a consultation meeting involving Information and Publicity Minister Rajmohan and representatives of the Tamil film industry, including producers, theatre owners and distributors. Various demands concerning the film industry were discussed at the meeting.

According to a government statement, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, Tamil Film Producers Council and Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association had requested permission to screen six shows daily for a week from the release date of new Tamil films.

Under the existing provisions of the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1957, theatres were permitted to screen four shows a day. After the present government assumed office, permission was granted for five shows a day for seven days from the release of new Tamil films. Five shows were also allowed on local festival days, public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Six shows from 6 am to 2.30 am

After considering the industry's request, the Chief Minister has ordered amendments to the existing rules to permit up to six shows a day, from 6 am to 2.30 am the following day, in all theatres across Tamil Nadu.

The government has also approved six shows on local festival days, public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Meanwhile, theatre owners have also urged the government to increase ticket prices and submitted a request to Chief Minister Vijay.

Thanking the State government for permitting 6 am shows, theatre owner and exhibitor Tiruppur Subramaniam said, “All the other states have 6 am shows, and the response and reviews are out even before the 9 am show begin in Tamil Nadu. This move will enable films to be screened simultaneously across all four South Indian states. It will also benefit the state government financially, with nearly 1,000 screens contributing to GST and other revenues. This is a welcome move, and I thank the government on behalf of all theatre owners and exhibitors.”

When asked if exhibitors had any other demands, he said, “This is a major fulfilment of our long-standing expectation. As of now, we do not have any other demands.”

Accusing him of abandoning his Tamil nationalist ideology for an MLA post, Vanni Arasu called his recent political position opportunistic. “Seeman stands with hands and plate out for Dravidian biriyani”, the minister said, accusing him of abandoning his ideology to contest the Ambasamudram assembly by-election.

Referring to Seeman's earlier talk about courage that never falls and honour that never bows, Vanni Arasu said he surrendered to Dravidian politics today. “He is an opportunist who survives by bowing before Dravidian ideology,” the minister said while speaking to reporters.

Vanni Arasu participated in a function to distribute free house-site patta to 112 Scheduled Caste beneficiaries in the Theerthakadu area of Madurai.

The pointed out Seeman had vowed before the polls to demolish the Dravidian fort with a `Brahmin crowbar’ but has now thrown it away, taken up a `Dravidian crowbar’ and set out to demolish the Tamil nationalist fort.

Seeman started NMK in 2009, calling Congress, the DMK and VCK traitors over the Sri Lankan Tamil Killings, said Vanni Arasu, adding that VCK has always put forward Dravidian ideas rooted in Ambedkar and Periyar.

After speaking so derogatorily and harshly against Dravidian ideology, he said his decision to speak in its favour now is nothing but opportunism.

The VCK has remained genuinely committed to Tamil nationalist politics, the minister said, adding that he hopes diaspora Tamils understand this now.

When asked about opposition allegations that the TVK government has moved closer to the BJP, Vanni Arasu rejected the charge as slander. He said the TVK government was the first in the nation to pass a resolution that only the Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be sung in Tamil Nadu, after the BJP government said Vande Mataram must be sung. He said Tamil Nadu was also the first Assembly in India to pass resolutions against the Waqf Board amendment and FCRA, and both the VCK and the DMK welcomed them in the Assembly.

He said governance requires timely decisions and effective negotiations to secure investments, urging Vijay to focus on retaining industries rather than image-building.

Claiming companies had held discussions with Tamil Nadu, he accused the State government of failing to convert those engagements into investment commitments. He also questioned Industries Minister S Keerthana's efforts to retain the projects, alleging that the government was prioritising the Chief Minister's overseas visits and publicity over industrial development.

Nainar Nagenthran criticised Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over the investments by Hwashin, Seoyon and Iwamet, suppliers to Hyundai and Kia, moving to Andhra. The three companies have signed memorandums of understanding with the Andhra government to establish manufacturing facilities in Anantapur, with a combined investment commitment of Rs 1,614 crore and an estimated employment potential of 1,418.

In a separate statement, Nainar targeted Minister Rajmohan over his disclosure that an unidentified individual had allegedly offered him Rs 5 crore through Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation chairman Layola Mani to secure the chairmanship of the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram.

Questioning why Rajmohan had neither identified the individual nor lodged a complaint with the DVAC, he asked why the minister had not used the government's anti-corruption helpline to report the alleged offer.

He also questioned Layola Mani's role in the episode and asked the minister to explain, suggesting that the public disclosure warranted a formal investigation.

"Judging Tamil Nadu's economy solely on the basis of gross GST collections is not the right approach," he said.

In a statement, the minister said the Opposition was drawing conclusions about the State's economic performance without distinguishing between gross GST collections and the revenue actually accruing to Tamil Nadu after the settlement of inter-state taxes.

Explaining the difference, he said gross GST collections comprised State GST (SGST), Central GST (CGST) and Integrated GST (IGST). However, the entire IGST collected in Tamil Nadu did not belong to the State, as the tax collected on inter-State transactions was subsequently apportioned among States.

Tamil Nadu's post-settlement GST revenue comprised its SGST collections and the IGST settlement apportioned to it, he said.

He also attributed the moderation in gross collections to the GST rate rationalisation implemented in September 2025, under which tax rates on several commodities were reduced. Assessing the State's economic performance solely on gross collection figures would, he argued, be misleading.

Taking a political swipe at the Opposition, Tamilselvan claimed that Tamil Nadu had been in a precarious economic position over the previous five years but was now being steered towards growth under Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. "Do not worry. Tamil Nadu is in good hands," he said, expressing confidence in the Chief Minister's leadership.

Justice N Ramesh made these observations while hearing an anticipatory bail petition filed by DMK Councillor D Sudha before the Madras High Court.

The judge said these were not merely theoretical concerns, as events of the past few days had demonstrated them. He referred to the widely reported incident involving A Kalaiyarasan, an associate professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), who had served various bodies of the Union and State governments.

Kalaiyarasan was taken from his residence at around 5 am by policemen in plain clothes without being shown any complaint, authorisation or first information report. The action was taken over an abusive social media comment against a ruling party legislator, which was found within hours to have been posted through a fake account misusing his photograph.

He was released on the same day, and the Chief Minister received him at the Secretariat, while a Minister publicly acknowledged the lapse. The judge clarified that the incident was not before him and that he was not making any findings on it, but referred to it to highlight two important lessons.

First, the judge said that the gesture shown at the end did not answer the questions raised by the manner in which the incident began: on what verification were plainclothes police personnel sent to a citizen’s doorstep at dawn over a social media comment, and what action had been taken against those responsible? An apology, however high its source, did not amount to accountability, and a remedy that depended on the Chief Minister’s personal intervention was not a remedy at all.

Secondly, the judge observed that the economist’s prominence had secured his release within hours and an audience with the Chief Minister at the Secretariat. However, an ordinary citizen without access to power, taken away at dawn on the basis of the same mistaken complaint, would have faced police custody, remand and a prolonged trial before anyone even questioned whether the social media account belonged to him.

The judge further observed that the true measure of a police force was not how it treated eminent personalities when the press was watching, but how it treated ordinary citizens when nobody was watching. He said the handling of political speech, including the present case, had to be judged against this standard.

The dhotis and sarees procured for Deepavali 2026 have been dispatched to fair price shops across Tamil Nadu, and distribution commenced on Tuesday.

Old-age pension beneficiaries holding family ration cards can collect the clothing from their respective fair price shops by November 7. They have been asked to visit the shops in person with their family cards to receive the items.

The State government implements the initiative annually to provide free dhotis and sarees to old-age pension beneficiaries as part of its Deepavali welfare measures.

Cooperation Department officials are monitoring the transportation and distribution arrangements to ensure the scheme is implemented without delay across the State.

The policy also provides a 10-year waiver of wheeling and transmission charges to attract investments in battery storage projects.

Electricity and Law Minister R Nirmalkumar launched the policy and a dedicated Renewable Energy Application Portal on Tuesday in the presence of electricity department principal secretary, Anil Meshram, TNEB CMD Rajesh Lakhani, TNGECL MD PN Sridhar and other officials. The two initiatives are aimed at improving grid stability, reducing dependence on expensive power purchases during peak hours and simplifying approvals for renewable energy projects.

Under this, developers setting up solar and solar-hybrid projects with a capacity of 1 MW and above will have to install battery storage equivalent to at least 10% of the project’s capacity, with a minimum four-hour energy discharge capability. The same requirement will apply to new wind energy projects. For instance, a 100 MW solar power project will have to install a battery storage system with a minimum capacity of 10 MW/40 MWh.

The government has also extended the battery storage requirement to existing renewable energy projects. Existing solar and wind developers will have to install storage capacity equivalent to 5% by 2027-28 and another 5% by 2028-29, taking the total requirement to 10%. The installations will be made at pooling substations.

Addressing the launch, Nirmalkumar said that the policy had been formulated over the past three to four months to ensure that excess renewable energy generated during the daytime could be stored and utilised during periods of higher demand. “At present, Tamil Nadu has around 14,000 MW of installed solar capacity and 9,000 to 10,000 MW of wind capacity. However, we’re unable to utilise around 3,000-4,000 MW of solar power during the daytime. We’ve been paying for power that cannot be fully utilised. Battery storage will help us store this excess power and use it when required,” he added.

The minister opined that the government had decided to waive wheeling and transmission charges for 10 years to encourage investments. The discharged power from battery storage projects would be procured by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL).

The policy is intended to make Tamil Nadu a major destination for battery storage investments. It will remain in force for a maximum of three years or until the targeted 10 GW-hour battery storage capacity becomes operational, whichever is earlier, according to the policy announcement.

Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) will be the state nodal agency for implementing the policy and will operate a single-window portal for project registration, application tracking and coordination with government agencies.

Online portal to streamline approvals

The Renewable Energy Application Portal, launched alongside the policy, will bring the entire grid connectivity approval process for renewable energy projects under a single online platform.

Developers can register, submit applications and documents, pay fees and track the status of their applications online. The portal will cover the process from developer registration to connectivity approval, reducing the need for physical visits to multiple offices.

Nirmalkumar stated that the new system would also enable officials to monitor applications, field inspections and approvals centrally, while providing applicants with individual timelines after field inspections. “Pending applications of violations will be kept on hold, while other applications will be processed under the revised policy,” he said.

In a statement, he criticised Minority Welfare Minister A M Shahjahan for announcing that the government would take steps to regularise such religious structures operating on government land for several years. Ashvathaman questioned why similar consideration was not being extended to Hindu temples, alleging that temple properties were being taken over for government projects even when they had valid documents.

Citing examples, he referred to properties along Chennai’s East Coast Road endowed by Ayirangani Azhavandar for the service of Lord Perumal, and alleged that temple lands in Ariyalur and Kallakurichi had been acquired for public projects, including a court complex and government offices.

The BJP leader also questioned the absence of a clearly specified time frame for determining which religious institutions would qualify for regularisation, arguing that the lack of clarity could leave the proposal open to arbitrary implementation.

Ashvathaman said the BJP was not opposed to the welfare of minorities but would challenge any policy that favoured one religious community over another. He invoked the constitutional principle of equality before the law and called for uniform treatment of all religious institutions occupying public land.

He urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to abandon the proposal and demanded that Shahjahan withdraw his announcement. Warning of an agitation, Ashvathaman said the BJP would mobilise people and launch protests if the government went ahead with the move.

The accused, Raghavan, was traced by a special police team using drone cameras and arrested during a search operation at night.

He was subsequently brought to Coimbatore and handed over to the Racecourse police, who are investigating his escape.

Police have questioned Raghavan about how he reached Sathyamangalam after escaping. His statement has been recorded, and he was questioned for the second consecutive day today.

Police are expected to produce him before a court after the interrogation and are making arrangements to lodge him in prison under tight security.

How was the accused Raghavan traced?

Following his escape, six special teams were formed to track him down. The teams conducted searches in Erode and the Nilgiris districts, as well as in Karnataka and Kerala.

Police later received information that Raghavan was hiding in the Sathyamangalam forest area. A special team rushed to the location and used drone cameras to identify his whereabouts before surrounding and arresting him at night.

Who is Raghavan?

Raghavan (also known as Kozikaran), a resident of the Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Centre in the Bhavanisagar area of Sathyamangalam, has several cases, including robbery and theft, against him.

How did he escape from the prison premises?

After being tracked down and arrested again on October 30, Raghavan briefly escaped from the Annur police station that evening before being chased down and caught, only to escape again at the prison gates hours later.

He was subsequently taken to Coimbatore Central Prison by four police personnel led by a sub-inspector.

While being taken inside the prison premises, Raghavan allegedly attacked the police personnel and escaped. The police registered a case in connection with the incident

The four police personnel who escorted him were also suspended for negligence.

This was his second escape in 24 hours and his third overall. He had earlier escaped from police custody in June 2026 while being taken to Bengaluru.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, in its 10 am bulletin on Tuesday, forecast light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts, besides Puducherry and Karaikal, till 1 pm on Tuesday.

The RMC warned of waterlogging, slippery roads and possible traffic disruption in some areas.

The IMD has also forecast isolated heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on November 3 and during November 5-7. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are likely at isolated places on November 3 and 4.

Cyclone Murasu crosses Andhra coast with winds up to 120 kmph

Severe cyclonic storm Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 3.30 am and 5.30 am on Tuesday (November 3), with maximum sustained wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

According to the IMD's Tuesday morning bulletin, the cyclone was centred over land near Ongole, around 40 km southwest of Bapatla, at 5.30 am. It is likely to continue moving north-northwestwards and gradually weaken into a cyclonic storm by noon, with wind speeds of 80-90 kmph, gusting up to 100 kmph

Cyclonic storm Murasu wreaks havoc in coastal Andhra Pradesh

The severe cyclonic storm Murasu has left a trail of destruction in coastal Andhra Pradesh, uprooting thousands of trees, damaging hundreds of electric poles, and wrecking fishing boats, with people recounting their ordeal as the cyclone crossed the coast early on Tuesday.

"This is the most dangerous cyclone we have witnessed in the last 14 years. The government has been very helpful and evacuated around 400 families from our village. NDRF teams also helped us shift to safer places," Krishnamma, a fisherman from Kothapatnam in Prakasam district told PTI, adding, now he has to find out the condition of his boats.

Another local resident, Mangamma, said she had lost her house during an earlier cyclone, but this time the government evacuated them before the landfall.

14 lightning fatalities in TN; experts urge caution

Since 14 people have been killed by lightning strikes since the onset of the northeast monsoon, meteorologists have urged the public to remain alert during thunderstorms, particularly in the initial phase of the rainy season, when changing atmospheric conditions can trigger frequent lightning.

Also, State Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan said on October 26 that 14 people had died in lightning strikes since monsoon began, even as intensifying rains triggered red alerts and prompted authorities to restrict tourist entry to major hill stations.

Meteorological experts have urged the public to exercise caution during thunderstorms, particularly in the initial phase of the northeast monsoon, when lightning activity can pose a serious threat to people working or travelling outdoors.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) 2024 data, 2,825 people died due to lightning strikes across India. Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of deaths, at 577, while Tamil Nadu reported 66 fatalities, ranking 13th among states.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Cyclone Murasu: 11 flights cancelled at Chennai airport

Eleven flights operating to and from Chennai Airport have been cancelled on Monday (November 2) due to adverse weather conditions caused by Cyclone Murasu, according to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The cancelled flights include:

• Vijayawada-Chennai: 6E7304 (12.30 pm), 6E7306 (7.25 pm)

• Chennai-Vijayawada: 6E7305 (2.45 pm)

• Chennai-Rajahmundry: 6E7365 (2.35 pm)

• Rajahmundry-Chennai: 6E7366 (4.50 pm)

• Kadapa-Chennai: 6E7398 (1.25 pm)

• Chennai-Kadapa: 6E7397 (2.50 pm)

• Chennai-Tiruchirappalli: 6E7357 (5.40 pm), 6E7363 (8.50 pm)

• Tiruchirappalli-Chennai: 6E7358 (7.05 pm), 6E7364 (10.10 pm)

Cyclone Murasu 180 km Northeast of Chennai, to hit South Andhra tonight

According to the latest bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 22 kmph over the past six hours and was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 8:30 am on Monday.

The cyclone was located approximately 180 km northeast of Chennai, 160 km east-southeast of Nellore, 180 km east-southeast of Kavali, 210 km southeast of Ongole and 240 km south of Machilipatnam.

The IMD said the severe cyclonic storm is very likely to move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, to the south of Ongole, between 11.30 pm on November 2 and am on November 3. It is accompanied by sustained wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph.

Contact for complaints and assistance of northeast monsoon 2026 by GCC

Parrys records highest rainfall of 149.2 mm in Chennai

Very Heavy Rainfall: Recorded in 5 locations across the city. Parrys registered the highest with 149.2 mm, followed by New Manali Town at 141.6 mm and Manali at 136.2 mm. 

Heavy Rainfall recorded in 28 locations, including Madhavaram, Puzhal, Manali, Ennore, Basin Bridge, and parts of Tondiarpet. Moderate Rainfall observed across 25 locations in the southern and western parts of Chennai, including Korattur, Ayapakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Pallikaranai, and Sholinganallur.

Cyclone Murasu intensifies into severe storm

Daily life across Chennai was disrupted on Monday morning as a wet spell continued in the city following the intensification of Cyclonic Storm ‘Murasu’ into a severe cyclonic storm.

According to a 5:00 AM bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system was centered at 2:30 AM on Monday approximately 260 km east-northeast of Chennai and 290 km east-southeast of Nellore.

The IMD reported that the severe cyclonic storm is expected to cross between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between midnight on November 2 and the early hours of November 3. It is accompanied by sustained wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph.

Rains to continue, says weather blogger

Explaining the impact of the cyclone on moisture conditions, easterly winds, and rainfall activity, weather blogger Pradeep John, popularly known as Tamil Nadu Weatherman, told DT Next: "Cyclone Arnab had cut off the easterly winds, resulting in dry weather in northern Tamil Nadu and other parts of the State. However, Cyclone Murasu has not disrupted the easterly winds. As the severe cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall near Nellore, rainfall activity is likely to continue across the State over the next few days."

Cyclone Murasu: 10 key things to know

1. Formation: Cyclone Murasu formed over the Bay of Bengal on November 1 after a deep depression intensified into a cyclonic storm.

2. Current movement: The cyclone is moving west-northwestwards over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.

3. Distance from Chennai: The system was located around 480 km east-southeast of Chennai, according to the IMD's November 1 bulletin issued around 9 pm.

4. Further intensification: Murasu is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal around November 2 morning.

5. Expected landfall: Cyclone Murasu is expected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur between 11.30 pm on November 2 (Monday) and 4 am on November 3 (Tuesday) as a severe cyclonic storm.

6. Wind speed: Wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph, are expected during landfall.

7. Orange alert: Chennai and Tiruvallur are under an orange alert for November 2, with very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm) likely at isolated places.

8. Yellow alert: Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris are under yellow alerts for heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) on November 2.

9. School and college holiday: The Chennai and Tiruvallur district administrations have declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on November 2 as a precautionary measure.

10. State preparedness: Tamil Nadu has directed district collectors to remain on high alert, mobilise emergency response teams and closely monitor the situation.

Cyclone Murasu 480 km from Chennai

According to the IMD's 9.14 pm bulletin, Cyclone Murasu was centred about 480 km east-southeast of Chennai at 2.30 pm on November 1. It was moving west-northwestwards at 27 kmph.

The system was also located 550 km east-southeast of Nellore, 560 km southeast of Machilipatnam, 600 km southeast of Ongole and 610 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam.

Orange alert for Chennai and Tiruvallur; schools and colleges closed in both districts on Nov 2

-- The Chennai district administration has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in the district on Monday (November 2) as a precautionary measure amid the forecast of heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Murasu.

-- The RMC has issued an orange alert for Chennai and Tiruvallur districts on November 2, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm). A yellow alert has been issued for Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris, where heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is likely.

-- The Tamil Nadu Revenue Administration and Disaster Management Department has directed district collectors across the State to remain on high alert, mobilise administrative machinery and take precautionary measures. They have also been instructed to immediately report any untoward incidents to the State Emergency Operations Centre.

-- Meanwhile, the RMC has warned of squally winds reaching 55-65 kmph, gusting up to 75 kmph, in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts, as well as Puducherry, on November 1 and 2.

RMC issues yellow alerts across Tamil Nadu, warns of thunderstorms and gusty winds

On November 2, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris are under a yellow alert for heavy rainfall (7-11 cm).

The intensity is expected to decrease on November 3, with heavy rainfall confined to isolated places in the Nilgiris. On November 3, isolated heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms is likely over the Nilgiris.

The RMC has also warned of thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by gusty winds of 40-50 kmph at one or two places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on November 1 and 2. The warning continues for isolated places until November 5.

Cyclone Murasu intensifies over Bay of Bengal, likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast on November 3

Cyclone Murasu, which formed over the Bay of Bengal on November 1, is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, between 11.30 pm on November 2 and 4 am on November 3.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall across northern Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and Tiruvallur, on November 2 and 3.

The system is expected to make landfall with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph. Authorities in Tamil Nadu have stepped up preparedness measures, with district collectors directed to remain on high alert.

Rain forecast for Tamil Nadu

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has forecast light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places across parts of Tamil Nadu on Sunday (November 1).

Heavy rain is likely at isolated places in the Nilgiris and Tiruvallur districts on November 2, and in Cuddalore, Villupuram and Puducherry on November 3. Thunderstorms and lightning are also likely at isolated places between November 1 and 4.

Chennai to receive rain from Sunday (November 1)

Chennai is likely to experience partly cloudy skies on Saturday, with mainly dry weather. The maximum temperature is expected to be 34-35°C and the minimum 25-26°C.

On Sunday, the sky is likely to remain partly cloudy, with light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in some parts of the city. The maximum temperature is expected to dip slightly to 33-34°C, while the minimum is likely to remain between 25°C and 26°C.

Bay of Bengal depression likely to intensify into Cyclone Murasu

The depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its Saturday (October 31) evening bulletin.

If it develops into a cyclonic storm, it will be named ‘Murasu’, as proposed by India. This will be the second cyclonic storm to form over the Bay of Bengal this year.

Low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal intensifies; rain likely in Tamil Nadu

The low-pressure area over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining regions has intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area and is likely to strengthen into a depression over the next 12 hours, the India Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said.

What is the rain forecast for Tamil Nadu from today till Nov 5?

1. Oct 30: Light rain likely over South Coastal Tamil Nadu and Western Ghats districts; dry weather elsewhere.

2. Oct 31: Light rain likely over Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and Western Ghats districts.

3. Nov 1: Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) likely over several districts, including Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Salem, Erode and Madurai.

4. Nov 2: Heavy rain warning for isolated places in the Nilgiris; light to moderate rain likely across the rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

5. Nov 3: Moderate rain likely over Western Ghats districts and North Tamil Nadu; light rain elsewhere.

6. Nov 4: Moderate rain likely over Western Ghats districts and North Tamil Nadu; light rain elsewhere.

7. Nov 5: Light to moderate rain likely across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

8. Thunderstorm warning: Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are likely at isolated places from November 1 to 3.

9. Chennai: Partly cloudy skies, with light rain possible on October 31. Maximum temperature: 35-36°C. Minimum: 26-27°C.

--- RMC's October 30 bulletin

Low-pressure system over Andaman Sea to move towards Andhra coast

According to the latest bulletin from the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), yesterday's low-pressure system that lay over the south Andaman sea and adjoining Andaman and Nicobar islands today at 8.30 am is very likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of Andaman & Nicobar islands and Andaman sea tomorrow.

Thereafter, it is likely to move west-northwestwards towards Andhra Pradesh coast during the subsequent two days.

Arnab cyclone death toll rises to six in Andhra Pradesh

A 11-year-old boy died due to a wall collapse in Tenali mandal of Andhra Pradesh, taking the death toll in the very severe cyclonic storm Arnab-related incidents to six, an official said on Thursday.

Fresh low-pressure system in Bay, may intensify into cyclone, cross near Chennai

Even before Chennai could heave a sigh of relief after Cyclone Arnab went past the State’s borders to Andhra Pradesh and further north, weather experts have said a fresh low-pressure system is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal, which, if it intensifies into a cyclone, could cross the coast near the city.

According to weather experts, favourable conditions are developing over the Bay of Bengal for the formation of a new low-pressure system, which could intensify into a cyclonic system and move towards the northern parts of Tamil Nadu. If the system strengthens into a cyclone, there is a possibility of it making landfall along the coast between Chennai and Andhra Pradesh, potentially bringing significant rainfall to Chennai on November 1 and 2.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Arnab to further weaken into cyclonic storm, then deep depression

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam between 2 am and 8 am on October 28, with maximum sustained winds of 125–135 kmph and gusts up to 150 kmph. The landfall process was completed by 8 am, after which the storm weakened into a Severe Cyclonic Storm.

Arnab is likely to move north-northwestwards and weaken gradually, becoming a cyclonic storm within six hours and a deep depression over the following six hours.

Meanwhile, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining areas within the next 24 hours, as forecast by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, in its latest bulletin.

What is TN's rain status from Oct 28-30?

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, in its latest bulletin, has forecast light to moderate rain at isolated places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from October 31 to November 2. Rain is likely over the Western Ghats districts and south Tamil Nadu on October 28–30, while dry weather is expected to prevail over the rest of the State during this period.

Heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Tiruvallur district on November 3, while light to moderate rain is forecast over North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, with light to moderate rain also likely over South Tamil Nadu.

Maximum temperatures are expected to rise by 2-3°C at isolated pockets over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until October 30, and remain above normal by 2-3°C until November 1.

Andhra worst hit by Cyclone Arnab, 3 killed

Andhra Pradesh bore the brunt of Cyclone Arnab, with three people killed and 31 houses damaged, a senior National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officer said on Wednesday.

The disaster response and rescue teams of the Centre and those of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are now bracing to tackle the effects of rainfall, which is expected to continue in the two states and adjoining areas, NDRF Inspector General (IG) Narendra Singh Bundela told reporters here during a press briefing.

The cyclone has made landfall near Yanam, Puducherry, and has weakened from a very serious cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm. It is estimated that it will gradually lose strength to convert into a cyclonic storm and finally into a deep depression by the evening, he said.

Cyclone Arnab-induced rain batters Odisha, alert sounded in southern districts

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall triggered by cyclone Arnab has battered southern Odisha, prompting the state government to evacuate over 30,000 people and place several districts on high alert, Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Wednesday.

The government is focusing on Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts, where people are being shifted to safer places.

The cyclone disrupted train services, with more than 50 trains cancelled along the eastern coast.

Mahendragarh in Gajapati district recorded the highest rainfall at 249.9 mm, followed by Pottangi in Koraput at 188 mm, Mohana in Gajapati at 168.8 mm, Ganjam station at 161.4 mm and Similiguda in Koraput at 143.1 mm.

-- PTI

Cyclone Arnab crosses Andhra coast; damages roads, electric poles

Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra coast early on Wednesday, leaving a trail of destruction with uprooted trees and electric poles and damaged roads, while two persons were electrocuted in separate instances, officials said.

The very severe cyclonic storm Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between 2 am- 8 am, before weakening into a severe cyclonic storm, the weather office said.

"The cyclone crossed the Andhra Pradesh & Yanam coasts to the Southwest of Yanam near latitude 16.450 N and 81.90 E, about 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur, 40 km southwest of Yanam and 60 km southwest of Kakinada," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in an official release.

Cyclone 'Arnab' likely to bring heavy rain in parts of Bengal till Oct 31

 The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in parts of West Bengal till October 31 under the influence of cyclone 'Arnab', which made landfall in the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Wednesday.

Moderate to heavy rain lashed the coastal and some southern districts of West Bengal on Tuesday, it said.

Heavy rainfall will occur in the coastal and western districts of the state until Friday morning and over the sub-Himalayan region till Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a bulletin.

Cyclone Arnab: Two electrocuted in separate incidents in Andhra

Two people, including a 55-year-old woman, died of electrocution in separate incidents in Andhra Pradesh during Cyclone Arnab, officials said on Wednesday.

A senior district official said a 53-year-old man died on Tuesday night after coming into contact with a live wire that snapped over an agricultural field channel.

In the second incident, a woman died after accidentally stepping on an exposed live wire outside her home in Yellamanchili town in Anakapalli district on Wednesday morning, police said.

-- PTI

Odisha evacuates over 30,000 people as cyclone Arnab triggers alert in southern districts

The Odisha government has evacuated over 30,000 people to safety, with the entire southern region of the state remaining on high alert on Wednesday after the landfall process of very severe cyclonic storm Arnab was completed along the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast, a minister said.

Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state expects the cyclone to affect all southern districts, with Malkangiri likely to be the worst hit.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone crossed the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast between 2 am and 8 am as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph.

Cyclone Arnab: No loss of life reported in Andhra, says CM Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said no loss of life has been reported so far following Cyclone Arnab, crediting advance precautionary measures taken by the administration for preventing casualties.

Speaking during a teleconference with 32,000 personnel, including district collectors, the Chief Minister directed officials to minimise property damage and restore normalcy in cyclone-affected areas at the earliest.

"No loss of life has been reported so far due to Cyclone Arnab. The advance precautionary measures taken by the administrative machinery helped prevent casualties," said Naidu in an official press release.

Very severe cyclone Arnab crosses Andhra coast, weakens into severe cyclonic storm

Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on Wednesday morning before weakening into a severe cyclonic storm.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall process is complete with the weather system moving entirely over land.

Peak wind speeds reached up to 135 kmph and gusts of up to 150 kmph.

Schools closed in parts of J'khand till Oct 29 in view of cyclone 'Arnab'

The Jharkhand government has ordered the closure of schools till October 29 in several districts in the wake of rainfall triggered by cyclone 'Arnab', which made landfall in the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said.

Ranchi, West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum and Simdega district administrations said schools will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

Cyclone Arnab's landfall process continues along Andhra coast

The landfall process of “very severe” cyclonic storm Arnab was continuing along the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said with the storm’s centre remaining very close to the coastline.

The northern spiral band of the cyclone has further entered the land and the landfall process is expected to continue for the next three hours, it said.

Andhra, Odisha step up preparations as cyclone Arnab hurtles towards east coast

Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have stepped up preparations, including moving people to safer locations, as "very severe" cyclonic storm Arnab hurtles towards the east coast and is expected to make landfall within the next 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.

In its latest bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the cyclone was over the Bay of Bengal, about 170 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, at 11.30 am. It is likely to move west-northwestward until evening, before crossing the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday forenoon.

The system is expected to make landfall with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph, the agency said.

According to the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), the cyclone's impact is being felt, with heavy rainfall expected in the north coastal districts shortly. Srikakulam district is likely to experience heavy rain accompanied by strong winds, while strong winds have already begun in Visakhapatnam and Kakinada.

--- PTI

What is the TN rain status?

According to the latest bulletin by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), light to moderate rain is likely at isolated places in the Western Ghats and southern Tamil Nadu on October 27, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph at one or two places. The rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are likely to experience mainly dry weather.

On October 28, the Western Ghats may receive light to moderate rain, while southern Tamil Nadu is likely to see light showers. Light rain is forecast in the Western Ghats on October 29 and 30, followed by light rain at isolated places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on October 31.

On November 1 and 2, light to moderate rain is likely in north Tamil Nadu, the Western Ghats, Puducherry and Karaikal, while other parts of Tamil Nadu may receive light showers, the RMC added.

Bengal's coastal districts get rain as Cyclone Arnab advances towards Andhra coast

Coastal areas of West Bengal saw moderate rain on Tuesday afternoon as the very severe cyclonic storm Arnab hurtled toward the Andhra Pradesh coast, with landfall expected the next day.

The storm, likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry's Yanam coasts on October 28, will bring moderate rainfall across all districts of South Bengal until October 29, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

It may bring heavy rain in some districts of the state till October 30.

Chhattisgarh on alert for heavy rains due to Cyclone Arnab

The Chhattisgarh government has directed all district collectors to stay on alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Arnab, ordering round-the-clock relief camps, uninterrupted medical services and heightened vigilance, with zero casualties as the goal, officials said on Tuesday.

Cyclone Arnab to trigger heavy rains in parts of Jharkhand, govt asks districts to remain alert

Cyclone Arnab, which is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday, is set to bring heavy rainfall in parts of Jharkhand for three days, prompting the state government to ask district administrations to maintain vigil, officials said.

A 'yellow' alert (be updated) of heavy rain has been issued for Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, Saraikela-Kharsawan, East and West Singhbhum for 24 hours starting from 8.30 am on October 28, the India Meteorological Department said.

The rain intensity is likely to increase thereafter, with IMD issuing an 'orange' alert (be prepared) for seven Jharkhand districts - Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega and West Singhbhum - for 24 hours till 8.30 am on October 30, according to a weather bulletin.

Heavy rains lash parts of Odisha as cyclone Arnab hurtles towards east coast

Heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds, lashed parts of Odisha on Tuesday as very severe cyclonic storm Arnab moved towards the east coast, with landfall expected along the Andhra Pradesh shore within the next 24 hours, the IMD said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange warning, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall of 12-20 cm, for six districts -- Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.

The districts under the yellow warning, indicating rainfall of 7-11 cm, are Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Khurda, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Nuapada, Balangir and Boudh.

The storm is likely to move west-northwestwards until the evening of October 27, before turning northwestwards and crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28.

31 houses collapsed in Tiruchy after rains

As many as 31 houses collapsed across Tiruchy district on Monday as the North East monsoon rains continued unabated.

The rains had lashed the central region for the past few days, after which water entered several residential areas in the region, particularly in Tiruchy district. Sources said that on Monday, a tiled-roofed house belonging to Muthukumar in Pullambadi collapsed. Similarly, the house of Rasu from Manapparai collapsed after the walls were soaked in the continuous rainfall.

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14 killed in lightning strikes, tourist entry barred to hill stations as rains batter TN

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.

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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.

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Monsoon safety advisory for public, EB staff

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

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

• Avoid walking through stagnant rainwater near electrical installations.

• Inform the EB department about damaged infrastructure.

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

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

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

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

• Stay away from open windows and metal grills.

• Avoid using electrical appliances and telephones during lightning.

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

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

• Do not tie cattle to electric poles or wires

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

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

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

• RCCBs alone cannot guarantee complete protection without proper insulation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Potholes plague Tambaram-Velachery road

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

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

Chennai streets inundated after overnight heavy rain spell

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

Chennai Corporation to spend Rs 21.80 crore on pothole repairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rainfall likely to increase

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

Puzhal lake storage crosses 5 TMC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RMC issues rain alert till 10 am

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

Overnight heavy rain spell in Chennai

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

TN rain forecast: Here are the details

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

According to the IMD's Tuesday morning bulletin, the cyclone was centred over land near Ongole, around 40 km southwest of Bapatla, at 5.30 am. It is likely to continue moving north-northwestwards and gradually weaken into a cyclonic storm by noon, with wind speeds of 80-90 kmph, gusting up to 100 kmph.

The system is further expected to weaken into a deep depression by midnight on Tuesday, with wind speeds reducing to 55-65 kmph, gusting up to 75 kmph.

Tamil Nadu forecast

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, in its 10 am bulletin on Tuesday, forecast light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts, besides Puducherry and Karaikal, till 1 pm on Tuesday.

The RMC warned of waterlogging, slippery roads and possible traffic disruption in some areas.

The IMD has also forecast isolated heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on November 3 and during November 5-7. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are likely at isolated places on November 3 and 4.

The Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) has issued requests for proposals in two packages under the World Bank-funded Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Project. The plans are intended to serve as long-term frameworks for prioritising civic infrastructure investments, with separate development plans for each local body.

Package I covers seven corporations — Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Hosur, Karur and Namakkal — and six special-grade municipalities: Pollachi, Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Udumalpet, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Tiruchengode.

Package II includes four corporations — Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Thoothukudi and Sivakasi — and two special-grade municipalities, Kovilpatti and Rajapalayam.

The consultants will assess existing infrastructure and service deficiencies, taking into account population growth, demographic changes, economic activity, land-use patterns, environmental conditions and urbanisation trends. The exercise will involve field assessments, stakeholder consultations, GIS-based mapping, asset inventories, service-level benchmarks, population projections and climate-risk assessments.

The plans will cover 12 broad sectors, including drinking water supply, sewerage and sanitation, stormwater drainage, solid waste management, roads and mobility, urban water bodies, green spaces, public health, social infrastructure, safety and security, digital urban governance, and municipal finance and governance.

The CIDPs are expected to identify projects, prioritise interventions and set out short-, medium- and long-term implementation phases, along with estimated financial requirements, available resources, potential funding sources and grants. They will provide a basis for coordinating infrastructure planning and investment decisions.

The exercise is linked to the Chief Minister’s Integrated Urban Development Mission (CMIUDM) 2026–2031, which brings urban infrastructure and civic services under 11 sub-missions. The State has estimated an overall outlay of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for the five-year mission.

More than 650 outlets were affected by the protest on Sunday and Monday, as employees opposed the revised empty-bottle return mechanism, citing additional workload, inadequate scanning equipment and a lack of storage facilities.

According to a shop-wise operational report generated by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) on Tuesday, 3,991 of the 4,051 outlets listed in its records were open, accounting for 98.52 per cent. The remaining 60 were classified as pending. However, the government clarified that these outlets were not part of the operational network, as their closure had been ordered by Collectors owing to local issues, and they would not be reopened. Perambalur recorded the highest number of such outlets at nine, followed by Erode and Tiruchy with five each.

All shops in several districts, including Tirupur, Villupuram, Theni, Namakkal, and Ramanathapuram, were reported to be functioning.

Meanwhile, the resumption of normal operations ahead of Deepavali triggered a rush at liquor outlets across the State. Consumers turned up in large numbers and stood in long queues to make purchases after the disruption over the previous two days.

The reopening followed a major disciplinary crackdown by Tasmac, which suspended 245 retail shop supervisors and issued show-cause notices to 1,729 others for allegedly keeping outlets closed without prior authorisation.

According to the district-wise statement issued by Tasmac on November 2, show-cause notices were served on 931 supervisors on Sunday and another 798 on Monday. Of the 245 suspensions, four were ordered on Sunday and 241 on Monday.

The Madurai region topped the list with 475 notices, followed by Salem (459), Tiruchy (418), Chennai (341), and Coimbatore (36). At the district level, Tirunelveli recorded the highest number of notices at 247, followed by Tiruchy (185), Tiruvallur East (179), and Pudukkottai (175).

Chennai region accounted for the highest number of suspensions at 169, followed by Salem (75) and Madurai (one). Coimbatore and Tiruchy reported no suspensions. Among individual units, Krishnagiri recorded the highest number of suspensions at 75, followed by Tiruvallur East (61), Chennai North (58) and Chennai Central (50).

The protest was triggered by the revised empty-bottle return mechanism, under which Rs 10 is included in the maximum retail price (MRP) of liquor bottles as an environmental and social welfare cess. Consumers can reclaim the amount by returning eligible empty bottles. The revised arrangement also requires digital payments for purchases exceeding Rs 1,000.

Employees have demanded additional manpower, adequate scanning equipment and automated collection facilities to handle the additional responsibilities. They have also sought to have the collection of empty bottles outsourced, citing inadequate storage space and the difficulties of managing the process alongside regular sales.

Prohibition and Excise Minister K Vignesh had warned that the government would not tolerate unauthorised closures of Tasmac outlets and that disciplinary action would be taken against employees responsible for disrupting operations. Employee unions, however, have maintained that their agitation would continue until their grievances are addressed.

The party's youth wing secretary, Udhayanidhi Stalin, visited the family and paid tribute. Ramachandran (80) of Pinnaiyur near Orathanadu was a close associate of the DMK patriarch, late M Karunanidhi, and won from the Thiruvonam constituency in 1989 and 1996. In 2016, he contested in the Orathanadu segment and won.

Ramachandran sustained cardiac arrest while he was in the house at RMS Colony in Nanjikottai in Thanjavur on Monday morning. Ramachandran is survived by his wife Poomani, son Thirunthaiyan and daughter Abirami. The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday in Pinnaiyur. DMK president MK Stalin consoled the family over the phone.

The Police apprehended all five suspects within six hours of the incident after reviewing CCTV footage from the fuel station. The deceased, Balamurugan (40), was a former VCK union secretary for Ottapidaram who ran a vegetable shop and worked as a van driver.

According to the police, the murder was the fallout of a dispute over the placement of flex banners on the Sottaiyan Thoppu main road. The fatal attack occurred around 6 am on Sunday. Balamurugan had gone to a fuel outlet on Sethupathi Road to refuel his two-wheeler when a five-member gang arriving on two motorcycles surrounded him. They hacked him with sickles, and he died on the spot.

The Thalamuthunagar police recovered the body and sent it to the Thoothukudi Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Based on a complaint filed by Balamurugan’s wife, Sudha, a case was registered at the Thalamuthunagar police station.

The incident triggered tension in the highly populated area. Hundreds of locals and relatives of the victim staged a

road blockade on the Sottaiyan Thoppu main road, disrupting traffic and demanding immediate action against the killers. The protest was withdrawn after senior police officials held talks and assured them of swift arrests. Over 200 police personnel have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.

The deceased, identified as Surya alias ‘Kuttisaku’, a resident of Sadachiamman Nagar in Samayanallur, had over 10 pending criminal cases against him, including charges of murder and assault. According to the police, the incident occurred when Surya was consuming alcohol at the old panchayat office complex located on the Madurai-Dindigul National

Highway around 2 am. An armed gang confronted him and attacked him with lethal weapons. His face was severely disfigured in the attack, and he died on the spot before the assailants fled the scene.

Upon receiving information, the Samayanallur police rushed to the site, recovered the body, and sent it to the Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Preliminary investigations suggest that prior enmity and retaliation could be the motive behind the murder.

The police have launched an intensive investigation and are currently on the lookout for the absconding gang members, officials added.

CM and TVK chief also took a roadshow after the official events.

Accompanied by Ministers N Anand and J Mohammed Farvas, the Chief Minister inaugurated the new bus stand in Pudukkottai, built at a cost of Rs 23.25 crore. Spanning 20,077 sq metres, the facility has 60 bus bays, 74 shops, two eateries, and separate waiting rooms for men, women, and lactating mothers. It also has toilets, drinking water facilities and CCTV surveillance.

Later, at an event held at the Pudukkottai Collectorate, he inaugurated several other completed projects, including a knowledge centre at Santhaipettai in Alangudi, built at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore; an Urban Primary Health Centre building at Keeramangalam; Primary Health Centre buildings at Odukkur, Veerapatti and Nattamangalam; and a district sports centre in Pudukkottai town.

The 70 new projects he laid the foundation for include 23 panchayat union offices and anganwadi centres.

The Chief Minister initially distributed welfare assistance to 100 selected beneficiaries. During the distribution, he personally approached differently abled beneficiaries, handed over the assistance and interacted with them. He also took selfies with them and received petitions.

Before the event, Vijay visited stalls showcasing traditional crop varieties and value-added products from horticultural, tropical and other agricultural crops. He interacted with stall operators and also visited stalls set up by the Department of Arts and Culture.

District Collector M Aruna, MPs Durai Vaiko, S Jothimani and K Navaskani, and others were present.

The government will file a special petition in the Supreme Court, with senior advocate Mohan V Kattarki appointed as lead counsel. Keralam will also seek the Centre’s active intervention to resolve its long-standing dispute with Tamil Nadu over the dam, the minister told a press conference here. On the Baby Dam issue, the state has already informed the Apex Court that it has complied with the conditions it laid down, he added. The minister also announced a broader effort to overhaul the Water Resources Department and the Kerala Water Authority, focusing on improving drinking water supply and irrigation facilities.

The division bench of Justices P Velmurugan and KK Ramakrishnan observed that temple administrators and government officials were negligent in protecting temple lands. They noted that ancestors donated land to temples so devotees could visit and worship in peace, without hindrance.

The Bench issued the direction while hearing a petition filed by Bharathidasan of Tenkasi, who contended that the fences caused hardship for devotees. One devotee suffered electric shock injuries from the high-voltage fencing, he alleged.

According to the petitioner, the temple is located at Pottal in Malayankulam village, Cheranmahadevi taluk and the lands around it belong to the Arulmigu Sathankulam Viswanatha Swamy Temple in Thoothukudi district.

The petitioner said the temple land, spanning 0.63.5 acres, was originally gifted by the late Gobalakrishnan Pillai in 1944 under a Specific Endowment Deed to the Sathankulam Viswanatha temple, represented by its trustees.

He alleged that in 1987, descendants of the founders, acting as hereditary trustees, executed illegal sale deeds in favour of private entities, including Vishu Agro Private Limited, in violation of statutory provisions.

Vishu Agro then allegedly got the revenue records of the temple properties mutated in favour of Lakshmi Mills Company Limited, Coimbatore. The petitioner claimed that the company created multiple shell entities to grab temple lands and evade tax liabilities.

He further stated that during the annual Panguni Uthiram festival in March 2026, the company dug deep trenches along the traditional pathway to the temple, causing difficulty to devotees. After the district administration filled the trenches, the company installed live electric fences covering the entry points and access routes, he alleged.

The petitioner alleged that the live fencing posed a severe danger to devotees, and that one devotee sustained electric shock injuries from the high-voltage fence. Hence, he sought a direction to remove the fences on the traditional paths.

The Bench also directed the State to file a report on the petition, besides submitting the compliance report.

Delivering the convocation address at the 44th convocation of Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), he urged graduates to listen carefully to patients, retain their independent clinical judgement and remain lifelong learners as advances in technology reshape healthcare.

"Never surrender your insights and clinical judgement to technology or tools; it is human insight, clinical judgement and professional capability that ultimately make a difference. Never lose sight of humanity, as compassion and concern for fellow human beings must remain at the heart of healthcare," Sheth said.

He noted that medicine was evolving rapidly with the advent of artificial intelligence, precision medicine, digital healthcare, data-driven research and robotics, and stressed that medical education must keep pace with changing healthcare needs. He also underscored the importance of interdisciplinary learning, research and collaborative approaches to patient care.

The university conferred degrees on 5,278 students for the 2025-26 academic year, comprising 148 PhD scholars, 667 postgraduate students and 4,463 undergraduate students.

BIHER Registrar S Bhuminathan said the university had introduced curriculum reforms aligned with the National Education Policy, focusing on multidisciplinary learning, experiential education, skill development and learner-centred teaching.

The university reported filing 1,406 patent applications and securing 97 patents, including six international patents, during the year. Its healthcare institutions also organised 41 conferences, 61 continuing medical education programmes and 384 community outreach activities, extending healthcare services and awareness to communities across the region.

He said the university had published 12,802 papers indexed in Scopus and 5,463 in Web of Science. It had also received Rs 16 crore in research funding from government and non-government agencies during 2025-26, supported by 431 memoranda of understanding with national and international institutions.

When the plea came up before the Bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, the court was informed that a similar petition filed by the Association in Madurai was yet to be listed. The Bench adjourned the matter to next week.

The association, represented by its Secretary, S Arivazhagan, contended that the 1965 Cabinet decision was contrary to Article 348 (2) of the Constitution, which permits the use of a State official language in HC proceedings. It pointed out that while Hindi has been permitted in some High Courts, proposals from non-Hindi-speaking states to use regional languages have been rejected, thereby violating the right to equality under Article 14.

It argued that Article 348 (2) requires the President’s consent and the Governor’s authorisation and does not mandate the concurrence of the Chief Justice of India. Treating the opinion of the Chief Justice as a veto was contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers, it submitted.

Highlighting the language barriers faced by litigants in understanding court proceedings, the Association submitted that permitting regional languages was essential to ensure effective access to justice.

The Association challenged the continued application of the 1965 Cabinet policy, which treats judicial consultation as mandatory consent and retains English as the common language of High Courts until it is replaced by Hindi, while excluding regional languages. It has sought to quash the decision as unconstitutional and direct the State government to forward its 2006 and 2026 resolutions seeking permission to use Tamil in the High Court for the consent of the President

The twin expressions of interest (EoIs), issued on Monday, propose an approximately 80-nautical-mile coastal tourism circuit between Chennai and Puducherry and a multi-operator model for the existing Nagapattinam-Jaffna ferry connection. Applications have to be submitted by December 1, with the EoIs scheduled to be opened on December 2.

PWD, Highways and Minor Port Minister Aadhav Arjuna had announced in the state assembly to explore operation of ferry between Chenani and Puducherry via Mamallapuram.

The proposal to allow multiple operators on the Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai route comes amid rising passenger demand. The ferry service, revived on October 14, 2023, after nearly four decades, has recorded more than 66,000 passenger movements since its launch. Passenger traffic stood at 24,598 in 2025 and 20,977 up to August this year, according to the project information memorandum (PIM).

The multi-operator model is expected to increase sailing frequency, passenger capacity and service reliability. Interestingly, private operators will be allowed to determine fares based on market conditions and onboard facilities, subject to regulatory requirements. They can also explore hybrid vessels capable of carrying both passengers and cargo.

The potential for cargo movement is significant. Between January and June 2026, India exported 10,902 TEUs and imported 7,091 TEUs through the trade route with Sri Lanka. The Board believes this could support passenger-cum-cargo ferry operations.

Operators will have to use high-speed craft not exceeding 40 metres in length, with a maximum draft of 1.5 metres, to suit the available berthing infrastructure at Nagapattinam. Its international passenger terminal can handle more than 300 passengers at a time. The selected operators will have to enter into an agreement with TNMB and pay a refundable security deposit.

The second proposal seeks to establish a coastal ferry link connecting Chennai, Mamallapuram and Puducherry, offering an alternative to road travel along the East Coast Road and creating a tourism circuit covering the three destinations.

However, the absence of berthing infrastructure at Mamallapuram remains a major challenge. The Board has said dedicated shore facilities could be developed in the future, subject to statutory, environmental and heritage clearances. Chennai Port has an existing cruise passenger terminal with a handling capacity of around 800 passengers an hour, while Puducherry Port has a 150-metre berth capable of accommodating vessels with a draft of up to two metres.

For this route, prospective operators must have at least three years of experience operating passenger ferries with a minimum capacity of 50 passengers during the past five years. They must own or lease suitable vessels and possess valid statutory certificates.

The Board has sought suggestions from operators on passenger demand, fares, vessel capacity and sailing frequency before finalising the project requirements and floating a formal request for proposal. The pre-bid meeting for both projects is scheduled for November 16.

She managed to reach Madurai on November 1 following the intervention of Madurai MP Su Venkatesan, whom her father approached for help. Moraes said that as her visa was due to expire on October 18, she had booked a flight to Madurai for October 16. She is pursuing her fourth-year MBBS course at South Ural State Medical University in Chelyabinsk, Russia. She had booked a flight from Chelyabinsk to Moscow and an international flight from Moscow to Madurai. However, her flight was cancelled due to the conflict. She booked another flight to Moscow from Yekaterinburg, a nearby city.

When flights from there were also cancelled, she contacted the Indian Embassy for assistance but alleged that officials failed to respond.

Subsequently, she was detained at an immigration camp for allegedly overstaying her visa.

Russian immigration authorities reportedly sentenced her to 90 days and directed her to file an appeal within 10 days. She also claimed that Russian authorities had imposed a five-year ban on her re-entering the country. She further claimed that nearly 30 students from her university had faced similar difficulties in Russia.

Former industries minister TRB Rajaa, BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy and We The Leaders founder K Annamalai raised concerns over revenue mobilisation, public spending and the State's investment climate.

Rajaa said Tamil Nadu's gross GST collections grew by just 3 per cent in October, against national growth of about 16 per cent. Andhra Pradesh recorded 24 per cent growth, Kerala 23 per cent, Karnataka 18 per cent and Telangana 14 per cent. He also flagged negative growth in August and September, calling the figures two disturbing developments.

Annamalai said October's improvement was the only relief after several months of contraction but remained inadequate despite the festive season, extended school holidays and increased tourist inflows. He urged the government to monitor capital expenditure across departments, arguing that a slowdown in public spending could weaken wider economic activity.

He cited Tamil Nadu's 15.43 per cent share of the country's factories and a 10.26 per cent share of manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA), arguing that industrial growth needed to reach districts beyond the leading centres. However, the latest Annual Survey of Industries data puts the State's factory share at 15.44 per cent and its GVA share at 10.90 per cent in 2024-25, up from 10.26 per cent in 2023-24.

Separately, Narayanan Thirupathy accused the government of failing to retain three South Korean automotive component makers—Hwashin, Seoyon and Iwamet—that had signed MoUs with Andhra Pradesh to set up facilities in Anantapur. The projects involve proposed investments of Rs 1,614 crore and are expected to generate 1,418 jobs.

He said the companies had earlier held discussions with Tamil Nadu but alleged that the State failed to convert them into commitments. The BJP leader also questioned Guidance Tamil Nadu's response.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the impact of industries moving out of the state and MSME closures over the past five years was reflected in revenue collections and could not be reversed within five months.

"The decline in GST revenue cannot be attributed to a government that has been in office for just five months. The impact of policies implemented over the previous five years and industries moving out of the State will be reflected in subsequent years," he said.

Nirmalkumar alleged that Tamil Nadu's growth rate, traditionally between 8% and 10%, had slipped into negative territory during the previous regime. He asked the media to examine year-on-year growth figures for 2024-25 and 2025-26.

He accused the previous government of weakening the automobile and mobile phone manufacturing sectors and said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had directed all departments to address administrative shortcomings, revive manufacturing and strengthen MSMEs.

Meanwhile, dismissing suggestions that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's proposed district visits were linked to by-elections, Nirmalkumar said the visits were intended to meet people and inaugurate pending development projects.

He said districts allegedly neglected during the previous regime, including Ramanathapuram, would receive attention. He added that the chief minister's recent visit to Madurai was part of this outreach.

On recent prisoner escapes, the minister said a committee would be constituted with the CM's approval to conduct a comprehensive security audit of prisons.

He denied reports that the government planned to hand over prison-run shops and petrol outlets to private companies.

He alleged irregularities in the previous system of procuring food and vegetables for prisons and said the government had now routed purchases through cooperative channels to prevent direct procurement.

Construction works at Madurai and Coimbatore prisons were also being expedited. The government was particularly keen to address overcrowding at Madurai prison, he said.

Incumbent's Response

GST revenue decline cannot be blamed on a government in office for just five months

Impact of industries moving out and MSME closures over the previous five years reflected in revenue collections

Tamil Nadu's traditional growth rate of 8-10% allegedly slipped into negative territory under previous regime

Previous regime weakened automobile and mobile phone manufacturing sectors

Economic revival cannot happen within five months, says Minister

CM Vijay directs departments to address administrative shortcomings, revive manufacturing and strengthen MSMEs

Year-on-year growth figures for 2024-25 and 2025-26 should be examined, says Nirmalkumar