An order issued by the Public (Special-A) Department on October 24 said she would take over the responsibility from P Amudha, who had been holding additional charge of the post. Lakshmi Priya will hold the additional charge until further orders.

The demands were raised at the organisation’s ‘Kelu TN Kelu’ protest held near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore on Sunday, where residents from Chennai, Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, Tirupattur, Erode, Madurai and other districts shared their experiences of living in homes that have become lower than adjoining roads.

“The problem persists even in newly issued road tenders, with provisions that allow roads to be relaid without removing the existing surface,” said Jayaram Venkatesan, coordinator, Arappor Iyakkam. 

The organisation said that contractors must be required to mill the old road surface before laying a new bituminous layer, in accordance with applicable guidelines. It also called for road elevations to be measured against mean sea level (MSL), with benchmark stones installed and measurements recorded in the Measurement Book (MBook) and published online before and after the work. Photographs and videos documenting the milling depth and elevation measurements should also be made mandatory.

“If road levels are raised in violation of the prescribed rules, payments to contractors should be withheld, contractors blacklisted and departmental action initiated against the officials responsible,” the organisation demanded.

The other recommendations include gradually lowering main roads in areas where their raised levels have left interior roads and homes at lower elevations, and setting up an expert committee to examine the problem and recommend solutions. The government should also provide compensation of up to Rs 40 lakh, calculated on a square-foot basis, to each household affected by raised roads.

“We’ve met officials and representatives of the departments concerned, including the Rural Development Department and the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department. They have indicated that orders would be issued, but none has come out so far,” he added. “Issuing circulars alone is not enough. The government must monitor road works on the ground to ensure compliance.”

Arappor said that it had raised the issue with the government earlier, including through a report released in August, and would continue its campaign until the authorities issued directions and ensured that they were followed.

SEVEN SUGGESTIONS

• Mill the old road surface before laying a new bituminous layer

• Meaure road elevations against mean sea level (MSL), with benchmark stones installed and measurements recorded in the Measurement Book (MBook) and published online before and after the work

• Take photos, videos documenting the milling depth

• Elevation measurements should be made mandatory

• Lower main roads gradually in areas where raised levels have left interior roads and homes at lower elevations

• Set up expert committee to recommend solutions

• Provide compensation of up to Rs 40 lakh, calculated on a square-foot basis, to each household affected by raised roads

The award was presented by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal at the India Urban Mobility Conference and Exhibition 2026, held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. MTC Managing Director VP Jeyaseelan received the award on behalf of the corporation.

MTC operates 4,100 buses, including around 755 electric buses, across 687 routes in Chennai and its suburban areas. The award recognises measures taken by the corporation to improve the financial sustainability and efficiency of public transport operations. Under the Chennai City Partnership – Sustainable Urban Services Programme (CCP-SUSP), supported by the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB), MTC receives performance-based Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

The funding is linked to the achievement of specified Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including bus operational efficiency, service reliability, and the utilisation of personnel and vehicles. The eligibility target for the funding has been increased from 10% in 2023–24 to 100% in 2026–27.

The financial support is being utilised for measures including depot infrastructure and employee welfare, with the aim of improving MTC operational efficiency and the quality of public transport services.

Techie's car runs over elderly man killing him

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

Visuals showed his friend sitting beside the body, holding an umbrella to protect it from the rain as they waited for an ambulance.The deceased was dentified as Kumar (77), who was living in a thatched hut in the neighborhood.

According to local residents, Kumar was sleeping along the roadside when a car reversing from a nearby marriage hall ran over him, killing him on the spot.Police sources said that a techie who was behind the wheels had got down to check on the man, but drove off on witnessing a mob gathering at the scene, as his wife and child were inside the car.

The elderly man was taken to a hospital where he was declared as brought dead. Meanwhile Chengelpet police traced the car with the help of CCTV footage and arrested the driver, G Saravanan (43), an IT firm employee.  

Bizman held under Pocso in Tirunelveli

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

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

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

Special Sub-Inspector transferred to Armed Reserve on bribe charges

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

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

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

Guest worker killed over card game in Chennai

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

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

Chennai: Woman dies after pushed to floor while rescuing son

A 62-year-old woman died after she was pushed to the floor while trying to rescue her son, who was being attacked by a group of men during a family dispute in Perungalathur. The deceased, Naseema Bee (62), was the mother of Vasivudeen (43), a resident of Kamarajar Street in Perungalathur.

Vasivudeen lives with his wife, Naseema (40). Police said an argument broke out between Vasivudeen and his wife on Wednesday.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Kancheepuram silk showroom owners arrested in Rs 20 crore fraud case

Two owners of a popular silk saree showroom in Kancheepuram have been arrested by the Kancheepuram District Crime Branch police in connection with an alleged Rs 20 crore fraud involving wholesale saree suppliers from Rajasthan, Chennai and Salem.

Krishnamoorthy (52) and Sathish (50), both residents of George Town in Chennai, jointly operated Murugan and Kalikambal Silks, located near Rangasamy Kulam in Kancheepuram.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Sathankulam man kills teen lover’s mother for opposing relationship

A 23-year-old man launched a sickle attack on a couple in their house, killing the woman and injuring the man and their minor son, and kidnapped her two minor daughters, at Mudalur near Sathankulam early on Friday. The girls were rescued shortly and the man, Gnanaprakash of Anandapuram, was apprehended by the Thoothukudi police after the girls shared their live location with them via WhatsApp.

The father Muthukrishnan (50) and son Pleasant Raja (12) sustained grievous injuries and are in the intensive care unit of the Government Super Specialty Hospital in Tirunelveli. Muthukrishnan’s condition is said to be critical.

2 lorry drivers confess to murder of coworker in Tiruvallur

Two lorry drivers allegedly confessed to murdering their colleague following a drunken quarrel and burying his body in an isolated spot near Alamathi in Tiruvallur district, police said. The police are scheduled to exhume the remains on Saturday in the presence of a Tahsildar.

The deceased, M Gokul (27), a native of Kanniyakumari district, worked as a lorry driver for a private transport company in Alamathi. His younger brother, Rahul, lodged a complaint with Sholavaram police stating that Gokul had been missing since October 7.

Following the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. They examined CCTV footage from the Alamathi area and identified two suspects, Ayyappan (18), and Sathish (33), who worked as lorry drivers.

READ FULL STORY HERE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Addressing a wedding ceremony hosted by former minister KKSSR Ramachandran at the Ramachandra Convention Centre in Tiruvanmiyur here, Stalin hit back at Vijay's repeated description of the DMK as a "theeya sakthi" (evil force), saying people now knew who the real evil force was.

"When our government was formed, I wanted its welfare measures to reach not only those who voted for us but also those who did not. But under the present government, even those who voted for it are in distress," Stalin said.

Alleging that incidents of murder, robbery, theft and sexual assault continued to make headlines, he recalled his earlier criticism of the government over sexual crimes and power cuts. "Now, the situation appears to be a competition between drug proliferation and sexual crimes," he said.

Stalin also praised Ramachandran for his long political career and service under MG Ramachandran, M Karunanidhi and his own government. Crediting the former minister with helping resolve land-title disputes, he said more than 21.5 lakh pattas had been distributed in Tamil Nadu.

DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi said Ramachandran had remained a trusted lieutenant of the party leadership since joining the organisation and had consistently translated its decisions into action. She wished the newlyweds a long and harmonious life.

Former minister K Ponmudy praised Ramachandran's efforts to increase state revenue during his tenure as Revenue Minister and urged the couple to raise their children with love and values.

Former minister KN Nehru said Stalin treated party workers equally and attended their family functions irrespective of rank. Citing a Dharapuram meeting where 40,000 people reportedly attended despite seating arrangements for 26,000, he expressed confidence that Stalin would return as Chief Minister.

Former Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation chairman Dindigul I Leoni praised Stalin's leadership, citing welfare initiatives such as the KMUT scheme and Metro Rail services. He predicted an early end to the incumbent government.

Ramachandran urged party workers to sustain their enthusiasm and work towards bringing Stalin back to power.

Sources told DT Next that the woman is an Indian national, and added that the intelligence sources believed she was collecting information for Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The accused, Babu (52), from Keezhvallam village near Kaniyambadi in Vellore, served in the Indian Army for 28 years and retired last year as a Captain from its equipment division and settled in his native village of Keezhvallam.

According to preliminary information, an unidentified woman contacted Babu through WhatsApp approximately a year ago and established closer contact before gradually asking him for information related to the Indian Army.

Babu reportedly shared the information, and whenever he did not know certain details, he allegedly contacted Army offices over the phone to obtain the information and subsequently passed it on to the woman. He is suspected of leaking confidential military information and details concerning Army equipment over the past year. Army officials reportedly grew suspicious of his activities and questioned him in person with the assistance of central intelligence agencies.

During the investigation, it allegedly emerged that Babu had been sharing various military-related details with the unidentified woman over the past year. Central intelligence officials detained Babu for questioning on Friday and handed him over to the Vellore Rural police station on Saturday night.

The Vellore police have registered a case and are conducting further investigations. Investigators are now working to identify the woman who allegedly contacted Babu and obtained the confidential information. They are also examining who was operating the WhatsApp account and whether any foreign nationals or overseas organisations were involved in the suspected information leak.

( Bureau with inputs from agency )

In a condolence message, Vijay said Damu had brought the art of cooking to the masses through his culinary expertise and distinctive approach on television.

“He set a Guinness World Record in 2010 for the longest cooking marathon by an individual and was also honoured with the Padma Shri. His demise is a great loss to the culinary world,” the Chief Minister said.

Vijay also expressed his condolences to Damu’s bereaved family, relatives, friends and admirers of culinary arts, and conveyed his sympathies to them in their hour of grief.

Damu, 72, died in Chennai on Sunday after a period of illness. He received the Padma Shri in 2025 for his contribution to the culinary arts

Indicating that Aavin has suspended the production of over 100 dairy products, including butter, paneer and milk powder, which enjoy immense demand among consumers, he said it is "deeply shocking".

The PMK leader, citing a media report, said, "It is condemnable that Aavin, a premier state-owned cooperative enterprise that ought to be built up to compete with the likes of Amul, is being allowed to deteriorate to this extent."

In a statement, he said Aavin enjoys widespread public trust and demand for all its products, including milk. However, Aavin is currently struggling to meet market demands, he claimed.

"While currently fulfilling only 15 per cent to 16 per cent of the state's total milk requirement, Aavin has now completely stopped manufacturing several value-added products," he claimed, adding, "Out of more than 230 dairy products previously produced and marketed by Aavin, production of items such as paneer, butter, various milkshakes, milk powder, dry fruit powders (almond, pistachio, walnut mixes), cookies, and chocolates has been suspended in recent times."

Anbumani said, "It remains unclear what operational bottlenecks prevent Aavin from meeting the huge public demand for butter, paneer, ghee, and flavoured cold beverages."

He said in 2021, Aavin’s daily milk procurement touched a peak of 41 lakh litres. However, procurement gradually declined to 28 lakh litres per day by August this year. Following an increase in procurement prices from Rs 38 to Rs 44 per litre, procurement recently recovered to around 32 lakh litres per day.

"Therefore, the state government must immediately set up an expert committee to analyse Aavin’s current operations and recommend steps to ensure its financial health and profitability," he said, adding, "In the interim, Aavin must ensure that all varieties of milk, paneer, butter, ghee, and other dairy products are produced and distributed to consumers at full capacity."

The signature drive is being spearheaded by district secretary Siva and constituency secretary Mary Divya. Launching the campaign on behalf of the party's state committee, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said the party, along with other Left and democratic forces, has consistently raised its voice against the move.

Appealing to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Veerapandian emphasised the traditional rights of fishermen over coastal lands. "The sea and the coastal regions belong to the people who live in harmony with it -- the fishing community," he said.

Drawing a parallel to hill-dwellers, he warned that evicting the fishing community from their native coastal areas would destroy their livelihoods and strip the region of its essence.

The CPI leader also raised strong environmental concerns, terming any construction on the beach that obstructs the sea breeze an "attack on nature". He asserted that the beach is a public space where no buildings should be erected, noting that such infrastructure contradicts global environmental politics.

Dismissing the notion that the government lacks alternative locations for the administrative complex, Veerapandian suggested that the state utilise existing spaces.

"The government should not think there is no land available to build a Secretariat. Today, 120 acres of land is available at the race course," he noted, urging the state to pursue an alternative plan that does not displace the public.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Over 150 school students rescued after landslide blocks Ooty road

Rescue personnel rescued over 150 school students trapped by a landslide on the Mettupalayam-Ooty road by using ropes. Landslides at more than 10 locations along the Udhagamandalam road have completely disrupted traffic.

Bus driver killed, conductor injured as mudslide, uprooted trees hit TNSTC bus in Nilgiris

A bus driver was killed and the conductor seriously injured after a mudslide and uprooted trees fell on a TNSTC bus near Burliar in the Nilgiris district on Saturday, police said.

The incident occurred in the early hours when the bus was travelling from Coonoor to Mettupalayam amid heavy rain.

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus was driven by Janagaraj, a resident of Kooratty village near Ooty, while Kesavan was the conductor, police said.

The bus had three passengers, who got off at Kurumpadi shortly before it reached Burliar. Only the driver and conductor were on board when the mudslide struck, police said.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Rain forecast till 1 pm in six Tamil Nadu districts

Light to moderate rain accompanied by light thunder and lightning is likely in six Tamil Nadu districts till 1 pm on Saturday, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai.

The six districts likely to receive rain are the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Erode, Krishnagiri and Salem.

Schools closed in Tamil Nadu's Erode district today

Due to heavy rain, all schools in Erode district (government, aided, and private) are closed today (October 24).

Well-marked low-pressure over Bay likely to intensify into depression today

The low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, reported on Friday, has intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area as of 5.30 am on Saturday, October 24, according to the latest bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The system is likely to intensify into a depression on Saturday and further strengthen into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 26.

According to the IMD, the well-marked low-pressure area is likely to persist over the same region and intensify into a depression on October 24. It is then expected to move west-northwestwards and strengthen into a deep depression on October 25 before becoming a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26.

Heavy downpours lash Tamil Nadu, roads flooded; Virudhunagar teen killed in wall collapse

Heavy showers caused waterlogging in low-lying areas across Tamil Nadu, and districts such as Madurai and Virudhunagar received bounteous rain, bringing down temperatures in the region.

A 17-year-old girl died, and her mother was injured after a wall of their rented house collapsed due to heavy rains at Mettamalai near Sattur in Virudhunagar district on Thursday night, police said on Friday. Sattur and its surrounding areas had experienced heavy downpours for over five hours prior to the collapse.

The deceased was identified as Muthuchelvi, a Class 12 student. Her mother, Solaiyammal, who sustained injuries in the incident, was admitted to the Sattur GH.

Meanwhile, the water level in the state's 89 reservoirs stood at 27.9% of their total capacity as on October 22, retaining 62.53 TMC against a capacity of 224.3 TMC. The storage rose by 1.02 TMC in the last 24 hours, but remained 134.4 TMC below the corresponding period last year, sources said.

The IMD said that a low-pressure area formed over East Central and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Friday is most likely to persist over the same region and intensify into a depression on October 24. Thereafter, it is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a deep depression on October 25 and into a cyclonic storm over the Westcentral Bay of Bengal by October 26 morning.

Heavy rain leaves Madurai under water, hundreds of homes flooded; Rs 23 crore drainage projects planned

Heavy rain that lashed Madurai district for more than four to five hours from Thursday evening inundated hundreds of houses, flooded major roads and severely disrupted traffic, leaving residents struggling to access essential services.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, several low-lying areas, including Sellur, Mattuthavani Vegetable Market, Koripalayam, Anna Nagar and Periyar Bus Stand, were submerged in knee-deep water following the downpour. In Sellur, floodwaters entered hundreds of houses along the 50-foot and 60-foot road stretches, causing considerable hardship to residents overnight.

Meanwhile, the Corporation has announced plans to undertake drainage projects worth ₹23 crore to address recurring waterlogging near Madurai Railway Station and along the Masi streets. Officials said the projects would be launched soon to improve rainwater drainage in these flood-prone areas.

What is the current TN weather status?

The low-pressure area that formed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday morning persisted over the same region, with its associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its Friday afternoon bulletin. 

The system is likely to intensify into a depression on October 24, a deep depression on October 25 and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26, the IMD added. 

The system is then expected to move west-northwestwards towards the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts over the following two days. If it develops into a cyclone, it will be named Arnab, as suggested by Bangladesh.

The IMD also reported that the low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep region persists, with a trough extending across Kerala to the north coastal Tamil Nadu coast.

Red alert for extremely heavy rain in Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli today (October 23)

The Regional Meterological Centre (RMC) has issued a red alert for Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli districts, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places on Friday (October 23). Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Theni districts.

Heavy rain is forecast in Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Tenkasi, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Villuppuram, Tiruppur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai and Kallakurichi districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal.

Very heavy rain forecast in several districts

The RMC has forecast very heavy rain (11.6–20.4 cm in 24 hours) at isolated places in Kanniyakumari, Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts on Friday (October 23), warranting an orange alert, while a yellow alert has been issued for heavy rain (6.5–11.5 cm) in several other districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Erode and Tiruppur, besides Puducherry and Karaikal.

On Saturday (October 24), very heavy rain is likely in Kanniyakumari, Coimbatore, Nilgiris and the Ghat areas of Tirunelveli district.

On Sunday (October 25), very heavy rain is forecast in Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Theni districts. Heavy rain is likely in several other districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Madurai and Tiruppur.

On Monday (October 26), very heavy rain is likely in Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Pudukkottai districts.

Bay Of Bengal low-pressure area may intensify into cyclone by October 26

With widespread rainfall continuing across Tamil Nadu, a new low-pressure area that formed over the Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Friday (October 23) is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 26, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The system has formed under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. It is likely to intensify into a depression on Saturday (October 24), a deep depression on Sunday (October 25), and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday (October 26).

The system is expected to move west-northwestwards towards the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts over the following two days. If it develops into a cyclone, it will be named ‘Arnab’, as suggested by Bangladesh.

Under the influence of this system, further heavy rain is likely across Tamil Nadu. The RMC has forecast very heavy rainfall of 11.6–20.4 cm at isolated places in Kanniyakumari, Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts on Friday.

Meanwhile, another low-pressure area that was over the Comorin region and adjoining parts of south Tamil Nadu and Kerala has moved over the southwest Arabian Sea, off the south Kerala coast, on Friday morning, according to the IMD.

Schools closed in four Tamil Nadu districts today

Schools in Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Vellore districts have been declared closed on Friday (October 23) due to heavy rain. In Tiruvannamalai district, Collector Vandana Garg has declared a holiday for both schools and colleges.

Several parts of Tamil Nadu have been experiencing widespread heavy rain since Thursday night, prompting the respective district administrations to announce the closures.

Several parts of Tamil Nadu continued to receive rain on Thursday (October 22) as the northeast monsoon remained active, swelling waterfalls and boosting reservoir levels across the State. Heavy overnight showers caused waterlogging in parts of Chennai and several southern districts, with Sankarankoil among the worst-affected areas.

Key updates from TN districts on October 22:

-- Kanniyakumari: Schools closed after heavy overnight rain, thunder and lightning. Homes inundated in Kollamcode.

-- Tirunelveli and Tenkasi: Rain holidays already announced for schools.

-- Madurai: Heavy rain has submerged over 140 acres of newly planted paddy fields. Farmers blame undredged irrigation canals for crop damage and are seeking compensation from the State government.

-- Cauvery delta: Farmers said initial showers were sporadic and insufficient to sustain the samba paddy crop.

-- Reservoir storage: Northeast monsoon rains have boosted inflows into drinking water reservoirs and irrigation dams. Chennai’s six key reservoirs have reached 37% of their combined capacity. Vaigai dam stands at 44.88 feet, Mullaperiyar at 116.90 feet, Papanasam at 48 feet and Perunchani at 44.35 feet.

---- PTI

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• Heavy to very heavy rain: Forecast in 17 districts, including Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam, over the next 24 hours.

• Heavy rain: Expected in 10 districts, including Tiruvallur, Villuppuram, Cuddalore and Tiruppur.

• Chennai: Moderate rain likely over the next two days, with heavy downpours possible on October 24 and 25.

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What is the current TN weather status?

An official told PTI that the low-pressure area remained active over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast since October 21 evening. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and under its influence a low-pressure area is likely to form over Southeast and adjoining East central Bay of Bengal around October 23. Then it is likely to move northwestwards and intensify further.

Meteorologists are also tracking a secondary upper-air cyclonic circulation over the North Andaman Sea. This separate system is forecast to move west-northwestward and likely consolidate into a second low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal around Friday.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over the next 24 hours in districts including Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai.

Low-pressure over Bay to bring heavy rain to Tamil Nadu; Chennai to get moderate showers for 3 days

A low-pressure area has formed over the Southwest Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast and it will trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall across the State. Under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation, the system developed on Wednesday and continues to persist over the same region. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 5.8 km above mean sea level.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai and the Karaikal area on Thursday.

READ FULL REPORT HERE

Monsoon safety advisory for public, EB staff

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

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

• Avoid walking through stagnant rainwater near electrical installations.

• Inform the EB department about damaged infrastructure.

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

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

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

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

• Stay away from open windows and metal grills.

• Avoid using electrical appliances and telephones during lightning.

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

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

• Do not tie cattle to electric poles or wires

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

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

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

• RCCBs alone cannot guarantee complete protection without proper insulation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

READ FULL REPORT HERE

Potholes plague Tambaram-Velachery road

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

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

Chennai streets inundated after overnight heavy rain spell

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

Chennai Corporation to spend Rs 21.80 crore on pothole repairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rainfall likely to increase

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

Puzhal lake storage crosses 5 TMC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RMC issues rain alert till 10 am

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

Overnight heavy rain spell in Chennai

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

TN rain forecast: Here are the details

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the ports where the warning signal has been hoisted are Chennai, Ennore, Kattupalli, Cuddalore, Thoothukudi, Pamban, Puducherry, Nagapattinam and Karaikal.

The low-pressure area that formed over the central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area on Saturday. It is expected to strengthen into a depression and subsequently a deep depression on Sunday before developing into a cyclone on Monday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The system is forecast to move west-northwestwards and intensify further. It may cross the coast near Andhra Pradesh over the central-west Bay of Bengal on the morning of October 28.

No 1 cyclone warning signal: What it means

Cyclone warning signals numbered 1 to 11 are hoisted at ports to indicate potential weather threats and their severity. A No 1 signal indicates that weather conditions favourable for the formation of a cyclone exist, with strong winds expected in the vicinity, but the port itself is not expected to be affected.

During the daytime, warning signals are displayed using cone-shaped structures made of bamboo, while coloured lights are used at night.

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

The warning comes amid widespread rainfall across the state and the strengthening of a weather system over the Bay of Bengal.

An orange alert has also been issued for Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchi, Karur, the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Sivaganga districts, besides the Karaikal region.

These areas are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunder and lightning.

The forecast places southern districts under particular scrutiny, while several central, delta, and western districts also face the prospect of intense rainfall.

The alerts indicate that the severity of rain is expected to vary across the affected regions.

According to the weather department’s report, the Nilgiris recorded exceptionally heavy rainfall during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday. Burliar registered the highest rainfall of 25 centimetres, followed by Lower Kotagiri Estate with 20 centimetres and Coonoor with 17 centimetres.

The substantial rainfall in the hill district adds to concerns over the continuing monsoon spell, with further heavy rain forecast for the Nilgiris and neighbouring western districts covered by the orange alert.

Meanwhile, the low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area on Saturday and subsequently developed into a depression, the department said.

The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and strengthen into a deep depression on Sunday. It could intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday morning. Thereafter, the weather system is likely to continue moving west-northwestwards and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal off the Andhra Pradesh coast by the morning of October 28.

The forecast describes the system’s expected movement and intensification over the sea. It does not specify a landfall location or time.

With the northeast monsoon active and the Bay of Bengal system gathering strength, the department’s latest forecast points to another spell of intense rain across multiple parts of Tamil Nadu on Sunday.

By Tuesday, it is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm. As it approaches the Andhra Pradesh coastline on October 28, it may intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm. The system originated as a well-marked low-pressure area on October 24 before concentrating into a depression.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) projects the cyclone to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, packing sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 140 kmph.

A separate low-pressure area originally over the Southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep now rests over the Southeast Arabian Sea off the Kerala coast. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 3.1 km above mean sea level.

On Monday, heavy to very heavy rain was predicted in Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts. Heavy rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph is likely across Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Karur, Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam.

On Tuesday, heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph are likely at isolated places in Ramanathapuram district. Moderate rainfall with thunderstorm activity is expected across the remaining parts of south Tamil Nadu and the Western Ghats districts. Light rain at a few places, with thunderstorms and lightning at one or two places, is likely to occur over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and the Karaikal areas.

Light to moderate rainfall is expected at isolated places across the Western Ghats districts on October 29 and 30.

Recalling an incident in Theni’s Cumbum, Udhayanidhi alleged that an MLA belonging to the ruling TVK had left the spot when people questioned the sale of polished rice.

He alleged that despite Tamil Nadu having 2.28 crore ration cards, the rice was being sold in only 250 locations, with a limit of 5 kg per family.

He also questioned the government’s decision to sell fine-quality rice at cooperative stores, “When did the government float a tender to procure fine-quality rice for sale at cooperative stores? How many companies participated in the tender? The government should answer these questions without any polish.”

A woman had filed a complaint at the Puzhal Police Station in July alleging that Rajapandian had attempted to misbehave with her.

Based on that complaint, the police registered a case under the provisions of the Women Harassment Prevention Act and BNS and had been conducting an investigation. In connection with this case, the police had obtained a signature from Rajapandian on a bond of assurance that he would not harass the woman.

But, a few days ago he had violated the assurance after which a police team went to his house on Friday to conduct an inquiry. Upon seeing the police, Rajapandian went to the third floor of the house to escape from them. From there, Rajapandian jumped onto the cement roof of the neighbouring house.

In that process, the cement roof collapsed and shattered, leaving Rajapandian with grievous injuries. Police took him to the Periyar Nagar Government Hospital. After first aid there, he was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, where he died. Further investigations are underway.

Employees who fail to submit the returns within the stipulated deadline will be treated as having violated the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1973.

The instructions were issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government in a communication dated August 5, 2026, and subsequently circulated by the School Education Department. The directive follows amendments to Rule 7 (3) of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, which require government employees to file details of their movable and immovable properties, debts and other liabilities annually through the online portal. The submission requirement applies to employees under the respective departments, excluding All India Service officers.

The IFHRMS portal provides separate forms to declare different categories of assets and liabilities. Employees must enter details of immovable properties, including land, buildings, flats and individual houses, in Form I. Movable assets, such as two-wheelers, four-wheelers, jewellery and bank deposits, must be declared in Form II. Debts and other liabilities must be reported in Form III.

To submit the returns, employees must complete all three forms, review the information, make corrections if necessary, confirm the declaration and submit the statement. Employees can download the final report for their records.

The government has also clarified that the date of submission must be mentioned in employees’ annual confidential reports. Filing the statement is also a consideration for preparing promotion panels.

Going forward, employees must submit details of assets and liabilities held as of December 31 every year by March 31 of the following calendar year. For instance, the return for 2026 must be filed by March 31, 2027. Employees have been advised to keep their IFHRMS login credentials secure and ensure timely compliance.

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

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

Isolated heavy rain is also expected in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Namakkal, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Erode, Virudhunagar, Kanniyakumari and Puducherry.

On Monday, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue in Pudukkottai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts. Isolated heavy rain accompanied by squally winds is forecast in The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari.

In Chennai, the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 32 degrees Celsius and the minimum around 25 degrees Celsius. Maximum temperatures across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are expected to remain near normal until October 28.

The IMD has warned of hazardous sea conditions as the system intensifies. The sea is likely to be very rough to high over the central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal from Sunday morning, becoming high to very high over the west-central and east-central Bay of Bengal between October 26 and 28. Rough to very rough conditions are also expected along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into deep waters and to plan their activities strictly in accordance with official advisories through October 28.

Expressing grief over the incident, the minister said, "I have spent a great deal of time trying to address this issue and uproot it," reiterating the need to tackle discrimination and ensure students' emotional well-being.

The boy, A Akilan, was a Class 11 student at a school in Peelamedu, Coimbatore. According to reports, his parents alleged that he had faced caste-based discrimination by fellow students and was distressed about attending school. The allegations are being investigated by the police.

Emphasising the importance of students' mental health, Rajmohan said the School Education Department would focus on addressing the emotional well-being of students and preventing such incidents.

"The emotional well-being of students is paramount, and focus will be placed on addressing that. We have to ensure that students respond and not react to situations," the minister said.

The incident has renewed concerns over caste-based discrimination and the need for schools to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment. The allegations have also raised questions about the support available to students facing harassment and emotional distress.

The minister's assurance comes amid calls for a thorough investigation and accountability in the case. The police are examining the circumstances surrounding the boy's death and the allegations made by his family.

Stalin held a consultative meeting at Anna Arivalayam with party principal secretary KN Nehru and district secretaries concerned with the five constituencies facing bypolls. He asked the functionaries to identify suitable candidates and submit their names to the party high command.
The meeting focused on Tiruchirappalli East, Viralimalai, Karur, Perundurai and Ambasamudram constituencies.

For Tiruchirappalli East, which fell vacant following the resignation of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Stalin consulted Nehru and Tiruchirappalli South district secretary Anbil Mahesh.

He also held discussions with Pudukkottai North district secretary KK Chellapandian and Karur district secretary V Senthilbalaji regarding the Viralimalai and Karur constituencies, respectively. These seats fell vacant following the resignations of AIADMK MLAs MR Vijayabhaskar and C Vijayabaskar.

For Perundurai and Ambasamudram, Erode South district secretary S Muthusamy and Tirunelveli West district secretary R Avudaiyappan were consulted, respectively. The constituencies fell vacant following the resignations of AIADMK MLAs S Jayakumar and Esakki Subaya.

Stalin instructed the district-level functionaries to identify eligible candidates and forward their names to the party leadership for consideration.

The DMK leadership is closely watching the five constituencies, particularly those in and around the Tiruchirappalli region. Apart from Tiruchirappalli East, the other four constituencies were won by the AIADMK in the previous Assembly election.

Following the party's performance in two recently concluded Assembly bypolls, the DMK leadership is confident of its prospects in the forthcoming contests.

The bypolls are expected to see a four-cornered contest involving the ruling TVK, AIADMK, DMK and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK).

In a circular issued by Additional Director Rajashekar, the department said employees and officials should submit applications concerning their grievances and demands to the head of the department through the proper official channel.

"Approaching Ministers, MLAs or Muthalvarin Mugavari and the CM Cell, bypassing the official channel, will be viewed as a violation of civil service rules. Such practices should be avoided. Staff and officials who violate these instructions will face disciplinary action under the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules," the circular stated.

The circular also cited the Tamil Nadu Government Servants' Conduct Rules, which prohibit government servants from bringing or attempting to bring political or outside influence to bear on any superior authority to further their interests in matters relating to their service under the government.

The department reiterated that employees must follow the prescribed administrative procedures while raising service-related grievances and seeking redressal.

Minister for Law and Energy Resources R Nirmalkumar on Saturday dismissed reports of Vijay's proposed visit, saying the helipad being constructed at Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district was intended for the Vice-President's visit. He said the government had not planned the Chief Minister's visit this year, citing the large crowds expected at the annual commemoration.

"There is no truth in reports that Chief Minister Vijay will visit Pasumpon for Thevar Jayanthi. The helipad is being constructed for the Vice-President's visit," Nirmalkumar told reporters after paying tributes at the Marudhu Pandiyar memorial in Tiruppattur.

He said additional road facilities were being created to manage the crowds expected for the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar and his 64th Guru Pooja.

However, a senior TVK leader offered a different perspective, pointing to the political implications of the Chief Minister's absence from community commemorations.

"Vijay did not personally visit Paramakudi for Immanuel Sekaran's death anniversary, although there were moves to bring him to Pasumpon for Thevar Jayanthi. If he is seen as missing one community, the Devendrakula Vellalars, while recognising and respecting another, the Mukkulathors, it could backfire on the party and affect our future electoral calculations. That is the real reason for the decision. Public safety is not the issue; as Chief Minister, he can manage the arrangements," the party leader told DT Next.

Vijay did not personally attend the September 11 commemoration of Immanuel Sekaran's 69th death anniversary at Paramakudi. Ministers Nirmalkumar and KG Arunraj paid floral tributes there on his behalf, while Vijay honoured Sekaran in a social media post.

Meanwhile, Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal reviewed security arrangements at Pasumpon on Saturday. More than 18,000 police personnel are to be deployed across four southern districts for the October 30 event.

In a statement, Anbumani said the government's decision to end the long wait of farmers and allocate a subsidy of Rs 127.56 crore for the connections was welcome. However, he stressed that the annual allocation must be increased to one lakh connections to clear the backlog within four years.

Anbumani said 47,554 farmers had applied under the Tatkal Scheme following the DMK government's 2025 announcement, paying between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 4 lakh for connections. He also pointed out that 12,566 farmers had applied under the scheme in 2023, but the government had failed to provide connections despite collecting more than Rs 1,250 crore from them.

In August, he had urged the government to provide connections to all 4.6 lakh waiting farmers, including 60,000 Tatkal applicants and four lakh applicants under the regular scheme. PMK Legislature Party leader Sowmya Anbumani subsequently raised the demand in the Assembly, following which the Electricity Minister gave an assurance, he said.

Welcoming the partial fulfilment of the PMK's demand, Anbumani said many farmers had been waiting for more than 13 years. He urged the government to increase the annual allocation to one lakh connections and ensure that all eligible applicants received free agricultural electricity within four years.

His postings included Assistant Collector (Training) in Tirunelveli, Sub-Collector in Devakottai and Nagapattinam, Collector of the Nilgiris, Director of Survey and Settlement, Joint Secretary in the Finance Department, Commissioner and Secretary of Planning and Development, and Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE).

He also served as Chairman of the Second State Finance Commission, Commissioner of Revenue Administration and Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO).

His mortal remains will be kept at his residence in Karpagam Gardens, Adyar. The final rites will be held at the Besant Nagar crematorium at 11 am on Sunday.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay condoled his death. In a post on X, the Chief Minister recalled Sukavaneshvar's service to the government in various capacities and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

Mohan Raj, a financial consultant, flagged the disruption on social media, saying people had been waiting at a sub-registrar office since morning without receiving tokens.

"Many members of the public are waiting outside with no clarity on when services will resume," he said, questioning the lack of a backup system and proper communication during such disruptions.

He urged the Tamil Nadu Registration Department and the State government to intervene, restore services and issue a clear update to the public. Department officials said the server glitch occurred on Friday and lasted only a short period. The issue was rectified promptly, and services resumed as usual, they said.

The complaint has highlighted the inconvenience caused by technical disruptions at government offices, particularly for people who travel to complete property registration and other document-related formalities.

The absence of timely updates can leave applicants uncertain about whether to continue waiting or return another day.

After paying tributes to the Marudhu brothers in Tirupattur, he said the move was aimed at preventing horse trading if TVK failed to secure the numbers required to form the government. Dhinakaran said the Communist parties had initially hesitated to support the AIADMK, as it could create the impression that they were backing the BJP.

He said TVK had only 107 MLAs and would have been unable to form the government without the support of the Communist parties and Thirumavalavan. The DMK had openly stated that it would not attempt to form the government, and TVK had not sought its support, he added.

Subsequently, Palaniswami and other leaders explored the possibility of making Thirumavalavan the chief minister with the backing of all parties, he said.

Clarifying that the move was not intended to prevent TVK from coming to power, Dhinakaran said, "If Vijay failed to form the government, EPS and all of us attempted to make VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan the chief minister with the support of all parties."

He reiterated that the AIADMK and DMK would never join hands politically and accused Vijay of attempting to gain political mileage from the developments.

Asked about reports of actor Dhanush's possible political entry, Dhinakaran said he would be happy if the actor joined the AIADMK.

Citing a series of recent incidents, including a woman's murder near Sathankulam, the disappearance of a boy near Uthangarai in Krishnagiri district and the alleged caste discrimination that reportedly led to a student's death by suicide at a government-aided school in Coimbatore, Palaniswami said the developments were shocking and reflected the deterioration of law and order and social justice in the State.

In a statement, the AIADMK chief referred to the CM as a "reel CM" and questioned the government's commitment to social justice. He asked what action had been taken over the alleged caste discrimination in the Coimbatore school, despite the government's repeated claims of upholding social justice.

Palaniswami also expressed concern over the continued disappearance of children, referring to cases in Sriperumbudur, Gingee and Uthangarai. While the girl from Sriperumbudur had been rescued, he claimed the girl from Gingee remained untraced.

Questioning whether the repeated incidents indicated a pattern, he urged the government to investigate the cases from all angles, trace the missing children and take stringent legal action against those involved in the Sathankulam murder and the Coimbatore case.

Inspecting the desilting work in the canals in Kumbakonam, he said that in view of the northeast monsoon, the flood prevention activities have been accelerated across the state, while the agriculture and agriculture engineering department officials have been deployed to identify the flood-prone locations.

Pointing out that free water flow to fields was disrupted because the C and D canals were not desilted in the past 30 years, he said, “But now, the TVK government is concentrating more on these canals, and the desilt works are under way. The work would be completed on time," the minister said.

He also stated that besides agricultural areas, the residential areas in Thanjavur are also being inspected and all flood preventive measures are in place. Special task forces have been established to shift and protect the people in the vulnerable areas. “We have asked the officials to enumerate the locations that were flooded during the previous years and initiate all preventive steps," he said.

He also stated that the harvested crops that were damaged due to the monsoon rains would be inspected by the officials and proper compensation would be distributed to the affected farmers.

District Collector R Revathi and others accompanied the minister.

In a set of instructions, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Vinoth has asked officials to inspect vulnerable agricultural areas, identify fields at risk of inundation and ensure paddy ready for harvest and harvested stocks are adequately protected against rain damage.

Officials have been directed to provide protective coverings for paddy stored at government procurement centres to prevent it from getting wet. They must also ensure adequate arrangements to safeguard the stocks and, wherever possible, facilitate their swift transportation to safer storage locations.

The department has instructed officials to clear blockages in irrigation canals, drainage channels and field waterways to ensure the free flow of rainwater and prevent waterlogging in agricultural fields.

Agricultural engineering officials have been asked to keep tractors, water pumps and other necessary machinery ready at vulnerable locations to drain excess water from fields promptly after rainfall.

The department has also stressed coordination among officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering wings, along with local bodies, to implement preventive measures based on local requirements and minimise crop losses.

Where damage occurs, officials must immediately inspect the affected areas, assess the extent of crop losses and submit detailed reports, supported by photographs and GPS coordinates, to the competent authorities without delay.

The minister has further directed officials to expedite damage assessments and facilitate eligible farmers' access to relief under applicable government schemes.

District-level control rooms will coordinate emergency measures and provide assistance to farmers. Officials must also submit reports on precautionary measures, paddy protection arrangements, drainage operations and crop damage assessments to the department's agricultural engineering authorities for further action.

The minister emphasised the importance of preventive action before rainfall intensifies, directing officials to work in coordination, continuously monitor field-level measures and take all necessary steps to protect farmers' livelihoods.

The department has also underscored the need to ensure the safety of field personnel deployed for emergency operations during adverse weather conditions.

Poovulagin Nanbargal organisation highlighted the heavy rainfall recorded in the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal over the past two days and the landslides near Burliar on the Coonoor Mettupalayam National Highway and in Kodaikanal, which damaged roads and houses.

The organisation said climate change was intensifying short-duration, heavy rainfall events, while unregulated development and the loss of green cover had weakened the Western Ghats' ability to retain rainwater. It also questioned why restrictions on tourist visits were imposed only after severe damage and loss of life.

Welcoming resolutions adopted at a meeting on Western Ghats conservation in Palladam on October 17, attended by more than 100 environmental organisations, it urged the Centre and six States to implement the Kasturirangan Committee's recommendations to declare 59,940 sq km as Ecologically Sensitive Areas.

In Tamil Nadu, it called for declaring 6,914 sq km ecologically sensitive, regulating land use changes, restoring natural forests in plantation areas after leases expire and restricting mass tourism events beyond the hills' carrying capacity.

The organisation urged the state government to prioritise conservation, sustainable livelihoods and protection of the Western Ghats, which serve as a major water source and habitat for diverse wildlife.

The reform follows an assurance made by the Finance Minister during the Assembly’s Budget session to simplify the framework for state loans and advances, according to an order issued by the Finance Department.

Under the revised norms, government employees who have successfully completed their probation period will be eligible to apply for these advances. Previously, employees had to complete six years of continuous service to qualify.

To ensure seamless access and eliminate procedural delays, the government has shifted the entire application process from manual paperwork to an online system.

"Government employees seeking loans and advances can submit their applications through the Integrated Financial and Human Resource Management System (IFHRMS) portal or the Kalanjiyam mobile application," said a government official.

However, the government has not changed the core terms and conditions governing these loans and advances.

Employees availing advances to purchase vehicles or computer systems must complete the transaction within one month of the amount being credited to their account.

The government has also made it mandatory that any employee whose services are terminated must settle the entire outstanding loan balance along with the accrued interest in a single instalment.

Additionally, vehicles or other assets acquired using state advances cannot be sold, transferred, or mortgaged until the principal and interest components are fully repaid.

The revamped framework is expected to cut red tape significantly and ensure prompt disbursal of financial support to eligible government personnel for the purchase of a vehicle or while getting married.

An in-house assessment has estimated the peak shortfall at 3,610-6,568 MW, while independent consultant Mercados has projected a deficit of 4,834-7,971 MW.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has cleared TNPDCL’s proposal to float a short-term tender for round-the-clock and peak-hour power between February and July 2027. The utility is preparing for a projected peak demand of 23,672 MW, against the all-time high of 21,724 MW recorded on July 14 this year. The plan seeks to secure power in advance, reducing dependence on spot-market purchases when availability is limited and prices are high.

TNPDCL’s planning mix includes about 1,500 MW through long-term arrangements, 1,500 MW through medium-term contracts, 2,000-3,200 MW through short-term or shaped procurement, and around 500 MW through power swaps and banking. Residual requirements would be met through power exchanges and other market arrangements, depending on demand and availability.

The utility’s existing procurement framework covers about 70% of its requirement through long-term arrangements and around 10% through medium-term contracts. Short-term purchases are used to meet the remaining requirement, including seasonal demand. The proposed mix is intended to complement these arrangements rather than replace them.

Under the short-term tender, TNPDCL can procure round-the-clock power and additional supply between 6 pm and midnight. The combined quantum proposed for the peak period is 2,880 MW in February 2027, 2,000 MW in March, 3,200 MW each in April and May, and 2,000 MW each in June and July.

The advance procurement plan follows an unusual pattern in 2026, when high demand continued beyond the usual summer period and wind generation proved inadequate during certain spells. The regulator also took note of the risk of prolonged heatwaves and El Niño-related weather conditions affecting demand and power availability next year.

TN recorded its highest daily energy consumption of 475.447 million units on July 17, 2026. TNPDCL has told the regulator that power exchanges alone cannot reliably meet the anticipated shortfall, as purchases depend on market availability and prevailing prices.

During peak periods, electricity prices in the market have been around Rs 10/unit. TNPDCL has historically managed to procure only 15%-25% of the quantity bid for in some time blocks, even when bids were placed at the price ceiling, highlighting the risk of relying on spot purchases.

The Central Electricity Authority’s Resource Adequacy Plan has also indicated a short-term procurement requirement of 2,674 MW for Tamil Nadu in 2027-28. TNERC has permitted TNPDCL to float the tender through the DEEP portal. The approval does not amount to adoption of the tariff discovered through bidding.

The utility will have to approach the commission separately for tariff adoption under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

Speaking to reporters in Thanjavur, Thirumavalavan said that in order to ensure democracy within the party, VCK has taken a valuable decision after 30 years that the office bearers are elected based on the majority votes. "Hence, hereafter no one can get a party post for being known to me but supporters of the party cadres," Thiruma said.

Stating that the VCK will never compromise its principles for taking part in the government or mere power, Thiruma stated that the party will strive to ensure secularism and social justice; hence, VCK will always oppose casteist and communal forces. "A few smaller elements have been spreading fake narratives against the party, and they will get a fitting response soon," he said.

"VCK will never crave for power. In the 25 years of political life, the party aligned with DMK for 20 years and stood by them during all situations, as the party is particular about ensuring the principles," he said, adding, "But we had to part with the alliance as they have failed to recognise us. They would soon realise that without VCK no government is possible."

Meanwhile, Thiruma stated that the TVK is new to the government and they are doing their best in implementing welfare schemes and the people have already recognised it.

The police identified the deceased as K Jalendran (60), a fisherman from Tirumullaivasal hamlet near Sirkazhi in Mayiladuthurai. According to the police, he had frequently quarrelled with his wife Malar Selvi (55) over a prolonged family issue.

On Saturday morning, the door of Jalendran's house remained closed for a long time, and the neighbours found that his house was locked from inside. The neighbours, who grew suspicious, forcibly broke open the windows and found Jalendran dead, hanging from the ceiling. They also found Jalendran’s wife, Malar Selvi and son Athigunan (24) lying dead in a pool of blood. Soon, the neighbours passed on the information to the Sirkazhi police, who rushed to the spot, retrieved the bodies and sent them to Sirkazhi GH.

The initial investigation found that Jalendran picked up a quarrel with his wife in the late hours of Friday, which lasted for several hours. Suddenly, Jalendran, who lost control, had reportedly picked up a metal rod and hit his wife, Malar Selvi, in which she sustained severe injuries and fell unconscious.

On seeing his mother falling, Athigunan attempted to rescue her, but Jalendran attacked him, and he too sustained severe head injuries and fell dead.

After realising that he had killed his wife and son, Jalendran, out of frustration, hanged himself and died. On information, the SP Bhukya Sneha Priya visited the spot and conducted an inquiry. Further investigations are on.

Vasivudeen lives with his wife, Naseema (40). Police said an argument broke out between Vasivudeen and his wife on Wednesday.

Following the dispute, Naseema left their house and went to her brother Sheikh Fayaz’s (29) house in Aadhanur near Urapakkam. Angered by the incident, Fayaz went to Vasivudeen’s house with four of his friends to question him.

A heated argument soon escalated into a physical altercation. Vasivudeen sustained injuries to his head and cheek during the fight. Meanwhile, Naseema, who witnessed her son being attacked, intervened in an attempt to protect him.

During that time, Fayaz and his friends allegedly pushed her to the ground, leaving her unconscious. She was rushed to the Tambaram District GH, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Vasivudeen, who was injured, was also admitted to the same hospital for treatment. 

Based on a complaint, Peerkankaranai police registered a murder case and launched an investigation. They arrested Fayaz (29) and his four friends Kavipperarasu (22), Mohammed Hussain (21), Udhayakumar (20) and Mukesh (19). All five were remanded to judicial custody and further investigation is on.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, a circular to this effect has been issued to all regional joint directors, pay and accounts officers, treasury officers and sub-treasury officers.

The circular stated that accepting pension applications in physical form had led to discrepancies between applications submitted online and those received directly in paper form, resulting in complications in pension processing.

Accordingly, all pension applications, including those seeking revision of pension, must be submitted through the designated online system from November. Applicants must ensure that all required details and relevant supporting documents are uploaded along with their applications.

Paper applications to be returned

The circular further stated that, from November, pension applications submitted in physical form would be returned by the Accountant General's office without being considered for processing.

The department has instructed officials to inform the drawing and disbursing officers under their control about the revised procedure and ensure strict compliance.

The move is aimed at streamlining pension processing and ensuring that pensionary benefits are disbursed to eligible beneficiaries without delay.

The Kodaikanal hill region in Dindigul district has been receiving persistent rainfall as the Northeast Monsoon intensifies across Tamil Nadu. The continuing downpour has raised concerns over road safety, with landslides disrupting connectivity between the hill village and nearby towns.

Landslides damage Adukkam mountain road

The heavy rain overnight triggered landslides at several points along the road, with soil and massive rocks sliding down the slopes. The damage has made the route unusable, preventing residents of Adukkam from travelling to either Periyakulam or Kodaikanal.

The disruption has also affected daily life in the village. Residents are facing difficulties accessing essential supplies, while farmers are unable to transport their agricultural produce to markets. With the main road blocked, the village has effectively been cut off from the outside world.

Road closed; motorists advised to avoid route

As a precaution, the Adukkam mountain road has been temporarily closed due to the continuing risk of landslides and further damage. The district administration and police have warned tourists and motorists against using the stretch until conditions improve.

The closure is intended to prevent vehicles from entering the affected area, where unstable slopes and falling rocks could pose a danger to road users. People travelling to Kodaikanal have been advised to use alternative routes.

Traffic diverted as restoration awaits

Vehicles heading towards Kodaikanal are being diverted through the Vathalagundu–Perumalmalai main road. The alternative route is being used to maintain access to the hill station while the damaged stretch remains closed.

The Highways Department is expected to begin restoration work after the rainfall subsides and conditions become safer for workers and machinery.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, issued the red alert in view of the forecast of extremely heavy rainfall in the district. With road access affected by the weather, authorities have appealed to people to avoid unnecessary travel through vulnerable stretches.

TNSTC bus driver killed; over 150 students rescued

Heavy rainfall has also triggered landslides and tree falls across the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts. A Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus driver was killed and the conductor seriously injured after a mudslide and uprooted trees buried their bus near Burliar. In a separate incident, more than 150 students from Kerala who were stranded following a landslide in the Mettupalayam–Ooty region were rescued by police, firefighters and district officials

Collector advises tourists to avoid Ooty hill routes

Lakshmi Bhavya has advised people travelling from Mettupalayam to Ooty to avoid the routes through Coonoor and Kotagiri amid the continuing rain and the risk of further disruption.

Fallen trees and landslides have affected traffic movement in parts of the Nilgiris. The adverse weather has raised concerns over the safety of motorists and tourists using the hill roads, where heavy rain can increase the risk of falling trees and slope failures.

The public has been asked to remain cautious and follow official advisories while the district faces the impact of the rainfall.

NDRF, SDRF teams deployed in Nilgiris

Following the red alert, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in the Nilgiris district to assist with emergency response and disaster management.

The deployment comes as authorities prepare for the possibility of further rainfall-related incidents. Fallen trees and landslides have already disrupted traffic, making preparedness and public safety key concerns.

Orange alert for nine Tamil Nadu districts

The Chennai Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert for very heavy rainfall in nine districts on Saturday. These are Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Coimbatore and Nagapattinam.

Heavy rainfall has also been forecast in 24 districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu. With different parts of Tamil Nadu expected to receive significant rainfall, residents have been advised to remain alert to weather updates and follow instructions issued by local authorities.