The Pukkathurai flyover is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 21 crore, while the Padalam flyover is being built at a cost of Rs 21.50 crore.

Ahead of the Ayudha Pooja festival, the Collector inspected Paranur toll plaza, Irungunrampalli, the Palar bridge, Pukkathurai and Padalam on Wednesday to review measures to ease traffic congestion.

At Paranur toll plaza, a congestion-prone stretch on national highways in the district, he instructed NHAI officials to repair the road and provide adequate lighting to ensure the smooth movement of vehicles.

He also directed the officials concerned to remove soil deposits and waste along the roads near Irungunrampalli and the Palar bridge, and carry out road repairs to prevent traffic disruptions.

At Pukkathurai, the Collector inspected the ongoing construction of the flyover and instructed the NHAI project director to expedite the work and take steps to open it to the public from October 16.

During his inspection of the Pukkathurai junction and the service roads near the national highway at Padalam, Veerappan directed officials to remove encroachments obstructing traffic and repair the roads.

He also inspected the flyover under construction at Padalam and instructed the NHAI project director to expedite the work and complete it before Deepavali.

NHAI Chengalpattu project director M S Chaithanya, Madurantakam Revenue Divisional Officer Narendra, Chengalpattu Deputy Superintendent of Police T Veerakumar, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation managing director Sridharan, officials from various departments and traffic police personnel accompanied the Collector during the inspection.

The directorate said that eligible candidates can apply for the courses through the official website, www.tnayushselection.org. The information brochure, containing details of the courses, eligibility criteria, and counselling schedule, is available on the website.

Application forms will be accepted only through online mode. The fee for the application, online counselling fee, and advance tuition fee should be paid online.

The statement from the directorate added that candidates should download their applications, attach self-attested copies of the required certificates, and submit them to the secretary, selection committee, Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Arignar Anna Government Indian Medicine Hospital campus, Arumbakkam, Chennai.

The completed applications should reach the office by 5 pm on October 29.

The candidates are advised to refer to the information brochure on the official website for further details regarding the admission process.

The four arrested are Muthusamy, 47, of Madathuvilai in Arumuganeri; his wife; Krupa, 44, who worked at the house of the society's secretary, Devaraj; Murugan, 62, an electrician from Shanmugapuram in Veerapandianpattinam; and Isakkithurai, 33, of South Manadu in Tiruchendur.

The arrests followed a re-investigation ordered by the court into the fraud, which allegedly took place between May 22, 2019, and August 24, 2021. The investigation found that gold jewellery misappropriated from the society had been re-pledged at various banks and cooperative societies in the names of more than 10 people, including Devaraj's car driver, domestic workers and friends. The institutions named in the investigation include those in Sethukuvaithan, Udankudi and Madhavakurichi.

The re-investigation is being conducted under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Saravanakumar and led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Jeyapal Barnabas, following petitions filed by victims seeking the return of their pledged jewellery.

The alleged fraud involved the diversion of bank deposits and the re-pledging of jewellery at other banks in the names of different people, amounting to Rs 29 crore, during the period mentioned.

Based on a complaint lodged by Valarmathi, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Tiruchendur division, the EOW police had earlier registered a case and arrested society secretary Devaraj, assistant secretary Jhansichandrakanta Gnanabai, president Murugesapandian, clerk Sivagami and jewellery appraiser Arumuganainar.

The victims subsequently approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which directed the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies to immediately refund 30 per cent of their deposits. Money has since been returned to several victims.

VG Jagadeesan, State secretary of RSS’s north Tamil Nadu unit, approached the court seeking permission to conduct route marches followed by public meetings across Tamil Nadu on October 18, October 25, and November 1.

He had submitted a representation to the State police chief on October 3 seeking directions to all Commissioners and Superintendents to grant permission for the marches. However, the DGP had not issued any directions, he said.

When the case came up for hearing again, Justice V Lakshminarayanan took strong objection to the State citing the presence of mosques and Eidgahs along the proposed routes as a reason for denying permission, stating that it would portray Muslims in a bad light.

The judge noted that an Eidgah was for gathering and praying during Ramzan and Bakrid. “You're saying that they (Muslims) will celebrate Ramzan in October? You're giving a bad name to Muslims," the court told the State.

The judge added that it was a matter of agony that the police portrayed the minority community as having issues with the procession. "Citizens' rights cannot be surrendered to the whims and fancies of the police," the judge remarked.

The court pointed out that while laying down detailed guidelines to prevent unnecessary litigation over RSS route marches, Justice G Jayachandran had rejected reasons such as the presence of mosques and churches, possible traffic congestion, and organisations with different ideologies, terming them "lame". However, the State had again cited the same reasons to deny permission, the judge said.

The court directed the petitioner to file an affidavit providing details of the proposed routes, the person in charge, and the participants, along with an undertaking to strictly comply with the court's conditions. It also directed the Advocate General to obtain instructions from the police chief on granting permission after the affidavit was filed.

The court adjourned the hearing to Friday, October 16.

The four youth, who had travelled from Adoor in Kerala on Wednesday evening, were heading to  Kulasekarapattinam   when they followed the navigation app into a lane barely wide enough for a motorcycle.

Once inside, the car became stuck between two walls, leaving the occupants unable to move forward or reverse. They were also unable to get out of the vehicle, leaving them stranded until residents in the area noticed their plight.

The residents rushed to help and tried to push the car out of the narrow passage. After efforts, they managed to free the vehicle and bring it back to the road.

Personnel from the Kuzhithurai Fire and Rescue Services also arrived at the spot to assist in the rescue.

When questioned, the youth said they had come from Kerala and were heading to  Kulasekarapattinam but had taken the wrong route.

With the help of the residents, the four youth were safely sent on their way.

Widespread rain was witnessed in Chennai and its suburbs on Thursday, with the city recording light rain and while suburbs saw moderate to heavy rainfall.

Addressing the media, Durai said northern districts are likely to receive below-normal rainfall, southern districts above-normal rainfall, and coastal districts normal rainfall.

The southwest monsoon ended with a 20% deficit this year, with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and neighbouring regions experiencing below-normal rain and intense heat. Southern districts received normal rainfall, while interior districts recorded below-normal rainfall.

Durai said the southwest monsoon withdrew completely from all parts of the country on Thursday. Northeasterly winds have begun blowing over the southern peninsula, and the northeast monsoon has commenced over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe.

On the impact of El Niño, he said Tamil Nadu has historically received higher rainfall in such years, but the formation of low-pressure areas is likely to be low. El Niño conditions are expected to persist until January-February next year.

Moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely in some areas in Chennai on Friday.

As per the forecast for Friday, heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, is likely over the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi and Madurai.

Heavy rain at isolated places is likely over Erode, Tiruppur, Virudhunagar, Kanniyakumari, Cuddalore, Karur, Puducherry, Ariyalur, Pudukottai, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tiruchirappalli, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Karaikal. The rest of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry may receive moderate rain at many places.

On Saturday, heavy rain with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are likely at isolated places over the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Tiruppur, Chennai, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu.

Referring to the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast, he said the State may receive heavy rainfall from the first week of November owing to the El Nino effect.

After chairing a review meeting on precautionary measures taken by various government departments on Thursday, Sengottaiyan told reporters that boats and other essential equipment had been kept ready to rescue people living in flood-prone areas.

"Officials are reviewing the power supply arrangements at all government hospitals. Food will be supplied through Amma Canteens to needy people during heavy rain," he said. He added that the government was taking precautionary measures to minimise the impact of heavy rain and ensure that essential services were not affected during the monsoon.

Speaking to reporters after a review of the North East monsoon preparedness meeting at the TNPDCL headquarters, he said the final procurement decision would be taken after assessing the evening peak demand. If rainfall increases and power consumption falls further, the purchase quantum will be revised accordingly.

The state had planned to procure additional 3500 MW power at a cost of upto Rs 37 per unit to meet peak demand and prevent outages. However, cooler weather has reduced the use of air conditioners and other cooling appliances, bringing down electricity consumption.

With the northeast monsoon setting in, the power utility has stepped up preventive maintenance and emergency preparedness to minimise disruptions. Preparatory work has been under way for the past three months, with vulnerable locations mapped and teams and equipment kept ready for repairs, Nirmalkumar said.

The utility has also deployed additional teams in Chennai to attend to faults, particularly during night hours. Seven additional teams have been arranged for the city, while 12 teams will begin night patrols from Thursday to address high-tension power supply faults across 19 distribution divisions in Chennai and its surrounding areas, according to the review meeting.

As part of monsoon preparations, pillar boxes in low-lying areas of Chennai are being raised by one metre to prevent water ingress during heavy rain. Work at locations identified by the Greater Chennai Corporation has been completed, while around 40% of the work at additional locations identified by the electricity utility has been completed, he said.

Additional Chief Secretary and power utility chairman Rajesh Lakhoni, TNPGCL managing director M Govinda Rao, Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation managing director P N Sridhar and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the livelihood issues faced by auto drivers led to widespread protests across the State. Even as drivers took to the streets in Kundrathur and Uthukottai, claiming the Vettri Payanam scheme is eating into their revenues, they were stopped from holding a rally in Tiruchy. The auto drivers attached to CITU announced a protest rally from Major Saravanan roundabout to the Collectorate on Thursday. Police refused permission for the rally and the protest, leading to condemnation over denying a 'democratic right.'

However, the Tamil Nadu Auto Drivers' Unions Federation staged a hunger strike near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore on October 15, pressing for various demands concerning drivers' livelihoods and welfare. Following the protest, the minister invited representatives of more than 20 trade unions to the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) headquarters for discussions.

In a statement issued after the meeting, A Jahir Hussain, executive president of Urimai Kural Drivers' Union, said the minister had firmly assured the representatives that auto-meter fares would be revised before Deepavali. He had also assured them that the drivers' other livelihood-related demands would be addressed in phases.

"The unions' demands were already under the government's consideration and that the minister had assured the representatives that he would bring their legitimate demands to the attention of the Chief Minister for early action," said MTC in its official press release

The meeting also addressed the recent death by suicide of Ibrahim, an auto driver from Vyasarpadi. Expressing distress over the incident, the minister conveyed his condolences to the family and received a petition from Ibrahim's son, assuring him it would be looked into.

In a statement, the party president MK Stalin said social backwardness was the result of centuries of social structures and would not disappear merely because a person changed religion. It argued that denying Backward Class reservation to people who converted to Islam would undermine social justice.

The DMK called on the TVK government to take immediate legal steps to protect the reservation rights of converts from backward communities and ensure that their claims were considered based on their social circumstances.

Recalling the previous DMK government's initiatives, the party said it had adopted a resolution urging the Union government to amend the Constitution to extend reservation benefits to Scheduled Caste people who convert to Christianity.

It urged the present government to continue pursuing that demand.

The party maintained that reservation for Backward Classes (BC), Most Backward Classes (MBC), and Scheduled Castes (SC) should be determined by taking into account the social discrimination and disadvantages these communities face.

Addressing officials from Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Erode, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Salem, The Nilgiris, Tirupur, Dindigul, Karur and Tiruchy, Anand instructed officials to monitor low-lying areas, water bodies, canals and storm water drains, while ensuring that desilting and maintenance works were completed to facilitate smooth flow of rainwater.

He directed officials to repair damaged stretches without delay, provide uninterrupted supply of drinking water and promptly address public complaints. “Public safety must remain the priority during monsoon. Officials should remain vigilant and respond promptly to rain-related emergencies,” he said.

The minister also called for intensified preventive measures against dengue and other infectious diseases, including eliminating mosquito breeding sites, maintaining sanitation and creating public awareness.

He also reviewed the implementation of the ‘Vetri Thamizhagam’-vision document action plan and stressed the need to expedite rural development projects aimed at improving livelihoods and strengthening basic infrastructure in villages.

Schools have been instructed to verify students' personal details, upload the required documents and collect exam fees from eligible candidates before submitting the details online.

The exam fee has been fixed at Rs 115 per student. Schools must remit the collected exam fees online through the portal by October 31.

The directorate has also instructed all schools to pay Rs 300 towards the preparation and online release of the Tamil Language Mandatory (TML) exam question paper timetable and mark list. This payment must also be made by October 31.

For students with disabilities who seek exam concessions, schools have been directed to upload scanned copies of the relevant disability identity card or the appropriate medical certificate issued by an authorised medical board, as applicable.

The directorate has specified several categories of students who are exempted from paying the exam fee.

All students studying in the Tamil-medium stream are exempted from the exam fee. Students studying in other mediums in government and government-aided schools are also eligible for exemption if they belong to the specified categories and satisfy the applicable conditions.

These include students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Caste Arunthathiyars and Scheduled Tribes, as well as eligible converted Christians, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities, Backward Classes and Backward Class Muslims.

For students belonging to the BC and BCM categories, the circular specifies a parental annual income ceiling of Rs 2.5 lakh for the applicable exemption. Students with benchmark disabilities, including those with specified visual and hearing impairments, are also covered by the exemptions mentioned in the government orders cited by the directorate.

Schools have been instructed to check the applicable government orders and supporting documents before granting fee exemptions.

The FIR was registered based on a complaint lodged by DC Elangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, alleging that Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association president BT Arasukumar and other office-bearers had collected several crores from private schools on the promise of securing NOCs, licences, recognition, and renewals but failed to fulfil those promises.

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

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

In its counter-affidavit, the CCB said the investigation had revealed that money was collected from school managements in the name of party funds. It also said materials had emerged indicating Mahesh’s alleged role in demands concerning private schools.

Rejecting Mahesh’s argument, it maintained that the Governor’s approval was not required to initiate the proceedings and added that the investigation was ongoing.

Meanwhile, Mahesh filed an anticipatory bail petition before the High Court. When the matter came up for hearing, Justice V Lakshminarayanan directed the CCB to file a response to the petition and posted the matter to October 16.

The directorate said that medical reimbursement proposals received from district-level officials were frequently incomplete, delaying claim processing. It also noted that district officials had forwarded certain cases to the directorate when they should have sent them directly to insurance companies or the Treasury Department. The delays in submitting missing documents and clarifications were preventing beneficiaries from receiving timely relief, it said.

It also noted that such delays had also resulted in petitions under the RTI Act, 2005, representations to the Chief Minister’s Special Cell, and court cases. It has instructed all CEOs and DEOs to forward medical reimbursement proposals relating to teaching and non-teaching staff of government and government-aided high and higher secondary schools only with clear remarks and recommendations from the concerned DEO.

The move is aimed at reducing unnecessary movement of files between offices, avoiding procedural delays, and ensuring that eligible employees and their family members receive medical reimbursement without undue hardship.

In a demi-official letter to Jaishankar, Vijay said the Maldives Coast Guard detained three mechanised fishing boats carrying the 25 fishermen, bound for Thoothukudi district, in the early hours of Tuesday.

"I request you to kindly take up the matter with the Government of Maldives through appropriate diplomatic channels and facilitate the early release and safe repatriation of the fishermen and their boats," the Chief Minister said in his letter.

Vijay said the Union government's intervention would provide much-needed reassurance to the affected families and the fishing community.

Separately, around 50 Tamil Nadu fishermen and 270 fishing boats remain in Sri Lankan custody. The Chief Minister has reiterated his request for the Union government to convene a meeting of the Joint Committee to discuss the fishermen issue and facilitate the release of those detained by Sri Lanka.

The political irony was hard to miss: Thirumavalavan, speaking from a platform that included TVK, Stalin’s post-election rival, defended the former ally’s electoral defeat as the alleged result of targeted voter deletions. He specifically adopted a conciliatory tone towards Stalin, repeatedly addressing him as 'Stalin Annan' and saying he had warned him about the alleged plot in Kolathur before the election, in the backdrop of talks over the ruling party ditching VCK for Anbumani-led PMK and the VCK looking at reviving the DMK alliance.

While participating in the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Thirumavalavan alleged that Stalin’s defeat was not a natural electoral setback but the result of targeted voter deletions and electoral manipulation. He claimed that one lakh votes had been deleted in Kolathur and said he had alerted then Minister PK Sekarbabu about the alleged deletions.

"When I met Stalin, I alerted him about the alleged plot in Kolathur and urged him to shift to another constituency. However, he and Minister Sekarbabu rejected my suggestion," he said.

Thirumavalavan alleged a systematic "theft of votes" and a "conspiracy" involving the Centre and the Election Commission to target political opponents by removing voters under categories such as absent, shifted, transposed and duplicate. He claimed the SIR exercise was being used disproportionately against Opposition supporters, minorities and marginalised communities.

Accusing the BJP of targeting political opponents, the VCK leader cited the electoral defeats of Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin and Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that these were not ordinary electoral setbacks but part of a broader pattern of political targeting.

Thirumavalavan said the SIR exercise was not new, but alleged that Gyanesh Kumar was being used to implement the Sangh Parivar’s agenda and target the BJP’s political opponents.

He placed the protest within a broader INDIA bloc campaign to protect the Constitution and democratic principles, citing the efforts of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Expressing solidarity with the Congress and other alliance partners, he framed the agitation as a defence of India’s secular and pluralistic values.

His remarks on Stalin underscored the shifting political equations following the Assembly election, with Thirumavalavan backing the TVK-led government, sharing the INDIA bloc protest against SIR, even while supporting former ally DMK.

Speaking at the event, CapitaLand India Trust CEO Gowrishankar Nagabooshanam said the initiative had strengthened the ties between Tamil Nadu and Singapore, adding that the company's association with the State spanned nearly 22 years.

“The company launched its first international technology park in Chennai in 2004. Since then, it has continued to invest in the State. Now, it has expanded its footprint into digital infrastructure,” Gowrishankar said.

Explaining the significance of data centres, he said they served as the backbone of cloud adoption, artificial intelligence and digital services.

Towards the end of his speech, Gowrishankar referred to the Chief Minister's films while praising his administration.

Using references to Vijay's films, he said the Chief Minister had brought “Kushi” and described the audience's response as “Thullatha Manamum Thullum”. He thanked the Chief Minister, his colleagues and bureaucrats, saying they were working in “beast mode” to make the government the “Greatest of All Time”, another reference to the actor's film.

Industries Minister S Keerthana, who spoke after him, highlighted emerging industrial sectors in Tamil Nadu and recalled the announcement of the State Budget's semiconductor scheme.

“Tamil Nadu would welcome Singapore companies to invest in emerging sectors such as semiconductors,” she said.

The TVK, its key ally, the Congress and other constituents of the INDIA Bloc including VCK attended the protest seeking action against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Incidentally,VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan, who walked out of the DMK-led alliance post April elections to back the TVK government, blamed the SIR for the Dravidian party's loss in the hustings.

"The DMK was defeated through a systematic process of targeted voter deletion and electoral manipulation," he said, suggesting that individuals were specifically targeted to ensure a negative outcome for the then ruling party.

Thursday's protest was led by Tamil Nadu Congress chief B Manickam Tagore and represented by School Education Minister A Rajmohan on behalf of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). It saw the cadres of the INDIA Bloc gather in large numbers, display their respective party flags and raise slogans seeking the immediate resignation of the CEC over the SIR exercise.

At the protest, various speakers alleged that millions of voters - specifically Muslims, tribal groups, and marginalised communities - were systematically removed from the electoral rolls under the SIR process, asserting that over 97 lakh voters were struck off the roles in Tamil Nadu alone.

They argued that this process undermined the Constitution and represented a "democratic massacre" and expressed concerns that election processes were being manipulated to favour the ruling party, ie BJP.

They demanded transparency and the immediate reinstatement of unfairly removed voters.

Rajmohan highlighted his party's long-standing opposition to the SIR of electoral rolls and commitment to protecting democratic rights.

According to VCK MP Thirumavalavan, the DMK's defeat in the April 2026 Assembly election was "not a natural loss."

He alleged a systematic "theft of votes" and a "conspiracy" involving the Central government and the EC targeting political opponents in removing voters from the rolls during the SIR process.

Participating in the protest, Thirumavalavan claimed irregularities in the voter revision process.

"There was a systematic theft of votes and a conspiracy involving the ruling government and the Election Commission to target political opponents by removing voters from the list. The voters are removed under categories labeled Absent, Shifted, Transposed, or Duplicate," he claimed.

He alleged that the SIR of voters' roll was being misused to disproportionately disenfranchise opposition supporters, minority communities, and marginalised groups.

He highlighted that these protests were part of a broader national movement led by the INDIA grouping, including prominent Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, who were advocating for the protection of the Constitution and democratic principles.

Thirumavalavan expressed solidarity with the Congress and other alliance partners, framing the struggle not just as a political competition, but as a defense of India's secular and pluralistic values.

MDMK founder Vaiko and state secretaries of CPI (M) and CPI, P Shanmugam and M Veerapandian, respectively, among others participated.

This comes amid water shortages and poor monsoon rainfall in major producing states.

The price has risen from Rs 20,000 per quintal last year, surprising farmers and boosting activity among traders. The sharp increase over the past few weeks has been attributed to reduced cultivation in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra due to insufficient rainfall.

Water shortages have also affected this season's turmeric harvest.

Why are turmeric prices rising?

Poor monsoon rainfall and severe water shortages in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, two major turmeric-producing states, have reduced the area under cultivation this year and affected the harvest. Fears of lower future supplies have intensified competition in the market, pushing prices higher.

The incident occurred last Sunday when the IndiGo aircraft, carrying 180 passengers, was flying at an altitude of around 36,000 feet.

A fire broke out in the overhead luggage compartment, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Hyderabad. All passengers and crew members survived the incident.

An investigation by the aviation regulator found that the fire was caused by a passenger's power bank stored in the overhead luggage compartment.

The device was subsequently identified as the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 model, which was found to lack adequate safety standards, according to the information provided.

Ban comes into effect

The DGCA's directive, effective from October 14, prohibits the specified power bank model from being carried on passenger aircraft and transported as cargo. The restriction applies to domestic and international flights operating to and from India.

Following the order, security personnel at Chennai Airport have intensified checks on passengers' belongings, with particular attention to power banks.

Officials have been briefed about the ban and are inspecting devices found during baggage screening to ensure compliance with the directive.

Passengers travelling through Chennai Airport have been advised to check the model of their power banks before arriving for their flights.

Those carrying the prohibited device will not be permitted to take it on board or transport it as air cargo.

Power banks only in cabin baggage

The DGCA has also reiterated the existing rules governing the carriage of power banks on aircraft. Passengers may carry compliant power banks in their cabin baggage, subject to applicable safety requirements.

However, power banks must not be placed in checked-in baggage.

The restriction is intended to ensure that such devices remain accessible to passengers and cabin crew, allowing a potential overheating incident to be identified and addressed promptly.

Lithium-ion batteries used in power banks can overheat and catch fire if damaged or defective.

Such incidents pose a serious risk when they occur during a flight, particularly if a device is stored inside luggage.

Airport security officials have urged passengers to cooperate with screening procedures and verify that their devices comply with aviation safety regulations.

The latest directive follows renewed concerns over the risks posed by electronic devices and lithium-ion batteries carried on aircraft.

With many passengers turning to air travel, fares on flights from Chennai to Thoothukudi, Tiruchy, Coimbatore and Madurai have also risen for October 16, as reported by Maalaimalar.

Why have the airfare prices increased?

With Ayudha Puja falling on October 19, followed by the weekend holidays on October 17 and 18 and Vijayadashami on October 20, many people are planning to travel to their hometowns. Train and bus tickets have already sold out, while fares on omni buses have increased sharply.

How much have flight fares increased?

The Chennai-Madurai fare, which normally ranges from Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,500, has increased to Rs 12,213 for October 16 and Rs 15,000 on October 17.

The Chennai-Thoothukudi fare has risen to Rs 14,975 for October 16, compared with the usual range of Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,500.

The Chennai-Coimbatore fare, which is usually around Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,500, has climbed to Rs 13,000 for October 16 and Rs 11,500 on October 17.

The fare from Chennai-Tiruchy has increased to Rs 11,215 for October 16 while tickets to Salem have reached Rs 12,237.

Fares to Mumbai, Hyderabad also rise

The Chennai-Mumbai airfare has surged to as much as Rs 30,000 for October 16, while fares on the Chennai-Hyderabad route have reached Rs 27,000.

The SIT is probing allegations against businessman Gem Veeramani under the Pocso Act. The police claim that Prakash aided Veeramani in selling properties worth several crores of rupees in Chennai and received a substantial sum for his assistance.

A Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against Prakash after police learnt he was abroad when they went to serve him summons. After which, he approached the Chennai Pocso Special Court seeking anticipatory bail, apprehending arrest.

The petition came up for hearing before Judge S Padma of the Special Court for Pocso Act cases. Senior Advocate Abudukumar Rajarathinam, appearing for Prakash, submitted that his client had no connection with the alleged offences and that the financial transactions with Veeramani were purely business-related. He also submitted that Prakash had appeared cooperated with the investigation. The police sought time to respond to the plea. The judge adjourned the hearing to October 15, 2026.

As part of the initiative, special camps for Singappenn loans and housing loans will be held every Tuesday. In contrast, camps for other priority-sector lending schemes will be conducted every Friday.

In addition, the department will provide long-term loans worth Rs 50 crore through these special camps. The loans will support agricultural mechanisation, the establishment of cold storage facilities, livestock rearing, including dairy farming, goat rearing and poultry farming, and post-harvest infrastructure.

Eligible members can avail themselves of long-term loans of up to Rs 30 lakh. Members of the public can participate in the camps at the Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks in their respective areas by submitting the required documents.

Applicants must submit photographs, identity proof, address proof, Know Your Customer (KYC) documents and land mortgage documents along with their applications.

The department has urged eligible members to make use of the opportunity to improve their economic prospects through access to cooperative credit. For further details, the public can contact the department through WhatsApp at 9884000845.

The weekly camps are intended to expand access to credit across the State, with a particular focus on housing, priority-sector lending, agricultural mechanisation, livestock development and post-harvest infrastructure.

In a statement marking the International Day of the Girl Child on Sunday, IDEA said that preventing child marriage required more than legislation and awareness campaigns. It called for sustained investment in education, professional skills, employment opportunities and support systems that enable girls to decide their own futures.

The organisation also urged the State to treat playgrounds and open spaces as essential public infrastructure, particularly in densely populated urban neighbourhoods and resettlement areas where children often lack safe places to play. It sought accessible facilities, adequate lighting, safe routes and inclusive play equipment for girls and children with disabilities.

Citing the National Family Health Survey-6 (2023–24), IDEA noted that 10.5% of women aged 20–24 in TN had married before turning 18, down from 12.8% in NFHS-5.

While 64.2% of women aged 15–49 had completed at least 10 years of schooling, 4.1% of girls aged 15–19 were already mothers or pregnant.

IDEA called for stronger implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, through coordinated action involving schools, local bodies, police, health services and child protection authorities. It also sought scholarships, hostels, safe transport, vocational training and career guidance to improve girls’ access to higher and professional education.

The Division Bench of Justices P Velmurugan and KK Ramakrishnan also asked the railway authorities to give details of the charges collected for battery-operated car services in various States.

The court issued the direction while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Sundara Vimal Nathan, 64, of Swamimalai in Thanjavur district. Citing information obtained under the Right to Information Act, the petitioner said the battery car service at Tiruchy Junction was not being provided free to persons with disabilities, senior citizens and other vulnerable passengers.

The petitioner said the service was free when it was introduced at the junction in 2017, but the Railways have been charging Rs 30 per passenger since 2018, while the same service is free at Madurai railway station.

He pointed out that, under the Railway Board’s commercial circulars, battery car service is to be provided free to persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women and other passengers needing mobility assistance. The cars are reportedly procured through CSR funds and government welfare schemes meant for vulnerable people.

He further said that only six of the 101 stations in the Madurai division and five of the 151 stations in the Tiruchi division have battery car facilities, which means only 11 of the 252 stations in the two divisions.

The petitioner also cited an incident on August 9, 2026, when M Kamaraj, a person with a disability, arrived at Tiruchy Junction with his elderly mother. He could not get a battery car for more than two hours despite attempts by Railway Protection Force personnel to contact the operators. Denied a wheelchair, he had to crawl along the platform, she alleged.

The petitioner sought directions to install signboards marking the places where the cars stand, and to properly implement grievance redressal systems, including the 139 helpline.

The court adjourned the hearing after directing the Railways to file the report.

The DGP also noted that over 10 lakh tablets were seized in the state this year and pointed out that the increase in seizures indicates intensified enforcement by special teams, including the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF).

The rally will cover 1,810 km across six States before reaching Ekta Nagar in Gujarat.

Twenty motorcycles are participating, with five each from the Tamil Nadu Police, Puducherry Police, Andaman and Nicobar Police, and the NCB.

Aggarwal urged participants to spread awareness among school and college students.

Chembarambakkam Lake, which has a total storage capacity of 3,645 million cubic feet (mcft) and a full reservoir level of 24 feet, serves as a major drinking water source for Chennai and several suburban areas, including Kundrathur, Anakaputhur, Pammal, Pallavaram, Chromepet and parts of Tambaram. The storage has dropped to 1,254 mcft, with the water level falling to 13.53 feet. On the same day last year, the lake held 2,056 mcft of water.

According to officials, even if the level falls to around four feet, water can be drawn and supplied after treatment, and water is also being sourced from nearby locations, including the Sikarayapuram quarries, for drinking needs. Officials said there had been no disruption so far.

While concerns over declining water storage persist, drinking water from Chembarambakkam Lake is being wasted due to a maintenance issue in the distribution network. A faulty valve in the main drinking water pipeline near the Anakaputhur bus stand has caused large quantities of water to gush onto the road and flow into a sewage drain. The supply to areas like Anakaputhur and Pammal, which fall under Zone 1 of Tambaram Corporation, is affected.

When contacted, the Tambaram Zonal officer said that the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which is responsible for supplying drinking water, had been informed about the issue and the faulty valve would be repaired soon.

The court noted that the prosecution proposed to examine 70 witnesses and had collected 37 documents, making it unlikely that the trial would be completed soon.

“Therefore, considering the gravity of the offence, the overt act alleged against this appellant (Jeyapaul), the time taken for the completion of trial, and the quashing of charges in respect of co-accused, this Court is inclined to extend bail to him subject to stringent conditions,” Justice S Karthikeyan said.

The judge observed that the allegations against Jeyapaul pertained only to intimidation and aiding in the screening of evidence after the occurrence, and that he had been in custody since his arrest on August 13, 2025.

On September 29, 2026, the High Court had quashed the CB-CID charge sheet against the second and third accused, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, parents of Surjith, the prime accused. Counsel for Jeyapaul informed the court of this, but the court declined to quash the case against Jeyapaul.

The court directed Jeyapaul not to enter the village where the crime occurred or contact the complainant, directly or electronically. He must report before the trial court at 10.30 am and 5.30 pm daily until further orders. If he fails to follow this condition, the police can move an application for cancellation of his bail.

Kavin, a Scheduled Caste hailing from Arumugamangalam near Eral in Thoothukudi district, was in a relationship with S Subhashini, a Siddha doctor from Tirunelveli. Her younger brother Surjith was arrested by the Tirunelveli police for Kavin’s murder on July 27, 2025. The police subsequently arraigned Surjith’s cousin Jeyapaul and Surjith’s parents as co-accused.

The II Additional District Court (PCR), Tirunelveli, declined bail to Jeyapaul, following which he appealed before the Madurai Bench.

The prosecution and the victim’s father, the complainant, strongly opposed bail. They stated that Jeyapaul had actively participated in the conspiracy and later helped Surjith destroy evidence at Jeyapaul’s quarry at Pappankulam. The Call Detail Records (CDR) of Jeyapaul and Surjith also revealed that Jeyapaul had spoken to Kavin twice on January 25, 2025, the prosecution said.

The victim’s father, Tamilselvan, through his counsel, also contended that Jeyapaul would threaten witnesses if released, alleging that Saravanan, the released second accused, had already done so. A case in this connection has been registered by the Dharapuram police station.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in its climate update released on October 8, forecast that sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific could reach around 3.7°C above normal during October to December 2026, with the phenomenon expected to peak around December.

VR Durai, senior atmospheric scientist, Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, told DT Next that the projected warming should not be attributed to El Niño alone. “Climate change and the long term warming of the oceans are also contributing to the unusually high temperatures in the Pacific, and not by El Niño alone,” he opined. “We must also account for the warming caused by climate change. The oceans are becoming warmer, and this additional heat is contributing to the present situation.”

He pointed out that 2024 was the warmest year in recorded global temperature, reflecting the ocean warming trend. Such background warming can amplify the El Niño Temperature rise.

Durai also stressed the importance of using appropriate ocean temperature indices and long term observations to assess the intensity of the phenomenon. NOAA’s Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI) is used for monitoring and classifying El Niño and La Niña conditions, taking into account tropical Pacific temperatures relative to the broader tropical oceans.

Tamil Nadu could experience higher summer temperatures if the strong El Niño coincides with persistent hot and dry conditions over the region. Durai said that a rise of up to 3°C above normal (Summer temperatures in parts of the State can reach 42°C to 42.5°C)

El Niño could influence cloud formation and atmospheric circulation, potentially favouring clearer skies and greater solar heating in some regions. But it does not automatically produce heatwaves everywhere, and its influence on TN’s summer weather cannot be determined from Pacific Ocean temperatures alone.

Meanwhile, TN’s expert committee monitoring the Super El Niño phenomenon has cautioned the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts’ seasonal forecast system, issued in August 2026, indicated the possibility of above normal precipitation over Tamil Nadu and neighbouring southern regions during October December, with anomalies of around 50-200 mm in parts of the region.

Experts also cautioned that seasonal model projections should not be interpreted as predictions of individual rainfall events. Even if seasonal rainfall was normal or above normal, the State could still experience dry spells, intense short duration rainfall or cyclones.

The committee has recommended a multi hazard preparedness strategy rather than planning for a single outcome. This is particularly important because the same climate system can produce contrasting effects across regions and seasons.

An expert associated with the State’s monitoring committee told DT Next that assessment would be prepared after the northeast monsoon concludes. The committee would examine water storage levels in reservoirs, lakes and ponds before recommending further measures, if necessary.

If available storage proves inadequate to meet future demand, the committee may advise the government to consider restricting non essential water use, including water intensive car washing services and irrigation systems in parks, and regulating industrial water consumption where appropriate.

With the Pacific warming rapidly and the 2027 summer still several months away, experts say continued monitoring of ocean conditions, rainfall forecasts and reservoir levels will be crucial.

For Tamil Nadu, the challenge will be to prepare simultaneously for possible extreme heat, uneven rainfall and pressure on water supplies.

El Niño peaks

2026–2027: +3.05°C to +3.08°C

• Forecasted to peak up to +4.0°C

• Strongest on record

• Smashed previous daily and monthly zone records weeks before its expected peak

2015–2016: +2.6°C  

• Caused the Chennai flood

1997–1998: +2.3°C

• Frequently cited as the benchmark ‘Super El Nino’ of the 20th Century

1982–1983: +2.2°C

• First ‘very strong’ event captured by modern satellite

2023–2024: +2.0°C  

• 2024 warmest year on record

1972–1973: +2.1°C  

• Collapsed global marine productivity and fisheries

El Niño classification by temperature

• Weak: +0.5°C to +0.9°C anomaly

• Moderate: +1.0°C to +1.4°C anomaly

• Strong: +1.5°C to +1.9°C anomaly

• Very strong (Super): +2.0°C or greater anomaly

The weather department stated that an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the Southwest Bay of Bengal, off the South Sri Lanka coast, now lies over the Comorin area coast and extends up to 1.5 km above mean sea level. Additionally, an easterly trough runs from this cyclonic circulation over the Comorin area to the Northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast, across the Gulf of Mannar, extending up to 1.5 km.

The RMC noted that heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, Kallakurichi, Salem, Tiruchy, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Tiruppur, and Dindigul, along with Puducherry and Karaikal. Chennai is set to experience moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in some areas on Thursday.

Widespread heavy rainfall at isolated places, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 km/h, is expected across the state until October 20.

On Friday, heavy rain at isolated places with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds 40–50 kmph is likely over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tiruchy, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Thanjavur districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal.

On October 17, isolated heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph is expected in Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Tiruppur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Erode, Dharmapuri, and Krishnagiri districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal. On October 18, heavy rain will continue over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Shanmugam said he was ready to extend his support towards strengthening the AIADMK. He said meaningful dialogue was necessary to assess the party’s current situation and work out measures to improve its electoral prospects.

“People still expect more from the AIADMK. The party should take steps to instil confidence among its cadres,” he said, stressing the need for collective efforts to strengthen the organisation.

Shanmugam also said his request to convene a meeting of the party’s general council had not been accepted by the leadership. He reiterated that the meeting should be held to discuss the party’s present situation and chart its future course.

Meanwhile, he held consultations with AIADMK MLAs at his office in MRC Nagar. Those who attended included Sankarapuram MLA Rakesh, Panruti MLA Mohan, Anthiyur MLA Haribaskar and Sankarankovil MLA Dileepan Jayashankar.

The meeting comes amid efforts by factions led by Shanmugam and former minister S P Velumani to consolidate support among AIADMK legislators following the party’s recent electoral setbacks.

The AIADMK currently has 41 MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The chargesheet says Varman rolled on the floor in pain, weeping and wailing, before he died.

The Thenthamaraikulam police arrested Varman from Eethankatti near Suchindram in Kanniyakumari district, on July 9 for allegedly keeping banned tobacco products in a petty shop near his home, and lodged him in the district prison. He was found dead in the prison under mysterious circumstances on July 13. The Nesamony police arrested 11 people — three prison staff and eight prisoners — in connection with his death. The case was later transferred to the CB-CID.

The CB-CID investigation found that Varman had been in severe mental distress ever since he was brought to the prison. At midnight of the incident, he allegedly screamed inside his cell, frustrated at not getting alcohol.

According to the chargesheet, the prison administration gave him sleeping pills to calm him, but he did not sleep and continued to shout. Enraged, prison staff and prisoners allegedly assaulted him repeatedly between 11:30 pm and 12:30 am.

After the assault, they tied his hands and legs with a spare lungi from his bag for a while and then untied him.

Although prison rules provide for chaining the legs of violent prisoners, the hook of the chain was broken that day. When Varman kept shouting, they again roughly tied his hands and legs together with the strips of the lungi around 2.30 pm and assaulted him again.

Before 3 am he died of injuries from the assault and breathlessness caused by the tight knots.

Around 5:30 am, when prison guards came to take routine headcount, they found Varman lying motionless, face down on the floor.

The postmortem examination and laboratory reports confirmed that the direct cause of death was the severe injuries from the assault and breathlessness.

The CB-CID questioned three accused prison staff — warden Jagan, chief warden Suresh and guard Sivakumar — at Nanguneri prison, where they are lodged. It also questioned the eight accused prisoners — Vishnu, Sarathi, Jagan, Sarath, Perumal, Sethuram, Ajith and Aravind — lodged at Palayamkottai prison.

Investigators also reviewed footage from six key surveillance cameras from 5 pm on the day of the incident to 8 am the next morning, and sent it for examination. The chargesheet cites several witnesses and relies on this evidence.

The police said Shanthakumar and his son Vigneshwaran (29), who ran VSP Enterprises on MH Road, Perambur, floated three Diwali fund schemes, promising 2 grams of 916 gold, 30 grams of silver, silk sarees, firecracker boxes and other gifts if subscribers paid monthly instalments of Rs 1,100, Rs 1,300 and Rs 1,600 for 12 months. They also offered another scheme of Rs 1000 per month for a year, which would yield Rs 15,000 at maturity.

According to the complainants, the father-son duo collected money from them and other residents in Perambur, Sembium and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar areas and absconded without paying maturity benefits.

Two cases were registered and Shanthakumar was arrested earlier. Later, cases were transferred to the Central Crime Branch, and a special team arrested Vigneshwaran. He was remanded in judicial custody.

While they were nearing Valayapettai near Kumbakonam, Sivaraj, who was riding the auto, dozed off, thereby losing control and hitting the retaining wall along the road. Malathi fell down in the impact, suffered serious head injuries and died on the spot. On information, Kumbakonam Taluk police retrieved the body and registered a case.

Similarly, Ugal Kishore (28), from Tiruppur, studying post-graduation in physiotherapy in a private college in Tiruchy, was proceeding to his home town by his two-wheeler. When he was nearing Kulathupalayam on the Karur-Coimbatore National Highway, a truck hit him, and Ugal Kishore died on the spot. K-Paramathi police retrieved the body and sent it to Karur Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, S Selvarani (47), a fish vendor from Thottiyam in Tiruchy, was busy selling fish on Wednesday when a load auto hit her. She was rushed to the Thottiyam GH but did not survive. Thottiyam police retrieved the body and registered a case.

In a statement, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the proposed rate was shocking and alleged that the government was allowing private companies to benefit at the expense of public money by exploiting the power shortage.

Though the state was facing a power shortage, the government and the electricity board had denied reports of power cuts for weeks despite complaints from the public, political parties and various organisations, he said. The government should have anticipated the shortfall and taken timely measures instead of resorting to costly purchases, he added.

Shanmugam also called for a long-term plan to make Tamil Nadu self-sufficient in power generation.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian, in a separate statement, said the government's proposal to purchase 4,500 MW of electricity from the open market at up to Rs 37 per unit raised questions about the financial implications, particularly given the state's existing debt burden. He urged the government to ensure that electricity was procured at lower rates through a transparent process.

Veerapandian also opposed the implementation of the smart meter scheme and alleged moves to privatise electricity transmission lines, arguing that these measures could lead to further increases in electricity tariffs and eventually pave the way for the privatisation of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

The CPI urged the state government to increase power generation through public sector undertakings and ensure that consumers received electricity at affordable rates.

DMK legal wing joint secretary I Paranthamen told reporters at Anna Arivalayam that the TVK-led government had presented rising prices of essential commodities as a gift to the common people.

Comparing the prices of commodities under the present government with those during the DMK regime, Paranthamen said the price of a 26-kg bag of rice had increased from Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,800.

He alleged that the prices of essential kitchen commodities, including urad dal, toor dal, sugar and cooking oil, had also risen sharply.

"During the DMK regime, when a similar situation arose, the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi implemented the Special Public Distribution System, " Paranthamen said.

Taking exception to Food Minister P Venkataramanan's statement that there had been no price rise in rice and related commodities, Paranthaman challenged the Minister to accompany him on a grocery purchase to verify the prevailing prices.

Appealing to Chief Minister Vijay, Paranthamen urged him to wake up from what he described as a sleep mode and take immediate measures to control the price rise and ease the daily hardships faced by the people.

Chennai-based advocate C Rajashekaran filed the PIL, submitting that the investigation had substantially widened in recent weeks, with the identity and statements of the minor girl allegedly seen in the original video and the other survivors being recorded before a Judicial Magistrate.

He alleged that the press and media linked various political parties and persons holding high constitutional posts to the case, creating confusion among the public and affecting the investigation. He further submitted that images of the accused with leaders of various political parties were being circulated to portray that parties have links with the accused and to prejudice public opinion.

The petitioner submitted that the accused attended social events in July 2026 with two sitting Ministers, but this did not amount to a clean chit or establish that the investigation had been compromised.

He also pointed out that images of the survivors had recently been widely circulated online, allegedly in violation of Section 23 (2) of the Pocso Act.

Citing the gravity of the allegations, the emergence of additional survivors and evidence, the circumstances surrounding the initial investigation and concerns over the conduct of the officers involved, the petitioner sought an independent investigation by the CBI or an SIT to preserve public confidence.

After hearing, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan permitted the withdrawal and dismissed the petition.

To meet the daily drinking water demand of Chennai's 91 lakh residents, 1,260 MLD of water is supplied through 143 distribution stations. This water is sourced from five reservoirs, along with the water received from the Krishna river and Kannankottai Thervaikandigai. Processing is handled by five water treatment plants and three seawater desalination plants, one in Minjur and two in Nemmeli.

Currently, main pipelines transport drinking water directly from specific treatment plants to designated zones across the city. Consequently, if a supply disruption occurs at a specific source, no alternative infrastructure exists to reroute water to affected areas.

The Ring Main Project addresses this vulnerability. It will integrate nine facilities, including five existing treatment plants, three operational desalination plants, and a 400 MLD seawater desalination plant currently under construction in Perur. The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and expected to be completed by 2031.

The project scope includes laying 91.20 km of ring pipelines, 64.20 km of transmission mains, 2.65 km of pumping mains, along with associated civil structures. This grid setup will guarantee an uninterrupted, year-round drinking water supply across all city distribution stations.

Additionally, modern Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems alongside real-time pressure, flow rate, and water quality sensors will be installed throughout the network. Managed continuously from a modern control room at the Chennai Water Board's headquarters, these SCADA devices will automatically regulate and maintain steady water supply levels citywide.

According to proceedings issued by TNPGCL on October 12, the board has approved the capacity revision from the earlier plan of two 660 MW units each in Stage II and Stage III to two 800 MW units in each stage.

The projects will be implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, with tenders to be floated accordingly. With this announcement, the ongoing Ennore SEZ and Udangudi Stage I would be the last power projects executed by the utility itself. The government has already announced execution of the stalled 2X800 MW Uppur and 660 MW Ennore Expansion project through the PPP model.

The expansion comes as the first unit of the 2x660 MW Udangudi Stage I thermal power project commenced commercial operation in the first week of September. The second unit is expected to begin trial operations by the end of this year.

The corporation will seek administrative approval from the state government for the capacity revision. The board has also approved the appointment of a consultant through TN Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB) for preparatory and implementation-related works.

The consultancy will prepare the Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR) and Detailed Project Report (DPR), conduct surveys and investigations, obtain statutory clearances, prepare tender specifications, invite bids, analyse bids and facilitate contract awards and post-award activities. Its scope will cover the expansion of the existing Udangudi Stage I project with an additional 800 MW unit as well as the 1,600 MW planned under each of Stages II and III through the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) route.

Defending the additional expenditure on power procurement, the minister explained, “The government has decided to meet electricity demand rather than impose power cuts. Outages lasting even a few hours could cause substantial losses to industries, commercial establishments and other consumers. The government is spending an additional Rs 5-7 crore a day on power purchases to avoid potentially much larger economic losses caused by outages.”

On demands from industries to procure electricity directly through open access, Nirmalkumar said that several cases involving open access and wheeling charges were pending before courts, including the Supreme Court. “The government cannot grant commercial permission until the legal and tariff-related issues are resolved,” he said. “Consultations have been held with industry representatives, and further action will follow after the pending issues are settled.”

The northeast monsoon appears to have arrived in time as the farmers were in a dilemma with storage levels in Mettur going below 60ft. The rains on Wednesday have come to the rescue of farmers in the districts where samba has been cultivated mainly using water from bore wells.

Water from Mettur was released on September 1 by the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for Delta irrigation with the available storage of water on condition for a period of 45 days. 

As the 45-day period ends on Thursday, the water level in Mettur stood at 59 feet on Wednesday evening, with the storage of just 24.046 TMC, and the inflow was just 696 cusecs while the outflow was 12,003 cusecs. 

Since the Mettur level has almost reached the death level of storage and the period is complete, it is advisable to close the reservoir. The farmers complained that the 45-day release of water failed to reach many branch rivers and failed to reach the tail-end regions, and so the already cultivated samba crops have started withering.

Against this scenario, the IMD predicted the northeast monsoon from October 15, which would benefit water sources in the Delta region. 

As per the prediction, the districts like Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur received widespread rainfall from Wednesday morning.

According to the meteorological department data, Mayiladuthurai received an average rainfall of 40.77 mm from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm, with Tharangambadi receiving the maximum rainfall of 89.40 mm.

Sirkazhi received 62.20 mm, and Sembanarkoil received 60.60 mm rainfall, while the average rainfall for Nagapattinam was 40 mm, with Kodiyakarai receiving the maximum rainfall of 50.40 mm, Thirupoondi 36 mm and Thalainayar 16.70 mm. 

Similarly, Tiruvarur district received moderate rainfall with an average of 9.58 mm, with the maximum rainfall in Nannilam at 24 mm while Tiruthuraipoondi received 15.60 mm rainfall till Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, the farmers from the region said that the poor water storage in the region resulted in the withering away of sprouted crops, and they expect the rainfall to continue for a few more days as per the IMD prediction so that the groundwater level might be recharged and it would be beneficial to save the standing samba to some extent.