Unveiling major investments to boost the state's power grid, manufacturing base, and tech ecosystem, he said Rs 33,066 crore has been earmarked for the Tamil Nadu Transmission Improvement Scheme to set up 196 new substations and lay 15,000 km of power lines.

A 1,600 MW Super Critical Thermal Power Station will be set up in Tuticorin through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, involving an investment of Rs 20,800 crore, he said.

The increase follows requests from milk producers seeking a higher procurement price in view of the rise in the cost of various inputs for dairy cattle.

The Chief Minister said the move will benefit 3.16 lakh milk producers associated with the Milk Producers Cooperative Society.

What was the previous milk procurement price hike?

The milk procurement price was increased by Rs 3 per litre on August 19, from Rs 38 to Rs 41.

The Housing and Urban Development Department, in its Government Order dated August 10, 2026, rescinded its earlier notification on the proposal for the “Preparation of New Town Development Plan for Kancheepuram New Town and Detailed Development and Heritage Revitalization Plan for Kancheepuram Town 2025-2045” by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).

The previous DMK government had, in February 2023, notified its intention to establish Kancheepuram New Town across 62.78 sq km covering 18 revenue villages. The move was aimed at ensuring planned development as the city expanded rapidly towards NH-48. The notification cited unplanned commercial growth, traffic congestion and the adverse impact of development on Kancheepuram’s heritage character as key concerns.

CMDA had subsequently initiated the preparation of the New Town Development Plan and a detailed development and heritage revitalisation plan for 2025-2045, covering the proposed new town and Kancheepuram’s heritage areas.

The latest reversal comes shortly after the government dropped the proposed Parandur greenfield airport and terminated the Rs 205.89 crore work order for the Global Sports City at Semmencheri, citing a redesign of the latter on a larger footprint.

Significantly, the Housing and Urban Development Department’s 2026-27 policy note tabled in the Assembly on Friday does not mention development plans for Thirumazhisai, Minjur, Tiruvallur, Mamallapuram, Chengalpattu, Maraimalai Nagar and Sriperumbudur, adding to the uncertainty over the government’s wider new-town strategy.

Intellectuals, educationists, men and women, and school and college students took part in the rally, organised by Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, Chennai, raising slogans against substance abuse and carrying placards bearing messages calling for a ‘Drug-Free Tamil Nadu’.

Participants expressed concern over the impact of alcohol and drugs on young people and pledged to work towards protecting the younger generation from substance abuse. The participation of people from different sections of society created a strong public awareness against drugs in the area.

Organisers said that the human chain marked the culmination of the 15-day campaign and served as a collective expression of public opposition to drug abuse. They stressed that creating a drug-free society could not be achieved through government measures alone and required the collective efforts of parents, teachers, educational institutions, social organisations, youth and the general public.

The campaign concluded with a call for sustained awareness and preventive initiatives to safeguard young people and promote a healthy, drug-free Tamil Nadu.

The leaders paid floral tributes at his memorial at Teynampet here and recalled his contributions to Tamil Nadu politics and the Congress Party.

Referring to the no-confidence motion moved against the thenPrime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government in 1999, Tagore praised Moopanar’s resolute stance. “Moopanar had three members in the Lok Sabha then. Had he chosen not to vote alongside AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa at that time, the Vajpayee government would have survived. However, acting upon the request of Sonia Gandhi, he remained steadfast in his principles without any deviation, Tagore told reporters,

He also recalled his past association with the former Congress leader who floated the Tamil Maanila Congress, upset with the party’s top brass. “While growing up in the Youth Congress, he served as an iconic figure for many of us,” he said, adding, “On his death anniversary, paying homage to him on behalf of the TNCC is our solemn duty.”

Congress Rajya Sabha member Praveen Chakravarty said, “Not having the opportunity to meet the late Moopanar is one of the greatest regrets in his life. However, I share a deep and long-standing friendship with his son, GK Vasan, and his family. Through them, I have learned a great deal about Moopanar’s life and political journey. “

Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan said, “From my childhood, I have known Moopanar. A very decent politician, who was very strong in his ideology at the same time, not hurting the other leaders.”

Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister A Srinath, representing the ruling TVK, visited Moopanar’s memorial here and placed a wreath. “It is a great privilege for me to participate in this remembrance day. May his legacy live on forever,” he said.

MDMK chief Vaiko and senior CPM leader TK Rangarajan recalled Moopanar’s immense contributions to Indian politics and his exemplary public life.

Vaiko highlighted Moopanar’s proximity to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and praised his selflessness, noting how he walked in the footsteps of ‘Kingmaker’ K Kamaraj by putting the nation’s leadership above personal ambition.

Rangarajan commended Vasan for carrying forward his father’s enduring legacy and organising the commemorative event to champion secular, progressive, and inclusive politics.

Replying to Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Udhayanidhi Stalin, who sought to know the status of the project, Arjuna said it had not been scrapped and would be taken forward under a restructured model.

He said the land acquired for the project was under the control of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).

The minister said the government had already announced plans to establish sports hostels for men and women in all districts and construct 10 Olympic academies.

Explaining the proposed restructuring, Arjuna said the original Global Sports City plan covered only a few disciplines, including aquatic sports. The revised model, he said, would encompass around 42 sports.

"The Chief Minister will make an announcement on this project, and the work will commence within six months," he said.

Arjuna also alleged that the previous DMK government had initiated the project just before the Assembly elections.

MBA president V R Kamalanathan and secretary J Pothiraj made the appeal in a letter dated August 30 to the Chief Justice of India, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Association said Justice Sivagnanam was travelling in Nepal as part of a group of Tamil pilgrims when the disaster struck. It noted that the floods had caused several deaths and left several people, including Indian nationals, missing.

Landslides, debris, damaged roads and disrupted communication networks were hampering rescue operations, the Association said.

The MBA urged the authorities to coordinate closely with Nepalese agencies, including the police and rescue services, to trace the former judge.

It also sought checks at hospitals, shelters, evacuation centres and identification centres for any information about his whereabouts.

The Association further urged the deployment of Indian search-and-rescue teams and forensic resources, besides seeking regular updates to Justice Sivagnanam's family on the efforts being made to locate him.

According to a Southern Railway press release, maintenance work will be carried out between Pedabariya and Naidupeta railway stations in the Chennai division.

The details are as follows:

1. Chennai Central-Howrah Express

The Chennai Central-Howrah Express (Train No. 12840), scheduled to depart Chennai Central at 7 pm on Monday and on September 3 and 10, will instead leave at 8 pm.

On September 5 and 12, the train will depart at 9 pm instead of its scheduled 7 pm departure.

2. Pothanur-Sambalpur special train

The Sambalpur-Pothanur special train (Train No. 08311) will operate from September 9 to November 25 on Wednesdays. It will leave Sambalpur at 11.35 am and reach Pothanur at 1.30 am on the third day.

In the return direction, the Pothanur-Sambalpur special train (Train No. 08312) will operate from September 11 to November 27 on Fridays. It will leave Pothanur at 1 pm and reach Sambalpur at 11.15 pm the following day.

3. Madurai-Kanpur Central special train extended

The Kanpur Central-Madurai special train (Train No. 01925) has been extended from September 2 to November 25 and will operate on Wednesdays.

In the return direction, the Madurai-Kanpur Central special train (Train No. 01926) has been extended from September 5 to November 28 and will operate on Saturdays.

A division bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel issued the direction on a petition filed by Madurai-based advocate KR Raja, who alleged that he had reliably learnt from prisoners’ families that manual scavenging and forced toilet-cleaning were continuing in the Central Prisons at Madurai, Palayamkottai and Tiruchy, and that conditions in several district prisons in the southern districts were worse.

Raja, co-founder of Global Network for Equality, India, an organisation that supports the education of children of inmates and crime victims, also alleged that similar degrading practices existed at the Special Prison for Women, Tiruchy.

He stated that some women prisoners had been permitted to work at the Freedom Petrol Bunk operated by prison authorities as part of rehabilitation measures. However, instead of being engaged in petrol-bunk operations, they were allegedly forced to clean toilets and sanitary areas there, the petitioner claimed.

Disputing the prison authorities’ claim that municipal services alone were engaged to clean toilets, the petitioner alleged that certain blocks and barracks at the Madurai and Palayamkottai central prisons had been demarcated exclusively for prisoners from oppressed communities. These prisoners were allegedly forced to clean around 150 toilets inside cells and outside barracks, while only two appointed scavengers were employed for the entire prison, which is overcrowded.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling in Sukanya Shantha vs Union of India, which condemned caste discrimination in prisons, and the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, Raja submitted that he had made representations to prison authorities in 2025 seeking an end to caste discrimination in prison and sought legal action against all prison officials found to be responsible for perpetuating such discriminatory practices.

The authorities, however, denied that such practices existed.

Raja further sought directions to the prison authorities at Madurai, Tiruchy, and Palayamkottai to preserve CCTV footage from January 16, which he claimed would show prisoners being made to clean toilets and drainage systems.

After hearing the arguments, the court directed the DLSA in the respective districts to inspect the prisons and file a status report. The matter was posted for further hearing on October 4.

Ahead of the commencement of the debate on the Prohibition and Excise Department in the state assembly, Vignesh said the salary revision, effective September 1, was aimed at curbing MRP violations at TASMAC outlets.

Under the revised structure, the monthly salary of supervisors will increase from Rs 22,313 to Rs 33,023, while salesmen will get Rs 30,284 against Rs 19,413. The salary of assistant salesmen will rise from Rs 17,925 to Rs 28,680. The revision will entail an additional annual expenditure of Rs 486.90 crore for the government.

The minister also announced a festival advance of Rs 20,000 for employees and Rs 6,000 towards uniform and stitching expenses.

In a move aimed at improving basic facilities and cleanliness at TASMAC outlets, the government will provide Rs 5,000 per shop in corporation limits, Rs 4,000 for shops in municipalities and town panchayats, and Rs 3,000 for outlets in village areas towards maintenance.

Weekly off, eight-hour duty

The government will also introduce a rotational weekly off and an eight-hour duty period for TASMAC employees. Each employee will additionally be entitled to two casual leaves every month, Vignesh said.

The government would also take steps to appoint 250 qualified TASMAC employees as junior assistants in government departments, he said.

On MRP violations, the minister contrasted the government's proposed action with the punishment followed during the AIADMK regime. He said employees who were found charging between Rs 1 and Rs 9 above the MRP were then punished only with a fine.

"Under the TVK-led government, employees found indulging in MRP violations will face three months' suspension from service. If they repeat the violation, they will be dismissed from service. The government will not tolerate corruption," Vignesh said.

Addressing the media here, Venkatachalam said: "Even then, it is under circumstances where I cannot continue to travel within the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam that I have come to the decision to quit the movement today."

However, he clarified that his exit was not driven by friction with DMK president MK Stalin. "There is no shortcoming in the love and affection between us. Therefore, the respect and honour I have for him will remain forever," he noted.

Venkatachalam also shared a copy of a Government Order (GO) regarding the Kodiveri combined drinking water project.

He pointed out that while the project was implemented for Perundurai and Uthukuli panchayat unions, six village panchayats in the Chennimalai union, severely affected by industrial and dyeing effluents from the SIPCOT area, were excluded from receiving water supply despite clear administrative sanctions.

He requested the District Collector to ensure that water is provided to the omitted panchayats.

Venkatachalam held the portfolios, Revenue and Disaster Management and Environment, during 2012 and 2013, during the AIADMK government led by J Jayalalithaa.

He explained that after leaving the AIADMK due to earlier differences, he had joined the DMK with the primary objective of ensuring the execution of vital local initiatives, specifically the Kodiveri drinking water scheme and the Athikadavu-Avinashi groundwater recharge project.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the Athikadavu-Avinashi project, the former minister noted that when he requested Stalin during a government function to inspect the remaining work, the then Chief Minister promptly reviewed the pumping station and inaugurated the scheme.

Maintaining that he does not engage in politics merely for political mileage, he stated that he would continue to dedicatedly work for the welfare and development of the Perundurai constituency.

"My heart does not allow me to blame anyone at this time," he said, adding, "My future work will be in a way that supports the development of this Perundurai constituency".

The immigration facility where his parents were last staying has been one of the worst hit in the floods, and emergency personnel don't see any quick breakthrough to end his ordeal of finding his missing parents, Natarajan (67) and his wife Krishnaveni (56), residents of Vellode in Erode district.

After a desperate three-day search, I aborted my mission and returned to Erode on Sunday with a heavy heart, said N Kavinraj (35). “I went to Kathmandu hoping to find my parents, but could not locate them anywhere. Their names have been included in the list of people reported missing in the floods. More than 30 feet of mud and debris have accumulated around the immigration office where my parents were present when the disaster struck, making the rescue operation extremely challenging,” he said.

His parents had travelled to Nepal on a spiritual tour on August 14, along with relatives, through a Chennai-based travel operator. The couple last spoke to their son Kavinraj over the phone on August 25

When the couple became unreachable after the floods, Kavinraj travelled to Kathmandu to search for them. He visited hospitals, military camps and other locations over the next three days, but was unable to trace his parents.

“The people who have been living in the Manjolai and Meghamalai regions for several generations are now facing the threat of eviction, which would affect their livelihood,” he said while addressing reporters in Madurai. “It is possible to resolve this issue if the Forest Rights Act, 2006 is implemented properly,” he said, adding that the State government should appoint strong lawyers to represent the case before the Supreme Court while filing the review petition.

A meeting involving leaders of all political parties will be organised soon in Madurai to oppose the proposed eviction, he said.

He hit out at the TVK government, saying that they have withdrawn security cover given by successive governments for the past 30 years.

On the controversy over the TVK projecting Vijay as its Prime Ministerial candidate, Krishnasamy said, “Vijay can never contest for the post of Prime Minister at any point in time. However, it is the Congress that has to respond to such claims."

According to the police, a 25-year-old woman from Maduravoyal had been in a relationship with Lakshmanakanthan (30) of Dindigul. Two years ago, both families held marriage talks, which failed due to disputes.

The woman then stopped contacting him and changed her phone number. Police said that Lakshmanakanthan continued to pressure her into marrying him, created a fake Instagram account in her name, uploaded photos of them together from when they were in a relationship, and sent them to her friends and relatives.

Based on her complaint, Police arrested him. 

The order refers to provisions under the Tamil Nadu Recognised Private Schools (Regulation) framework and the Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulation) Rules, 2023, besides directions issued by the Madras High Court.

According to the proceedings, staff strength is to be determined on the basis of the number of students recorded in the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) as on August 1 of every academic year.

The department has also highlighted the issue of delays in issuing deployment orders to surplus teachers. The proceedings cite a Madras High Court direction requiring the School Education Department Secretary to examine the reasons for the delay in issuing deployment orders, not only in the case before the court but also in respect of 52 other surplus teachers.

The High Court has directed that if the delay is found to have occurred due to negligence or dereliction of duty by officials, appropriate action, including disciplinary proceedings, should be initiated. It has also directed that salaries paid to surplus teachers during the period of delay be recovered from the officials responsible.

The proceedings further state that delays in staff fixation have resulted in additional expenditure for the government, despite the teachers concerned having already been identified as surplus.

Under the procedure outlined in the order, the District Educational Officer will undertake staff fixation for primary and middle schools, while the Chief Educational Officer will be responsible for high and higher secondary schools. The Joint Director concerned will handle the process for Anglo-Indian schools.

The officials have been instructed to assess staff strength based on the student enrolment recorded in EMIS and identify surplus personnel accordingly. The department has reiterated that the prescribed deadlines under Rule 32 (B) must be strictly followed.

The latest proceedings are aimed at ensuring that staff fixation and deployment of surplus teachers for 2026-27 are completed without delay and that unnecessary financial burden is avoided.

Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Congress Kanniyakumari West district president, Rajesh Kumar said Congress had a clear position on the 2029 Lok Sabha election. “When journalists and media persons ask me about this in my capacity as a minister, I make our position very clear. Our leader Rahul Gandhi will become the next Prime Minister in the 2029 Lok Sabha election. If TVK does not agree to this, the two Congress ministers will not continue in their posts,” he said.

Rajesh Kumar stressed that the Congress was bigger than any individual or ministerial post. “Without this party, there is no Rajesh Kumar. The movement is bigger. If the movement asks me tomorrow to leave this post, I will step down the very next minute,” he said.

His remarks came amid a series of statements by TVK ministers and leaders projecting Vijay as a potential future Prime Minister. The issue has increasingly become a point of friction within the ruling coalition, with Congress leaders making it clear that Rahul Gandhi remains their preferred choice for the top post.

TVK, with 107 MLAs, formed the government with the support of Congress, which has 5 MLAs, and IUML and VCK, each with 2 MLAs. CPM and CPI, each with two MLAs, are extending outside support. Congress, IUML and VCK have joined the Vijay cabinet.

The Congress leadership has, in recent weeks, responded sharply to the repeated pro-Vijay projections for the PM post. TNCC president B Manickam Tagore last week took a swipe at TVK after minister Jagadeeswari said Vijay would become Prime Minister in the future.

“They are still in fan club mode. Those in fan club mode cannot be changed. Everyone is aware of the political situation in the country. Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are attempting to take away others' powers. We are fighting the BJP. Their mode is different, and our mode is different,” Tagore said.

The Vijay-for-PM campaign has also moved beyond Tamil Nadu, with posters appearing in public places and promotional reels circulating in north India. The campaign received a fresh boost after a television channel survey placed Vijay third among potential Prime Ministerial choices with 9% support, behind Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Congress MP Jothimani on Saturday dismissed the projection of Vijay as a Prime Ministerial contender as an “election strategy”. She also said no leader could surpass Rahul Gandhi in opposing and defeating the Narendra Modi-led government.

TVK minister R Nirmalkumar, responding to the Congress criticism in Madurai on Saturday, said people across the country had aspirations for Vijay and that the TVK president would take decisions based on the prevailing political situation.

“There is no need to discuss this now,” he said.

Farmers say leaf output has already dropped drastically like never before. L Manogaran, founder of the Small Tea Producers Association of Nilgiris in Kotagiri, said growers who would normally harvest around 500 kg of green leaves per acre every month were now obtaining only about 200 kg.

“I have never seen such a drop in yield in the last 50 years, since I became involved in tea cultivation.Some growers have resorted to sprinklers to offset the impact of the dry spell. But the cost of the equipment and its operation remains beyond the reach of many small tea producers,” Manogaran said.

P Raja, senior scientist at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in The Nilgiris, said intermittent showers had so far helped limit the immediate impact of the rainfall deficit. However, a continuation of dry conditions could cause significantly greater damage to plantations.

“Tea plantations have survived with intermittent rains, so the impact may not be seen immediately. But if there is no further rainfall, the annual average yield per acre, which used to hover around 7 to 8 tonnes, may reduce by 50 per cent. So far, the yield has come down by 10 to 20 per cent,” Raja said.

A prolonged moisture shortage could also increase the interval between successive harvests, reducing the volume of green leaves reaching tea-processing units and further affecting growers' incomes.

The fall in production has not, however, resulted in a corresponding rise in tea leaf prices as its procurement prices remain less than Rs 20 per kg. Raja said tea prices were determined largely by global market conditions. Consequently, a decline in local production did not automatically translate into better prices for growers.

The southwest monsoon, which normally extends from June to August, is particularly important to tea plantations in Ooty and Gudalur. Kotagiri receives rainfall from both the Southwest and Northeast Monsoons, while Coonoor receives a larger share of its rainfall from the Northeast Monsoon.

“With the Southwest Monsoon reaching its fag end, there has been a total deficit of 55 per cent due to the Super El Niño effect.The current season is the most severe Southwest Monsoon deficit in The Nilgiris in the past 15 years,” Raja said.

DOWNHILL DATA

SW monsoon deficit:

• 283 mm — rainfall received in 2026

• 874 mm — normal rainfall

• 1,038 mm — rainfall during the corresponding period last year

Cultivation decline:

• 17,300 acres — normal vegetable cultivation area

• 40% decline in area under cultivation

• 36,000 small and marginal vegetable growers affected

• 70% of Nilgiris’ population depends on farming for livelihood

Yields plunge:

• Garlic: From 4 to 2 tonnes/acre

• Potato: From 8 to 3 tonnes/acre

• Beetroot: From 15 to 8 tonnes/acre

• Cabbage: From 35 to 20 tonnes/acre

Annual tea yield at risk

• 7–8 tonnes/acre: Normal annual yield

• 10-20%: Current decline

• 50%: Fall predicted if dry conditions continue

Maize, a key ingredient in poultry feed, has seen a sharp increase in price, from around Rs 22 a kg to about Rs 30 per kg, over the past year. Farmers attribute the rise partly to the diversion of maize to industries producing ethanol.

“The diversion has been taking place for the past two years, with larger volumes being channelled to ethanol production this year. Farmers haven’t faced any shortage of maize so far, but there are growing concerns that supplies could come under pressure if the diversion for ethanol continues to increase,” said Vangili Subramaniam, president of the Tamil Nadu Egg Poultry Farmers Marketing Society.

Maize for the poultry industry is sourced largely from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Karnataka. Farmers also claimed that some traders were holding stocks to create artificial scarcity.

“The increase in feed costs extends beyond maize, as soya, which was around Rs 30 a kg, has risen to Rs 60 and above. Similarly, phosphorus, an imported mineral essential for poultry nutrition, has risen from around Rs 30 a kg a year ago to Rs 90 a kg.

The prices of the essential amino acids lysine and methionine have also surged from around Rs 150 a kg to Rs 800 a kg. A significant share of these supplies come mainly from China, and the price rise is attributed to increasing shipment costs amid the Gulf war,” he added.

Despite the steep rise in input costs, egg prices remain low, causing distress to farmers. The farm-gate price of an egg is currently around Rs 5.20, against a production cost of approximately Rs 5.50, leaving farmers with a loss on every egg. The farm-gate price of broiler chicken is around Rs 80 a kg, while the production cost is estimated at Rs 110 a kg.

“Egg prices have remained subdued because of the Shravan month and are expected to recover with the onset of winter,” said S Murugavel, another poultry farmer.

The findings from a study published in BMC Oral Health point to a combination of poor oral hygiene, limited access to dental care, and socioeconomic disadvantage among tea plantation workers in the Kothagiri Hills.

The cross-sectional study covered 540 workers who attended community dental screening camps across four tea estates between August and November 2023. It found that 62.6 per cent, or 338 workers, had periodontal destruction clinically consistent with advanced stage III/IV disease, with a 95 per cent confidence interval of 58.4 to 66.6 per cent.

The estates covered were the Rookery and Aganad divisions of Kilkothagiri Tea Estate, Tantea Estate and Thutta Palam Tea Estate. The findings also offer a glimpse into the socioeconomic circumstances of the plantation community.

Of the 540 participants, 389 (72 per cent) were women and 151 (28 per cent) men. As many as 387 workers (71.7 per cent) had no formal education, while only four (0.7 per cent) had graduate-level education or higher.

The economic profile was equally stark, with 510 participants (94.4 per cent) reporting a monthly income below Rs 10,000.

Access to dental care was limited. Although 303 workers (56.1 per cent) had visited a dentist, 237 (43.9 per cent) had never done so.

Even basic oral-hygiene practices reflected the disparity. Charcoal was used by 384 workers (71.1 per cent) to clean their teeth, while only 61 (11.3 per cent) reported using a toothbrush with toothpaste — a sharp contrast to the 74-98 per cent reported for toothbrush-and-toothpaste use across Tamil Nadu.

Another 45 workers used a toothbrush with tooth powder, while 50 used toothpaste or tooth powder with their fingers.

The clinical examination revealed notable differences between men and women. Severe clinical attachment loss of 6-8 mm was recorded in 31.1 per cent of men, compared with 19.3 per cent of women. Calculus was also more common among men (33 per cent) than among women (21 per cent).

Bleeding on probing, however, was more frequent among women, at 35 per cent compared with 22 per cent among men. Tooth loss attributed to periodontal disease was recorded in 19 per cent of participants.

The adjusted analysis found that men had 1.9 times the odds of severe periodontitis compared with women. Workers with low educational attainment had 2.3 times the odds, while irregular dental attendance was associated with 1.7 times the odds. Age was not statistically significant in the adjusted model.

Tobacco use was another concern. About 41 per cent of male participants reported tobacco use, particularly smoked forms such as beedi. Although tobacco variables were not retained in the final regression model because of multicollinearity, the researchers said tobacco exposure likely contributed substantially to disease severity.

The researchers called for regular periodontal screening, oral health education, tobacco cessation support, and referral services within plantation communities.

The study, however, has important limitations. It relied on voluntary, non-probability sampling from four estates, while periodontal staging was based on field clinical assessment without radiographic evaluation or a complete assessment of the 2017 classification. The cross-sectional design also rules out conclusions about cause and effect.

The authors stressed that the findings should not be generalised to all tea plantation workers in Tamil Nadu. They called for representative longitudinal studies using probability-based sampling, standardised periodontal assessment and appropriate multilevel analysis to validate the findings.

Caught in Charcoal Era

• 62.6%: 338 of 540 workers had advanced periodontal destruction

• 71.7%: Had no formal education

• 94.4%: Earned below Rs 10,000 a month

• 43.9%: Had never visited a dentist

• 71.1%: Used charcoal to clean their teeth

• 11.3%: Used a toothbrush with toothpaste

• 31.1%: Men with severe clinical attachment loss, compared with 19.3% of women

• 41%: Male participants who reported tobacco use

*Findings from four estates cannot be generalised to all tea plantation workers

Residents and activists averred that students would often run towards buses and hang from the footboards and railings even when seats are available inside. Some students travel with their feet dangerously close to the road, leaving motorists and other passengers shocked.

The issue came into focus after a Class 9 student, Deena Dayalan (14), from a government school near Mahabalipuram, died on Wednesday after falling from the footboard of a government bus while travelling to school. The Mahabalipuram police registered a case and are investigating the incident.

Despite such incidents occurring from time to time, there has been little change in the behaviour of students, particularly those travelling from rural villages.

A similar situation has been reported at Pappankulam in Uthiramerur municipality. A large number of students from villages surrounding Uthiramerur depend on government buses to reach the school. A resident said, “Students are frequently seen hanging from the footboard railings and bus window bars, even when there is sufficient space inside the buses. This is dangerous, and a cause for concern.”

Transport employees said that drivers and conductors often warned students against footboard travel. However, some students argue with the staff and, at times, gather their friends and threaten them. Residents also pointed out that the presence of traffic police was limited in several rural areas, making it difficult for police to intervene immediately and prevent such violations.

Social activists have urged schools and parents to jointly counsel students about the dangers of footboard travel and take steps to discourage such behaviour. They have also urged the Transport Department to operate additional buses during peak morning and evening hours on routes serving areas with a large number of schools, so that overcrowding does not force or encourage students to travel dangerously.

“Vegetables are cultivated across around 17,300 acres in the Nilgiris. Due to lack of rainfall, the area under cultivation has declined by nearly 40 per cent. For instance, garlic, which was cultivated across around 700 acres, is now grown in only about 425 acres. Compared to the bountiful yield recorded last year, vegetable yields have also declined by around 20 per cent this year due to water shortage. Nearly 70 per cent of the population in the Nilgiris depends on farming for livelihood,” said K Kannamani, Deputy Director of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business, The Nilgiris.

The rainfall deficit has not only discouraged farmers from taking up fresh cultivation but has also affected crop development. P Maragathamani, Joint Director of Horticulture, Nilgiris, said the district received just 283 mm of rainfall in 2026, against the normal 874 mm. During the corresponding monsoon period last year, the district had received 1,038 mm.

“This year, rains were recorded only for about a week in June, followed by a prolonged dry spell throughout the southwest monsoon, which normally extends from June 10 to August 20,” she said.

The failure of the monsoon has severely affected both the area under cultivation and yields of major hill vegetable crops. “ Potato growers, in particular, have reported poor tuber formation due to inadequate soil moisture. Garlic yield has declined from around four tonnes to two tonnes per acre, potato from eight tonnes to three tonnes, beetroot from 15 tonnes to eight tonnes, cabbage from 35 tonnes to 20 tonnes per acre, while carrot yield has also fallen drastically,” said Maragathamani.

Besides lack of rains, the farmers have also had to contend with higher temperatures in recent months, further stressing crops.

“Temperatures have risen in recent months, affecting cultivation. Even some of the recent downpours came in the form of cloudbursts, which can be more destructive as they cause erosion of fertile topsoil. Vegetable growers in the district, who normally produce around 18 to 20 tonnes of hill vegetables a month, have been managing with just 10 to 12 tonnes in recent months. A combination of water scarcity, rising temperatures and erratic rainfall took a heavy toll on crops,” said A Ganeshan Arunasalam, vice-president of the Nilgiris Organic Horticulture Farmers Association (TOHFA).

Unlike farmers in the plains, vegetable growers in the hills have limited alternatives when rainfall fails. They depend heavily on rain-fed cultivation, while restrictions on digging wells and drilling borewells make it difficult to develop reliable alternative sources of irrigation.

The crisis is affecting around 36,000 small and marginal vegetable growers in the Nilgiris. The district is known for producing a wide range of traditional hill vegetables, including carrot, beetroot, radish, cabbage, chow-chow and garlic. Farmers also cultivate high-value exotic vegetables such as lettuce, iceberg lettuce, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, Brussels sprouts and leek.

A substantial portion of the exotic vegetable produce is supplied to markets across south India. With production now significantly below normal, farmers are facing a double blow — lower yields and farm incomes on one hand, and sharply rising cultivation and market prices on the other.

The reduced supply has already pushed vegetable prices higher in retail markets, raising concerns that the prolonged production shortfall could further tighten supplies and keep prices elevated in the regional markets.

The organisation received photographs and details of 245 locations from 157 volunteers as part of a six-week public survey launched on June 29. The findings were compiled into a report released on Saturday and submitted as a complaint to the state government and Chennai Corporation authorities, said its coordinator Jayaram Venkatesan.

The failure to mill or remove existing road surfaces before laying new ones was a major reason for the problem, it said, noting how road levels rise with each resurfacing, while houses and other infrastructure remain at their original elevation.

In Alisoor village in Uthiramerur taluk of Kancheepuram district, the existing cement road was allegedly not removed before wet-mix material and paver blocks were laid last month. Due to this, some houses that were already below road level were pushed nearly another foot lower.

In Mugalivakkam, several houses were found to be more than two feet below the road, according to the report. Residents face the risk of rainwater and sewage entering their homes during the monsoon, it said.

The elevated roads have also affected access to houses. Residents who earlier climbed steps to enter their homes now have to descend from road level, posing difficulties for elderly people and wheelchair users, the organisation said.

Arappor Iyakkam also flagged the safety risk posed by recessed manholes. When only the road surface is raised, manhole covers can remain below the new level, creating depressions in the middle of roads and increasing the risk of two-wheeler accidents.

Residents are also being forced to spend large sums to raise the floors of their houses to prevent flooding, said the organisation, claiming that some households had spent up to Rs 40 lakh on such works.

The group alleged that the problem was also leading to avoidable expenditure by government agencies, which subsequently have to raise footpaths, sewer manholes and electrical boxes to match the new road levels.

A resident from Tiruvallur district told the organisation that residents' objections to road works were often ignored, and alleged that instead of taking action against contractors, some officials had even advised some affected homeowners to demolish their houses and rebuild them.

Citing several such cases, Arappor has sought mandatory milling of old roads before resurfacing and said tender documents should specify the required excavation depth. It also demanded that the elevation of roads should be measured before and after works with reference to mean sea level and the details be published online.

The organisation proposed making photographic and video evidence of old-road removal and elevation measurements mandatory before contractors are paid. It also sought compensation of up to Rs 40 lakh for homeowners whose properties are pushed below road level due to irregular road works.

It called for an expert committee to examine existing problem areas and work out a long-term plan to address houses already left below road level, including reducing the elevation of major roads wherever required.

The report has been sent to the Chief Minister, and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, the Highways ministers, senior officials of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Highways and Rural Development departments, and also the Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner.

Speaking to reporters in Vellore, Palaniswami alleged that the government had borrowed Rs 28,000 crore within its first 100 days in office. He accused the government of following the previous DMK regime’s financial policies, recalling that the earlier government had constituted a high-level committee to increase revenue, but the State’s debt eventually crossed Rs. 10 lakh crore.

Palaniswami said the present government had also constituted a high-level committee to improve revenue. If borrowing continued at the current pace, the State’s debt could reach Rs 20 lakh crore, he claimed, adding that such a situation would prevent the government from completing its five-year term.

He also criticised the government for failing to give a satisfactory response to the rise in prices of essential commodities.

On the proposal to provide cars to MLAs, Palaniswami said he had told AIADMK legislators that those who needed a vehicle could avail themselves of the facility. However, he said he would not accept a government-provided car as he already owned one.

Palaniswami also criticised the functioning of the Assembly but welcomed the decision to telecast proceedings live.

AIADMK announces jallikattu stir on Sept 3

Meanwhile, AIADMK has announced that it will stage a protest at Alanganallur in Madurai on September 3 against recent remarks by TVK Sholavandan legislator MV Karuppaiah on jallikattu. Palaniswami said the remarks had insulted the traditional sport and were unacceptable.

Palaniswami highlighted that jallikattu represents the pride, culture, and valour of Tamils.

The former chief minister detailed the party's historical legal battles to protect the sport, noting how the late CM J Jayalalithaa pressed the central government and filed a review petition after the Supreme Court banned the event in 2014.

He further cited the AIADMK government's enactment of an ordinance in January 2017 following widespread youth protests, and a subsequent amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which secured a favourable Constitution Bench verdict in May 2023.

The demonstration will be spearheaded by the AIADMK's combined Madurai district units under the leadership of former ministers Sellur K Raju, RB Udhayakumar, and VV Rajan Chellappa.

Palaniswami urged party functionaries, jallikattu participants, bull owners, enthusiasts, and the general public to turn out in large numbers at Alanganallur on September 3 at 9.30 am.

Flaying Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's announcement at an event in Mysuru to approach the Union government for clearances by misinterpreting a recent Supreme Court order, he said the state's admission that the project will benefit its farmers exposes its true intention to divert water for irrigation, contradicting its earlier stance that the reservoir was strictly meant for drinking water needs.

"This shift directly invalidates the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka and provides sufficient grounds for the Union government and the Supreme Court to reject the proposal entirely," he said in a statement.

Stating that Karnataka's revised estimate of the submergence area from 5,000 hectares to 5,400 hectares indicates that the reservoir will store far more than the planned 67 TMC of water, posing catastrophic environmental and wildlife threats, he alleged "a dam failure due to natural disasters would also trigger devastating floods in downstream regions of Tamil Nadu".

Warning that Tamil Nadu's silence could lead to the permanent loss of its water rights, Anbumani called on the state government to counter Karnataka's false narratives, present the true legal facts to the nation, and immediately convene an all-party meeting to formulate a unified strategy.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in an event organized by Pasumai Thayagam in Chennai to save Pallikaranai marshland he demanded that the government immediately notify the Pallikaranai marshland as a protected wetland.

He alleged that successive DMK and AIADMK governments had failed to notify the marshland to facilitate corruption.

The grandmother, Anjammal (60), wife of Palanichamy, from Kollapatti Samathuvapuram near Vadamadurai, is undergoing intensive treatment at the Dindigul Government Hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Yogavarshini (11) and her younger sister Ananya (6), daughters of Nagaraj; Dhanushree (3), daughter of Jegatheesan; and Moshi Kiran (6), son of Chinnathambi.

According to the police, Anjammal took the goats to graze at the Puthur-Kanavaimedu area around 2 pm on Sunday, accompanied by six children.

After leaving the goats to graze by the roadside, Anjammal and the children sat down on a concrete structure by the side of the road. Anjammal suddenly noticed a milk van travelling at a high speed from the Kollapatti side towards Puthur. When she realised that the van was speeding towards them, Anjammal asked the children to run away.

While two of the girls quickly got up and ran, Anjammal tried to move the others to safety, but it was too late, as the van allegedly rammed into them and fled without stopping, the police said.

All the four children died on the way to the Dindigul Government Hospital in two ambulances.

The van driver Saravanan (29) of Kurundampatti later surrendered before the Vadamadurai police.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of the four children and Rs 1 lakh to Anjalaiyammal.

According to the Education Department's inquiry, the headmistress, Vimala Devi, had neither discriminated against the girl nor her mother based on caste. However, the inquiry found that she did not handle the situation with the required administrative sensitivity and efficiency.

The officials also clarified that the headmistress had neither forced the mother and daughter to stand nor asked the mother to fold her hands. The officials added that there was no CCTV camera in the headmistress’s room, but their questioning of the headmistress and teachers at the school did not corroborate the allegation that she had scolded the girl.

“She could have asked the mother and the girl to sit down and then followed the prescribed administrative procedure. She should also have avoided making a phone call to enquire about the girl’s background in her presence,” an Education Department official said.

The official said the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death might involve several factors and that it would not be appropriate to attribute it to a single incident. “But the fact remains that we have lost a life,” the official said, adding that the police investigation will shed more light on the incident.

“The suspension came after the Usilampatti police invoked provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the headmistress following a complaint by the deceased girl’s mother, P. Thavamani, who alleged that the headmistress had humiliated her daughter, P. Nishanthi, when they approached the school seeking admission to Class XI.

Police initially registered the case as a suspicious death under Section 174 of the CrPC. However, after Thavamani filed a fresh complaint on August 28, the case was altered to include provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

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

In the complaint, Thavamani also alleged that the headmistress questioned the girl’s conduct for attempting to join this school despite having already been admitted to the Government Kallar Higher Secondary School. The headmistress then allegedly made a phone call to her counterpart and enquired about the girl’s conduct over the phone on speaker mode. According to the deceased girl’s mother, this upset Nishanthi.

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

Nishanthi had secured 415 marks in Class X and had joined the Biology-Mathematics stream hoping to become a nurse. However, she found it difficult and asked her teachers to allow her to shift to the Commerce stream, but her request was not accepted. Since then, she hasn't shown interest in going to school, said the police source.

The canal was damaged after heavy rains in November and December last year caused floodwaters to flow through it. Residents have sought immediate action to restore the damaged portions ahead of the monsoon.

The Krishna canal carries water from the Kandaleru reservoir near Nellore to Poondi lake in Tamil Nadu. It was constructed as part of the Telugu Ganga project to meet Chennai’s drinking water needs.

The Telugu Ganga project agreement was signed in 1983 by then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MG Ramachandran and then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao. Under the agreement, Andhra Pradesh is required to supply 12 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu every year.

Of this, 8 TMC is to be released from Kandaleru reservoir to Poondi lake between July and October, and 4 TMC between January and April.

The Krishna canal runs for 177 km from Kandaleru reservoir to Poondi lake, including 152 km in Andhra Pradesh and 25 km from the Tamil Nadu border near Thamarai Kuppam’s Zero Point to Poondi lake.

Construction of the canal began in 1983 and was completed in 1995. Water has been reaching Poondi lake from Kandaleru reservoir through the canal since 1996.

Speaking to reporters at Tiruchirappalli airport, Thirumavalavan said the omission has raised serious questions and called upon the officials and ministers concerned to provide a proper explanation.

He said the government must investigate how the lapse occurred and take steps to ensure that such mistakes are not repeated in future policy documents.

The VCK leader also stressed that the Tamil Nadu government had several responsibilities towards Dalits, including strengthening measures to protect them and considering special legislation for their welfare and safety.

Thirumavalavan said his party expected the government to fulfil these commitments and would continue to press for effective action.

The controversy erupted after references to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Periyar, Ambedkar and the Justice Party were found missing from the Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes Welfare Department’s policy note for 2026-27, which was tabled in the Assembly on Thursday.

The previous DMK government’s policy note had prominently mentioned these leaders and their contributions to the social justice and reservation movements. The latest document also reportedly omitted references to the Communal Government Order, Periyar’s agitations, the Mandal Commission and the introduction of 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in Union government jobs and admissions to educational institutions.

The DMK accused the TVK government of deliberately erasing crucial chapters from Tamil Nadu’s social justice history.

DMK legal wing joint secretary I Paranthaman alleged that the omission amounted to a historic betrayal in a state regarded as the cradle of social justice and a powerful voice for oppressed communities.

He claimed that the contributions of the Justice Party and prominent social justice leaders had been removed as part of a calculated effort.

The DMK further accused the TVK administration of functioning as a “shadow BJP government” despite coming to power with the support of Congress and other allies.

Responding to the criticism, Backward Classes Welfare Minister V. Sampath Kumar took moral responsibility for the omissions.

He acknowledged the lapse and assured that a corrected and revised version of the policy note would be published.

Thirumavalavan also criticised the decision to downgrade the security cover provided to former Chief Minister MK Stalin. Terming the move inappropriate, he urged the government to restore the security arrangements previously extended to the DMK leader.

Onions, a staple used in kitchens, have become more expensive over the past few weeks. Large onions, which were available for about Rs 30 a kg at the end of last month, are now being sold at nearly Rs 60 a kg in many retail markets. Prices of small onions, or shallots, have risen steeply, climbing from around Rs 40-50 a kg last month to nearly Rs 70 a kg.

The increase has affected consumers already coping with higher prices of several essential vegetables.

With market rates continuing to remain firm, the cooperative sector has decided to intervene by procuring onions in bulk and supplying them through the public distribution system at prices substantially below prevailing retail levels.

As part of the initiative, the state has approached the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India, commonly known as NAFED, seeking an allocation of 70,000 kg of onions.

The request follows the Union government’s move to make onions available to consumers at affordable prices through retail channels. Once the consignment is received from the Central agency, the onions will be distributed to ration shops across Tamil Nadu.

They are expected to be sold for between Rs 30 and Rs 40 per kg, providing consumers with relief of up to Rs 30 per kg compared to prices in the open market.

Officials said the first consignment would help assess demand before further quantities are sought. Details regarding the number of ration outlets covered, purchase limits for individual cardholders and the date on which sales will begin are expected to be announced after supplies reach the state.

The proposed intervention is intended to provide immediate relief to families and curb the impact of the sudden price surge.

Cooperative outlets and ration shops have previously been used by the government to sell essential commodities at controlled prices whenever supply shortages or seasonal fluctuations caused retail prices to rise sharply.

Authorities are expected to monitor onion prices and availability in wholesale and retail markets while the subsidised sales programme is rolled out.

The deceased were identified as Radha, 65, her daughter Poongodi, 39, and her grandsons Gokul, 11, and Dhanalakshmi, 10. The injured included autorickshaw driver Lokanathan, 42, Poongodi’s relative Prashanth, 15, and another passenger.

According to police, Lokanathan, a resident of Kodungaiyur in Chennai, was driving the autorickshaw carrying his wife Poongodi, their 10-year-old daughter Dhanalakshmi, his mother-in-law Radha and relatives Gokul and Prashanth. They were travelling to the Arulmigu Bhavani Amman Temple in Periyapalayam on Friday night.

When the autorickshaw was near the MTC Nagar bus stop at Panapakkam village on the Chennai-Periyapalayam highway, it collided with an unidentified lorry travelling ahead.

The passengers suffered severe injuries in the accident. Police personnel from Periyapalayam police station rushed to the spot and rescued five people who were injured. They were taken by 108 ambulance to the Periyapalayam government primary health centre.

Radha died at the scene. Gokul, a Class 6 student, and Poongodi died while undergoing treatment at the health centre.

The injured were given first aid and later shifted to Tiruvallur Government Hospital for further treatment. Dhanalakshmi, a Class 5 student, later died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Police sent the bodies of the four deceased for post-mortem examination at Tiruvallur Government Hospital.

A case has been registered and police are searching for the unidentified vehicle involved in the accident.

The clarification followed a claim by a DMK functionary that the programme had been stopped. The Desk said the claim was completely false.

The department said the programme would continue and be expanded to all Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare higher secondary schools.

“Special coaching for 19 types of higher education entrance examinations, including IIT, JEE and NEET, has not been stopped,” it said. The Information Integrity Desk urged the public not to circulate false information.

According to the department, 187 students secured admission to higher educational institutions through the programme last year. So far this year, 357 students have secured admission to institutions including IITTM in Noida, NIT Andhra Pradesh, NIFT campuses in Chennai and Bengaluru, and FDDI in Chennai.

The department said the programme would continue and be expanded to all Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare higher secondary schools.

The Information Integrity Desk urged the public not to circulate false information about the initiative.

Nainar said Badhurudeen’s attempt to portray Amaran, based on the life of Major Mukund Varadarajan, as being against a particular community was condemnable.

“If a film tells the true story of Pakistani terrorists, how does it amount to insulting Muslims? Why does Madhar Badhurudeen object to a terrorist being punished? Should an Indian citizen feel sympathy for terrorists killed by security forces? Is your sympathy for the Indian Army or terrorists crossing the border?” he asked in a statement.

Referring to Badhurudeen’s claim that scenes involving terrorists were removed from Vijay-starrer Thuppakki, Nainar said the MLA’s remarks could disturb communal harmony. He urged CM Vijay to condemn them, warning that otherwise people would view them as reflecting TVK’s official position.

The controversy started with Mustafa's remarks terming DMK anti-Muslims in the Assembly, with the opposition party sharing old videos of the present TVK member hitting out at CM Vijay for portraying Muslims as terrorists in Thuppakki and Beast movies. In an attempt to hit back at the DMK, Mustafa questioned why Udhayanidhi's Red Giant Movies distributed the movie Amaran, which he said depicted Muslims as terrorists.

BJP state secretary Vinoj P Selvam joined the issue and questioned Mustafa’s objections to the depiction of terrorism in Amaran. “What is his problem with depicting terrorism in Kashmir and the brutality of terrorists? How does he want terrorists to be portrayed—as aliens?” Vinoj Selvam asked.

He also sought CM Vijay’s response to Badhurudeen’s claims that scenes considered anti-Muslim were removed from Thuppakki and Vishwaroopam, asking whether the actors concerned really acted against Muslims in the films or just yielded to pressure.

The tenders, each valued at around Rs 10 lakh, were issued as limited tenders instead of open online bids, prompting Arappor Iyakkam to question the rationale behind restricting participation.

The organisation had urged the government to cancel the tenders and first establish the need for the proposed technical appointments.

“Why are limited tenders being floated repeatedly?” Arappor Iyakkam had asked, alleging that the restricted process could enable only contractors favoured by departmental engineers to participate.

It also questioned the need for additional technical personnel, citing the existing staffing position in Chennai City Roads Divisions-I and II.

According to the organisation, Division-I has nine assistant engineers, four assistant divisional engineers, one divisional engineer and eight draftsmen, while Division-II has eight assistant engineers, four assistant divisional engineers, one divisional engineer and eight draftsmen. It said none of these posts was vacant.

The two divisions, it said, together have 43 sanctioned technical posts, comprising 27 engineers and 16 draftsmen, and all were occupied.

Welcoming the cancellation, Arappor Iyakkam thanked the government and urged it to ensure that all departmental tenders are floated as open online bids.

It also called for amendments to tender laws to make transparent bidding mandatory and sought action against public servants found responsible for irregularities.

The organisation said it would continue to pursue the issue and seek greater transparency in government tendering.

Talking to reporters at Chennai airport after returning from New Delhi, Rajmohan said 33 rescued persons would reach Coimbatore by flight from Delhi on Monday evening, while another six would arrive in Chennai later that night. "Of the 319 people who travelled from Tamil Nadu in different groups, 219 are safe. They will return by Monday night," he said.

The minister said 21 of the 57 members of the group that travelled through a Kumbakonam-based travel agency had been rescued and brought back safely to Chennai. Efforts were continuing to trace the remaining 36 members of the group.

The whereabouts of 49 people who travelled from Chromepet as part of the Mahadevi Yatra group were also unknown, he said.

Another group of 150 people had reached Kathmandu through the China border and were returning on different flights, while 39 others were safe, Rajmohan said.

Describing the disaster as an international-scale calamity, the Minister said there was a possibility of bodies and belongings being found hundreds of kilometres from the affected areas. "The armies of both countries are involved in the rescue operations," he said.

A war room had been set up at Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to coordinate the rescue efforts and assist anxious families. The State government had also held discussions with the Union government and coordinated with the authorities concerned, he said.

While four ministers, including Rajmohan, travelled to Delhi, three returned to Chennai on Saturday night, while Minister for Non-Resident Tamils Welfare K Thennarasu remained in the national capital to oversee the rescue operations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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