The fuel-filling section and vehicle maintenance area inside the depot were submerged, making it difficult for staff to refuel buses and carry out repair work.

Several buses operating on rural routes were also stranded due to mechanical issues, affecting services and preventing buses from running on time.

Transport corporation employees said the depot was located in a low-lying area and that rainwater frequently entered the premises during heavy rainfall. They urged the district administration to take steps to find a permanent solution to prevent recurring waterlogging and ensure the smooth operation of bus services.

Moreover, the Forest Department has prohibited devotees from trekking to the Sathuragiri Sundara Mahalingam Temple near Vathirairuppu following heavy rain in the Western Ghats, which has increased water flow in streams along the hill route.

The temple, located in the Western Ghats near Vathirairuppu, was scheduled to be open to devotees from October 23 to 26 for Pradosham and the full moon day in the Tamil month of Aippasi.

However, due to heavy rainfall in the hill region, water flow in the streams along the trekking route has increased significantly. Citing the safety of devotees, the Forest Department has prohibited trekking to the temple on Thursday, which marks Pradosham.

Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds has been lashing Ranipet district since early this morning, with dark clouds covering the region.

The sudden downpour has caused considerable inconvenience to school and college students travelling to their institutions, as well as members of the public commuting to work.

Two-wheeler riders and roadside vendors have also been affected by the heavy rain. Meanwhile, rainwater has been flowing through several roads across the district, causing difficulties for commuters.

Continuous rainfall since morning has brought cooler weather conditions across the district.

At the same time, the increasing inflow of water into water bodies has brought cheer to farmers and the general public, raising hopes of improved water availability.

Perambalur district has also been experiencing intermittent moderate rainfall since the early hours of today.

The district has been witnessing intense heat over the past few days, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, the public has been facing considerable discomfort during the daytime.

In this situation, rain suddenly began in the early hours of today. Intermittent moderate rainfall has been reported across most parts of Perambalur district, including urban and suburban areas, Kavalpālaiyam, Sencheri, Kurumbalur, Palayam, Valikandapuram, Koneripalayam and Esanai.

The rainfall has brought relief to residents and farmers, who have welcomed the change in weather. Cool winds are also blowing across the district.

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.

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.

Chennai rain forecast

The RMC has forecast heavy rain in Chennai on Friday (October 23) and Saturday (October 24). Heavy rain is also likely on Sunday (October 25), while the forecast indicates continued rainfall on Monday (October 26).

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.

Karthika was granted bail and released from judicial custody days after being arrested along with her husband and other party workers in connection with a protest staged during election campaigning in the Dharapuram constituency.

Upon her release, high-voltage celebrations erupted outside the prison gates as hundreds of NTK supporters carrying party flags showered flower petals, garlanded her, and raised slogans in her support to the beat of drums.

Speaking to ANI outside the prison, Karthika asserted that she was merely exercising her democratic and constitutional rights as an election candidate when the police clamped down on her.

"The intention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr Vijay is unconstitutional. We were exercising our constitutional rights. As a candidate, I should ask for votes, propagate, and campaign for my party. I was only doing my constitutional duty," Karthika said.

Lashing out at the ruling dispensation, she alleged that attempts were being made to suppress opposition candidates and establish authoritarian control over the constituency.

"He intends that the entire Dharapuram constituency should be under his and his party's complete control, which is completely against the Constitution. That is why we are fighting against him. He is the one who is called the theeya sakthi (bad energy/evil force). The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is the only bad energy in Tamil Nadu," she charged.

Vowing to intensify her political struggle, Karthika added, "We are protesting against him, and we will never leave this fight. We will always remain on the ground for the people."

Heavy security arrangements were deployed around the Coimbatore Central Prison premises by the local police to regulate the large gathering of NTK workers and ensure smooth vehicular movement.

The division bench of Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel observed: “... it is immaterial that the husband of the writ petitioner had diabetes or that he suffered from hypertension. Even if he did not have the same, had he been affected by coronavirus, he would still have suffered the same fate. There was no proper treatment which was available at that particular point of time.”

The petitioner, Syed Ali Fathima, said her husband had obtained a loan of Rs 52.5 lakh from PNB Housing Finance Limited, New Delhi, for constructing a house and home loan insurance with Tata AIG General Insurance Company under a master policy for Rs 26,87,912, to cover the risk of death.

He was infected with COVID-19 and died on July 26, 2020. When his wife applied for the claim, the insurer rejected it on the ground that her husband had suppressed the fact that he suffered from diabetes and hypertension.

The Single Judge dismissed her writ petition, holding that non-disclosure of the husband’s diabetes and hypertension breached the principle of utmost good faith. On appeal, the division bench said these facts could not be denied or disputed, but the overriding fact was that he died of COVID-19.

The court noted that the husband died in the first phase of the pandemic, when the medical world did not yet know the effects of the virus, the proper treatment or the measures needed to prevent infection. The medical world was still at a nascent stage in determining the impact and seriousness of the virus, it observed.

“Though the fact of diabetes and hypertension have not been disclosed in the policy, we still hold that the risk of death by Coronavirus should be covered by the fourth respondent as that was a supervening circumstance and was not available as a cause for death, at the time when the policy was introduced or was entered into between the parties,” the judges said.

Accordingly, the court directed the insurer to pay the amount within four weeks, without interest.

The audit will cover all central prisons, district prisons and special prisons for women in Tamil Nadu. Officials have been directed to submit their inspection reports within a week.

The exercise will assess the functioning of CCTV cameras, the condition of watchtowers and prison walls, the security of locks and the availability of security personnel. The audit is intended to identify vulnerabilities and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Prisons department sources said the directive was issued as a precautionary measure amid allegations that security lapses had led to the escape of inmates from Puzhal prison.

Separate teams are expected to be constituted to inspect individual prisons across the State. The teams will examine existing security arrangements and identify areas requiring immediate corrective measures.

The department has sought a time-bound assessment of security infrastructure and personnel deployment to strengthen prison security and prevent further escapes.

According to District Superintendent of Police Sivanathan, the accused allegedly murdered the woman, identified as Mary Regila, after she objected to his relationship with her minor daughter.

The incident took place at Muthalur near Sathankulam, where Gnanaprakash allegedly entered the family's house and attacked Mary Regila with a sickle, killing her.

Her husband, Muthukrishnan, and their son, Blessed Raja, also sustained multiple sickle injuries in the attack. Both have been admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Two minor girls rescued from locked room in Anandapuram

Following the murder, the woman's two 15-year-old daughters were reported missing from the house, prompting police to launch an intensive search.

The girls were later rescued from a locked, dark room in the Anandapuram area.

Police initially investigated whether the girls had been kidnapped after the murder and whether the attack was carried out by a single person or a group.

Police arrest accused Gnanaprakash in Sathankulam murder case

Speaking to reporters earlier, South Zone Inspector General of Police Vijendra Bidari said Gnanaprakash had murdered the woman at Muthalur near Thattarmadam and abducted her two daughters.

He said police had rescued the girls from Gnanaprakash's house and were taking steps to arrest the accused, who had fled after the incident.

Police subsequently arrested Gnanaprakash, who worked as a parotta master, in connection with the murder.

SP Sivanathan said the accused had allegedly killed the woman after she questioned his relationship with her 15-year-old daughter.

The walk out was in protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The parties objected to the exercise, during which around 97 lakh voter entries were removed from Tamil Nadu’s electoral rolls.

The meeting was convened ahead of the Special Summary Revision (SSR), scheduled to begin in Tamil Nadu on November 12. The exercise is intended to provide eligible voters with an opportunity to seek the inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls.

Representatives of the AIADMK, BJP and NTK participated in the meeting.

According to a Maalaimalar report, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai) has taken up the project, which is proposed on 7.59 acres of land owned by the Government Rapid Transport Corporation in Kodaikanal.

What are the plans for the 7.59 acre site?

As part of the project, a multi-level car parking facility is planned on one acre, while a commercial complex and its required parking facilities are proposed on 1.90 acres and 2.62 acres, respectively.

A tender has been invited to select a consultant to prepare a feasibility report and provide advice for the project.

What will the consultant study?

The consultant's scope of work includes collecting information on land, buildings and infrastructure. The consultant will also collect details of nearby government land, study traffic congestion within a 3 km radius and assess parking requirements.

The rope car service, which helps devotees travel from the foothills to the hill temple, was suspended on the morning of October 20 after a fault developed in its gearbox shaft.

The damaged component has been sent to a company in Coimbatore for repairs.

When will the service resume?

The temple administration said the rope car service would resume after the repair work is completed and a test run is conducted.

Online bookings will remain suspended until November 5 in the meantime.

When was the annual maintenance carried out?

The rope car service operates depending on wind speed and undergoes monthly and annual maintenance to ensure the safety of devotees. This year's annual maintenance was carried out from July 20 to September 21, and the service resumed on September 22.

How can devotees reach the hill temple?

Until the rope car service resumes, devotees have been advised to use the footpath, elephant path or electric train service to reach the hill temple.

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.

READ FULL REPORT

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.

Roads in several areas, including Avadi, T Nagar, Velachery, and Old Washermenpet in Chennai, were heavily riddled with potholes, and heavy rain stalled infrastructure work. This has forced the suspension of MTC bus routes in parts like Secretariat Colony. General moderate rainfall is expected over the next two days in Chennai and its neighbourhood, with potential for heavy downpour on October 24 and 25.

The combined storage of Chennai’s core reservoirs — six primary reservoirs supplying drinking water to Chennai (including Red Hills, Chembarambakkam, and Cholavaram) — has risen rapidly to 37 per cent capacity following the initial heavy spells.

The water level in the Vaigai dam has risen steadily to 44.88 feet (up from 43 feet last week) due to robust inflows, while the storage in Mullaperiyar dam reached 116.90 feet; in Papanasam dam, the level climbed to 48 feet over the past week, and Perunchani dam saw the storage increase to 44.35 feet.

The IMD predicted moderate to heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry until October 26.

Heavy overnight rain inundated parts of Chennai and many southern districts, with Sankarankoil reeling under significant waterlogging.

Persistent heavy rainfall in Kanniyakumari district affected the Kollengode municipality area. Floodwaters entered many homes, leaving residents struggling to leave their properties. Vehicles and essential household goods have been submerged or damaged.

Civic officials are working to clear inundated areas and are also checking local drainage systems for blockages that may be worsening the flooding, an official said on Thursday.

After heavy, incessant rainfall with thunder and lightning last night, the Kanniyakumari district administration has declared a holiday for schools today. Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts have already announced a rain holiday. The IMD has warned of light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning likely at isolated places over Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Erode, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Perambalur, Tiruchy, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, and Thanjavur districts.

In Madurai, heavy rain has completely submerged over 140 acres of freshly planted paddy fields in villages, and farmers say the lack of desilted irrigation canals is causing standing crops to rot, prompting calls for state crop compensation.

In some Cauvery Delta districts, farmers noted the initial spells were still sporadic and inadequate to fully sustain the samba paddy crop.

As the northeast monsoon intensified, inflows to primary drinking water sources and irrigation dams rose significantly. Speaking on the current weather status, an official said the low-pressure area has remained active over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Tamil Nadu coast since the evening of October 21.

Moderate rainfall is expected in Chennai and its neighbourhood over the next two days, with the possibility of heavy downpour on October 24 and 25

The proposal follows a meeting chaired by the Health Secretary on September 8. Under the proposed arrangement, the regional directors would be based at Government Chengalpattu Medical College, Coimbatore Medical College, KAP Viswanatham Government Medical College in Tiruchy, and Madurai Medical College. An additional director-level post for research is proposed at the directorate’s Chennai headquarters.

The move comes as the State’s government medical college network has expanded to 36 institutions, increasing the administrative load on the directorate. Doctors’ associations have recently opposed a proposal to appoint an IAS officer to head the medical education directorate, which was subsequently put on hold following their objections. Separately, service postgraduate doctors have raised concerns over temporary postings issued without counselling.

The directorate has asked the deans of the four colleges to identify between 800 and 1,200 square feet of vacant space in existing college or hospital buildings to accommodate the regional offices and support staff.

Detailed estimates have been sought for renovation, including civil and electrical works, furniture, air-conditioning and computer and printer installations. The expenditure at each location must not exceed Rs 50 lakh.

The proposed regional offices are intended to decentralise administration, while the dedicated research post would strengthen coordination of research activities.

“Nature-based approaches hold promise for decentralised treatment, while cities need systems that handle higher, fluctuating volumes. Collaboration among government, industry and technical institutions will be essential to scale these solutions," he said, while addressing the session on Innovative Nature-Based Wastewater Treatment Solutions organised by the CII’s Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) here on Thursday.

Kahlon also stressed the importance of linking sustainable wastewater management with river restoration and urban waterbody conservation.

Bakan Jagdish Sudhakar, chief executive officer, Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company (TNGCC), said nature-based solutions have the potential to address challenges at multiple scales, from restoring coastal ecosystems to enabling sustainable wastewater treatment, and also advance climate-responsive and environmentally sustainable infrastructure.

He added that Tamil Nadu has shown leadership in ecosystem restoration and already implements such solutions in schools across the Greater Chennai Corporation.

According to the report, Nature-Based Solutions for Treating Wastewater in Tamil Nadu, released during the event, India is among the world's top five emitters, and that rapid economic growth has strained water resources and increased pollution. Cities are shifting from climate-vulnerable to climate-resilient infrastructure, reconnecting with nature and upgrading urban common spaces ecologically.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board's National Inventory of sewage treatment plants (March 2021), about 80 per cent of water supplied for domestic use becomes wastewater. However, sewage treatment plant capacity has not grown with urban populations, the report said.

“Nature-based solutions, defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (2017) as actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore ecosystems to address societal challenges, rely on plants, soil and microorganisms, offering a low-energy alternative to costly mechanised plants, particularly for decentralised treatment and reuse,” it said.

The report suggested technical and cost-effective plans for urban local bodies, engineers, contractors and consultants. All designs were of 1 MLD plant serving around 8,300 to 9,300 people. The choice of technology depends on a city's population tier under the National Green Tribunal's 2019 norms, which cap biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) at 10 mg/L in mega and metro cities, 20 mg/L in Class I cities, and 30 mg/L elsewhere.

The report stressed seven constructed wetland options such as free-water surface wetlands, which serve only as a polishing stage and need the most land; horizontal flow systems, which can withstand shock loads; vertical flow systems, which have the smallest space among passive types; French vertical flow, which accepts raw sewage directly; and aerated wetlands, which need the least land but require continuous power.

The hybrid design is the only one that meets the stricter nitrogen limits for large cities, while the willow system is not recommended for tropical Tamil Nadu. The cost of these plants range from about Rs 1.14 crore to Rs 3.69 crore per MLD.

CONSTRUCTED WETLAND OPTIONS

• Free-water surface wetlands: Need the most land

• Horizontal flow systems: Can withstand shock loads

• Vertical flow systems: Need smallest space among passive types

• French vertical flow: Accepts raw sewage directly

• Aerated wetlands, Need the least land but require continuous power

According to the order issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, K Phanindra Reddy, a retired IAS officer, has been appointed chairperson of the authority.

The other members appointed are Reeta Harish Thakkar and Mythili K Rajendran, both retired IAS officers; S Kirubaharan Mathuram, a retired district judge; and KP Sathyamurthy, a retired chief engineer. The government made the appointments under Section 22 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.

The government had constituted the selection committee to recommend suitable candidates for the posts of chairperson and members of the authority. Their monthly salaries will be fixed in accordance with Rule 21 of the State rules. The Real Estate Regulatory Fund will meet their salary expenditure. With the new appointments, the authority constituted earlier during the period of supersession will cease to function from the date on which the newly appointed authority assumes charge.

"The budget for MLAs is Rs 15 lakh, while it has been fixed at Rs 25 lakh for Ministers, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Government Whip. The vehicles shall comply with BS-VI emission norms and be procured through the Union government's GeM portal," the order said.

The government has also specified the procedure for surrendering vehicles when elected representatives or office-bearers vacate their positions. If an Assembly constituency falls vacant due to the death, resignation, or disqualification of its representative, the MLA or their kin must surrender the vehicle to the respective District Collector.

Similarly, if the offices of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition or Chief Government Whip fall vacant due to death, removal, resignation or disqualification, the vehicle must be surrendered to the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat.

The government has decided to purchase Mahindra Scorpio SUVs for MLAs, with each vehicle's on-road price reportedly remaining within the Rs 15-lakh ceiling. However, the principal Opposition DMK has asked the government not to provide cars to its MLAs.

“The minister allocated an additional fund of Rs 2,288 crore for crop loan waiver, and with this fund, a total of Rs 8,500 crore has so far been allocated for the crop loan waiver. Despite fulfilling only 50 per cent of our demands, we have decided to withdraw the protest temporarily, citing the ministers' explanation about the poor financial conditions, but still, we will discuss with our members and decide on the next course of action,” he said.

Earlier, farmers from various associations proceeded towards Samayapuram on Thursday. However, police stopped and detained them at several locations along the way as a precautionary measure. The farmers resisted, triggering a scuffle with the police. They were later forcibly taken away in police vehicles and lodged at various locations.

Meanwhile, farmer leaders, including Easan Murugesan, PR Pandian, P Ayyakannu, PS Masilamani and Sami Natarajan, held talks with a ministerial team led by N Anand. The meeting lasted several hours.

After the meeting, Easan Murugesan said the ministers expressed concern for farmers and a willingness to resolve the issue, but cited a fund crunch and urged them to withdraw the protest.

Around 50 farmers’ associations launched an indefinite protest at Samayapuram on September 15, demanding a crop loan waiver as promised during the election campaign. After a series of talks, ministers R Vinoth (Agriculture), V Gandhiraj (Cooperation) and S Ramesh (HR&CE) sought 20 days to resolve the issue; the farmers then withdrew their protest on September 19.

However, with no announcement on the crop loan waiver even after the deadline, the farmer leaders announced that they would resume the protest at the same venue from October 22.

"Such babies should not merely be referred to these centres but taken there directly for monitoring," he said while addressing a seminar on inclusive early childhood development and the use of artificial intelligence in effective storytelling, organised by the Press Information Bureau, in association with UNICEF here.

Citing National Family Health Survey data, Arunraj said 20.7 per cent of children under five were stunted and 17.4 per cent suffered from severe nutritional deficiencies. Only one in five children aged six months to two years received an adequate diet, he added.

Emphasising the first 1,000 days of life, the minister called for continuous monitoring of children's growth by village health nurses and Anganwadi workers. He also stressed the need to publish data on how many children identified through screening received timely treatment.

Arunraj said Tamil Nadu's infant mortality rate stood at 11 per 1,000 live births, against the national average of 24. Under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, 805 mobile health teams screen children from birth to 18 years for congenital conditions, developmental delays and diseases, he said.

Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Dr A Somasundaram stressed the need to train frontline health workers to identify developmental problems during routine immunisation visits. Children with disabilities should be included in society without discrimination, he said.

Separately, Arunraj said the government would announce details of a comprehensive health insurance scheme in January after assessing treatment costs and funding requirements. The government would bear the expenses of treatment received at the nearest hospital within the first 48 hours, he added.

He also said Tamil Nadu has started a pilot study of a dengue vaccine in Kadayanallur to assess its safety and suitability for the State's population.

Bookings for these special festival services will open at 8 am on Friday (October 23).

The train will pass through Tamil Nadu, stopping at Podanur, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpettai, and Katpadi, the Southern Railway said in an official statement.

According to the press release, Train No. 06073, Thiruvananthapuram North – Hazrat Nizamuddin Express Special, will depart from Thiruvananthapuram North at 2 pm on Mondays, November 2, 9, and 16. It will reach Hazrat Nizamuddin at 11.50 pm on the third day of its journey.

In the return direction, Train No. 06074 Hazrat Nizamuddin – Thiruvananthapuram North Express Special will leave Hazrat Nizamuddin at 5.45 pm on November 5, 12, and 19. It will arrive at Thiruvananthapuram North at 4.30 pm on the third day.

The deceased, Venkatesan (45), was working as a load worker in the Maduranthagam market, while his wife, Sandhya (40), works as a domestic helper.

According to the police, the couple used to quarrel frequently over his alcohol addiction. On Wednesday night, Venkatesan returned home drunk and assaulted Sandhya. Unable to bear the assault, Sandhya fought back. During the fight, Venkatesan sustained a head injury and collapsed near the entrance of their house.

When he failed to get up for a long time, Sandhya checked on him and realised that he had died. She moved his body inside the house and kept it there overnight. On Thursday morning, she raised an alarm, claiming that her husband fell down after consuming alcohol excessively and sustained a fatal head injury. However, the neighbours were aware of the quarrel between the couple the previous night, and alerted the Maduranthagam police.

The police who visited the spot recovered Venkatesan's body and sent it to the Chengalpattu Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The preliminary examination indicated that he had sustained injuries after an assault. Later, during interrogation, Sandhya confessed to attacking her husband in a fit of anger after he assaulted her. She reportedly told the police that he fell and hit his head on the ground during the altercation.

The police arrested Sandhya on charges of murder and further investigation is on.

nearly 150 participants, including passenger association representatives, commuters, and other group members.

Similar outreach sessions were held across the Madurai, Palakkad, Salem, Tiruchchirappalli, and Thiruvananthapuram divisions.

During the interactive session, passengers voiced concerns and offered suggestions regarding train punctuality, safety, security, passenger amenities, and grievance redressal. Officials addressed queries on the spot and noted complex issues for time-bound resolution by the respective departments.

Speaking at the event, GM Rao emphasised that passenger feedback was key to enhancing service quality and passenger satisfaction. Every suggestion provides an opportunity to enhance service quality and passenger satisfaction.

The special campaigns run between October 2 and October 31 focus on cleanliness, space management, scrap disposal, and active public participation. Cleanliness drives and tree plantation activities were also carried out across stations as part of the initiative.

The minister also launched the registration portal for the programme, which will celebrate, reaffirm and strengthen the age-old civilisational bonds between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, the two ancient seats of learning, strengthening the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.

"Since ancient times, the country has had a strong cultural unity. Many people visited Kashi and Rameswaram as part of their religious traditions, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural bonds between the northern and southern parts of India," Joshi said.

"The programme would bring together students, teachers, writers, professionals, agriculturalists, artists, women and spiritual scholars. Educational outreach initiatives would be carried out in higher education institutions to familiarise students with the objectives of Kashi Tamil Sangamam," he said.

The theme of KTS 5.0 is "Thirukkural Payilvom - Thirukkural Abhyas Karen", which translates to "Let's learn Thirukkural".

The fifth edition seeks to bring the timeless ethical and moral wisdom of the classical Tamil text Thirukkural closer to the youth and learners across the country.

Interested applicants may register through the official portal hosted by IIT Madras from October 22 to November 13 under seven categories -- students, teachers, writers and media professionals; agriculture and allied sectors; professionals and artisans; women and spiritual leaders.

According to the Ministry of Education, a nationwide student engagement programme will be undertaken through 1,000 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country to promote wider understanding of the Thirukkural among students from diverse academic disciplines and linguistic backgrounds.

“The girl’s future is in jeopardy. She has been unable to continue her Class 9 education because the accused are refusing to issue her transfer certificate and 24 other documents after I lodged a complaint that my daughter was sexually abused at the school,” the girl’s mother, Aishwarya (name changed), told DT Next.

According to the FIR, the accused are Kumar of GHCL Textiles Limited, Madurai; school secretary Nagaraj Pandian; and headmistress N Porselvi, both from Madurai.

Kumar is accused of threatening Aishwarya and pressuring her to withdraw the complaints. Nagaraj Pandian and Porselvi are accused of abusing Aishwarya and issuing death threats against her. Porselvi is also accused of conspiring with others to prepare fake documents.

Noting that her daughter’s last day at school was November 3, 2025, Aishwarya alleged that Porselvi and other teachers threatened the girl and video-recorded her, forcing her to say that all the documents were with Aishwarya. They also allegedly forced the girl to sign a document stating that her mother had received the TC and other documents.

Aishwarya, a native of Madurai, returned from Malaysia in August 2025 after separating from her husband. In September 2025, she admitted her daughter to Class 9 at Thiagarajar Higher Secondary School and submitted 24 documents, including the TC.

“Things went well until the afternoon of October 24, 2025,” Aishwarya said. According to the FIR, that day, class teacher Jeyaram asked the girl to remain alone in the classroom, sexually assaulted her and showed her obscene videos on his mobile phone.

The girl raised complaints with Porselvi and assistant headmistress Krishnaveni. However, they both threatened her, saying she would not be able to continue her education if she told anyone about the incident.

Later, Aishwarya was asked not to send her daughter to school and to submit the bonafide certificate and S form.

After the girl was forced to sign a document stating her mother had collected the TC and documents, the mother got suspicious and questioned her daughter, who then told her about the alleged sexual harassment. Aishwarya immediately filed a complaint with the police. That case is pending trial in the Special Pocso Court. In this backdrop, the CCB has now registered a case against the three under various sections.

The special glass-roofed coach, currently operating on a three-month trial basis until January 15, runs four days a week. The journey's highlight is the 50-kilometre stretch between Sengottai in Tamil Nadu and Punalur in the neighbouring state of Kerala, featuring the historic 13-arch Kannara bridge built during the British era, along with multiple tunnels and waterfalls.

Flagging off the coach, Madurai CPM MP Su Venkatesan expressed his delight, noting that the scenic route rivals India's most famous mountain railways. "I have been pushing for this for over three years as a member of the railway advisory committee," Venkatesan told reporters.

"The Sengottai-Punalur section is a magnificent valley in the Western Ghats. Experiencing this natural wonder through a 360-degree viewing gallery is a phenomenal experience, on par with the Mumbai-Goa Konkan route or the Vizag-Araku valley," he added.

Railway officials confirmed an overwhelming response, stating the coach is already 100 per cent booked for the next 60 days. If the reception remains strong, the service may be extended and made permanent.

Passengers travelling on the inaugural run were thrilled with the experience, praising the 360-degree rotating chairs and large glass windows.

"It feels like travelling in the 'Palace on Wheels', " Muthukrishnan, a passenger, told the media. "The fare is slightly higher, but the experience is absolutely worth it," he added.

Balaji, a travel vlogger, noted that rail enthusiasts have long awaited this facility in the southern region. "We usually travel to North India for Vistadome rides. Having this in our hometown, right through the Ghat section, is a proud and exciting moment," he told the media.

In a statement marking Emperor Raja Raja Chozha’s Sathaya Vizha, Stalin said the previous DMK government had decided to establish the museum at Tamil University in Thanjavur at a cost of Rs 56 crore.

He said Raja Raja Chozha had showcased the pride of the Tamil people to the world through his achievements in water and land management, administration, architecture and military prowess.

“I firmly believe that the TVK-led government will not scrap the scheme out of narrow-mindedness,” Stalin said.

The 1,041st Sathaya Vizha, commemorating the emperor’s birth anniversary, is being held at Sri Brahadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur on October 21 and 22

The rain affected several parts of Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts, where samba crops are still at the nursery stage. Farmers warned that the nurseries could be damaged if the water did not recede within a few days.

According to rainfall data, Needamangalam in Tiruvarur district recorded the highest rainfall at 80 mm, followed by Tiruvarur town at 56 mm and Thiruthuraipoondi at 46.8 mm. Sporadic downpours submerged samba nurseries in several parts of the district, particularly Needamangalam, Thiruthuraipoondi and Tiruvarur town.

Nagapattinam district also received steady rainfall, with Vedaranyam recording 59.6 mm, Thirupoondi 44.8 mm and Thalainayar 42.2 mm. Mayiladuthurai district, too, received widespread rainfall.

Farmers in Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai said the sudden downpour had submerged nurseries in areas where samba cultivation had begun. They urged the authorities to take immediate steps to drain the stagnant water to prevent damage to the young crops.

The Northeast monsoon, which began as predicted, has gathered pace over the past few days across the Delta region. Thanjavur, Tiruchy and Pudukkottai districts received moderate rainfall, which had no adverse impact, according to the report.

The prosecution alleged that the petitioners and other TNM members unlawfully assembled on February 11, 2024, and put up a flex banner demanding that Tamil be made an official language of the High Court. They were also accused of threatening police officials and preventing them from performing their duties, and of threatening to set fire to vehicles if they were not allowed to protest.

Justice R Vijayakumar observed that the charge sheet showed the accused had unlawfully assembled for the protest, but that all the witnesses cited for the other allegations were police officials. “In such circumstances, continuation of criminal proceedings as against the petitioner herein would only be an abuse of process of law,” the court observed.

Accordingly, the court quashed the charge sheet pending on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Theni, not only against the petitioner but also against the other accused.

After inspecting the stock, quality, distribution and prices of essential commodities, including rice and pulses, in Madurai, the minister said the government was working to ensure that consumers received good-quality rice. He said the government sends paddy procured from farmers to rice mills immediately, processes it into rice, and distributes it quickly.

On complaints about the quality of ration rice in some areas, Venkataramanan said the government was taking steps to ensure better-quality supplies. He added that he had held consultations with rice mill owners, agents and traders to identify shortcomings in distribution and the reasons for price increases.

The minister said monitoring would step up and raids would intensify over the next two to three days to prevent hoarding, with the cooperation of the public and traders.

He also said people should be aware of their eligibility for ration commodities and choose the appropriate ration card category. He said government employees, income tax payers, and financially well-off people who own cars and houses should consider switching to a suitable card category, adding that this would help ensure ration commodities reach those who need them most.

Turning to farmers' concerns, Venkataramanan said the procurement price of fine-variety paddy (sanna arisi) had been raised to Rs 2,750 per quintal, while the price for common-variety paddy had been fixed at Rs 2,600 per quintal.

Fine-variety paddy had fetched a low procurement price in earlier years, and the increase would support farmers, he said. The government was also taking steps to increase fine-variety paddy production after considering farmers' demands.

The minister said new warehouses were being opened to protect paddy stored in the open from rain and other damage. The government had opened two covered warehouses with a combined storage capacity of about 2,000 metric tonnes of paddy, while construction was underway in other areas.

“Work is also underway to open warehouses with capacities of about 3,000 metric tonnes and 2,000 metric tonnes,” he said.

The facilities would help store paddy safely and ensure it was sent to rice mills whenever required, he added.

He reviewed the monsoon situation at the State Emergency Response Centre at Ezhilagam on Thursday and interacted with Collectors of southern districts and the Nilgiris district.

During the review, the Chief Minister directed the Collectors to remain vigilant and take all necessary steps to minimise the impact of heavy rainfall and prevent loss of life.

He also stressed the need for coordination among government departments to manage emergencies effectively and address monsoon-related damage.

Vijay reviewed the call centre's functioning at Ezhilagam and the facilities available to implement integrated emergency response measures.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KA Sengottaiyan, Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar, and Commissioner of Revenue Administration B Chandra Mohan were among those present. The India Meteorological Department has issued rain alerts for the southern and Delta regions.

Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, Vinoth, V Gandhiraj, S Ramesh and M Vijay Balaji attended the meeting at the Secretariat, along with senior officials from the Finance, Cooperation and Agriculture departments.

P R Pandian, president of the Coordination Committee of All Farmers' Associations of Tamil Nadu, said the ministers had cited the financial burden of a crop loan waiver estimated at around Rs 9,000 crore. Extending the benefit to all members of farming families would entail additional expenditure, he said.

Pandian said the ministers had assured farmers' representatives they would bring their demands to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's attention. Citing the government's financial constraints, his faction decided to call off its agitation, he added.

However, KV Elankeeran, president of the Federation of Cauvery Delta Farmers Associations, said the discussions had failed to address the farmers' principal demand for a comprehensive waiver.

He said the existing eligibility conditions left several farmers uncertain about whether they would receive relief. The announced waiver covered crop loans of up to Rs 75,000 obtained between May 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, but farmers whose borrowings fell outside this period remained concerned about their eligibility, he said.

Elankeeran demanded that the government waive all crop loans regardless of the borrowing period and urged it to clarify the position of farmers excluded from the existing concessions.

His faction had temporarily suspended its agitation despite its dissatisfaction with the talks' outcome, he said. He warned that a federation of 50 farmers' associations would intensify its protests if the government pressured farmers to repay their loans.

The consultancy contract has been estimated at Rs 38.10 lakh, with the selected firm required to complete the exercise in two months.

The proposed alignment passes through Pattinapakkam, where the TVK government has proposed to construct a new Secretariat. However, following opposition from the local fishing community to the Secretariat project, there is no clarity on whether the proposed site has been dropped. The status of the Secretariat proposal could have a bearing on planning for the elevated corridor.

The latest proposal follows an announcement by Highways and PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna in the Assembly on August 18, citing persistent congestion along Santhome High Road, which connects Marina, Santhome, Raja Annamalaipuram and Adyar.

The minister had announced that a DPR would initially be prepared at an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakh. The latest tender pegs the consultancy contract at Rs 38.10 lakh.

The study will assess the corridor's engineering and economic feasibility and identify a suitable alignment. It will also examine the need to extend an existing underpass, improve junctions and develop service roads. Traffic and pedestrian surveys, soil investigations, drainage studies and mapping of underground utilities will be part of the exercise. The consultant will prepare designs, cost estimates and a plan identifying land requirements and properties that could be affected.

The project has a chequered history. The DMK government proposed an elevated road from Light House to ECR near Kotivakkam via Loop Road and Broken Bridge in 2007, but the plan was eventually dropped by the subsequent AIADMK regime in

In July 2019, then chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced an elevated corridor from Light House to Greams Road via Santhome High Road.

In 2024, the DMK revived the proposal, this time exploring an alignment through the sea.

Addressing a women’s empowerment conference in Krishnagiri, Annamalai stressed the need to strengthen women’s participation in politics and decision-making.

Criticising governments for spending heavily on publicity campaigns, photo opportunities and inauguration ceremonies, he said people needed sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities rather than welfare schemes that offered no lasting benefits.

Taking a dig at the Congress for questioning electoral rolls months after an election, Annamalai said the party failed to do adequate fieldwork during the revision process. He also called for legal action against those using foreign funds to foment unrest and said cases involving students associated with the CJP should be handled in accordance with due process.

Claiming no association with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Annamalai said he had spoken out against the previous DMK government for its actions against the TVK ahead of the elections.

At the conference, he launched the Thaaragai Women’s Self-Help Group initiative and disbursed loans totalling Rs 1.48 crore to eight groups through public and private sector banks.

The message sent to employees reads, "Dear Employees. Please submit your Annual Property Statement for the calendar year 2025, on or before October 31, to avoid violation of TNGS (Tamil Nadu Government Servants) Conduct Rules, 1973."

The Human Resources Management Department is overseeing the process and has sent reminders to government employees and teachers across the State.

Meanwhile, employees have complained of frequent technical errors while uploading their property details through the online portal. They have urged the government to ensure the Treasury Department's server functions properly so they can complete the process before the deadline.

Chief Secretary M Saikumar issued a circular mandating online submission after amending the Tamil Nadu Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1973. Government employees must submit annual details of their movable and immovable assets, debts, and other liabilities.

Accordingly, the Integrated Financial and Human Resources Management System (IFHRMS) has made an online facility available for filing the annual property statement.

Under the online system, employees must submit details in three categories. The first covers immovable assets, including land, buildings, apartments and independent houses. The second covers movable assets such as jewellery, bank deposits, two-wheelers and four-wheelers. The third requires details of loans, debts and other liabilities.

Employees have been instructed to verify the information entered in all three forms, correct it where necessary, confirm the declaration, and submit it online. They can download the submitted statement for their records.

The police have also booked the school's headmaster, Arun Kumar (43), and two students for allegedly harassing A Akilan (16), son of Ashok Kumar of AT Colony in Peelamedu, with caste-based slurs and taunts over his food choices.

Based on a complaint lodged by the boy's mother, A Kousalyadevi, the Peelamedu police registered a case against the four under Sections 115(2) and 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on Wednesday night. The police have arrested teacher Vijayakumar (42) and are questioning the headmaster and two students.

In her complaint, Kousalyadevi alleged that Vijayakumar had asked students belonging to Scheduled Caste communities in the classroom to enrol for a stipend scheme, and Akilan had signed up for it.

The teacher had subsequently asked the students how many of them ate beef, to which Akilan had replied in the affirmative. Following this, some of his classmates allegedly began targeting him with caste-based remarks over his food choices.

“Akilan had complained to the teacher about the harassment, but no action was taken. The headmaster had also failed to intervene despite the issue being brought to his notice,” police said.

According to the police, Akilan left home on Wednesday morning, telling his mother that he was going to school. Kousalyadevi, who works as a domestic worker, returned home for lunch and found the front doors locked. She then found her son hanging. The Peelamedu police recovered the body and sent it to the ESI Government Hospital for a postmortem.

Meanwhile, the boy's relatives gathered outside the Peelamedu police station today and staged a protest demanding action against those allegedly responsible for his death.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102.

From the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus at Kilambakkam, special buses will be operated to Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, and Tirupur. A total of 775 special buses will be operated on Friday (October 23) and 485 buses on Saturday (October 24).

From the CMBT, Koyambedu, special buses will be operated to Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Hosur, and Bengaluru. A total of 95 buses will be operated on Friday and 85 buses on Saturday. In addition, 250 special buses will be operated to Tiruvannamalai on Sunday (October 25).

A total of 100 special buses will also be operated from Bengaluru, Tirupur, Erode, and Coimbatore to various destinations.

From the Madhavaram bus terminus, special buses will be operated to Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Vellore, Hosur, and Puducherry. A total of 65 special buses will be operated each day on Friday and Saturday.

To facilitate passengers returning to Chennai and Bengaluru from their hometowns, 805 special buses will be operated from various parts of the State on October 25, based on passenger demand.

Additional officials have been deployed at major bus terminals to monitor the operation of the special services. Passengers can book tickets in advance through the TNSTC mobile app or the www.tnstc.in website.

According to the SETC managing director, 12,884 passengers have already booked tickets for Friday, 9,086 passengers for Saturday, and 16,922 passengers for Sunday. The number of bookings is expected to increase further.

The deceased was identified as Shanmugam, a resident of Vellangoil near Gobichettipalayam in Erode district. He had visited the RTO earlier in the day to complete the licence renewal process and was travelling home on his two-wheeler when the collision occurred.

Car in Collector’s convoy hits two-wheeler

According to the report, Shanmugam was attempting to cross the highway when a car travelling towards Erode as part of the District Collector’s convoy struck his vehicle. The impact threw him off the two-wheeler, leaving him with severe injuries. The accident took place while the convoy was proceeding towards Erode. The collision drew the attention of people in the vicinity, while security personnel accompanying the convoy also rushed to help the injured farmer.

Farmer rushed to Gobichettipalayam hospital

Bystanders and security personnel immediately took Shanmugam to the Gobichettipalayam Government Hospital for emergency treatment. However, after examining him, doctors declared that he had died on the way to the hospital. The incident has caused grief in Vellangoil and the surrounding areas, particularly as Shanmugam had been returning from the RTO after completing an official task when the accident occurred.

Police begin investigation into accident

Police have registered a case and begun an investigation into the circumstances leading to the collision. Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events, including how the car and the two-wheeler came into contact while Shanmugam was crossing the highway.

The incident occurred around 4 pm on Tuesday (October 20), when heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed the area. A loud thunderclap was heard, followed by a lightning strike that hit the statue mounted at the top of the church tower.

Lightning damages statue and supporting base

The impact damaged the statue’s left arm and caused significant damage to the base on which it was fixed. The statue was left in an unstable condition, raising concerns that it could fall from the tower and endanger people visiting the church.

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, popularly known as Chinna Kovil or the Small Church, is a historic place of worship in Thoothukudi. The Bishop’s House is also located within the church complex, which attracts large numbers of devotees who visit to offer prayers.

Following the incident, the main entrances to the church were closed to prevent people from entering the affected area while steps were taken to address the damage.

Crane used to lower statue for repairs

Restoration work began on Wednesday, with a large crane brought to the site to remove the damaged statue safely from the top of the tower. Workers used the crane to lower the statue to the ground for inspection and repair.

The operation was necessary because the damage to the supporting base had left the statue in a precarious position. Removing it from the tower would allow the damaged portions to be assessed and repaired without the risk of it falling from a height.

“The 12-year-old male tiger was found to have lost its ability to hunt. The animal was shifted to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) after veterinarians examined it. It is likely to be transported to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur for further care,” said an official of the forest department.

The capture comes after another tiger, suspected of killing two villagers in separate incidents at Lauriston in ‘O’ Valley in Gudalur on August 8 and 21, was trapped on September 18 following a 28-day search operation by forest personnel. In both September incidents, the victims' bodies were partially consumed by the animal.

However, villagers continued to report tiger sightings in the area, prompting forest personnel to maintain surveillance using camera traps installed at various locations.

After confirming the presence of another tiger, the forest department intensified efforts to capture it, particularly after the animal was found to be injured and had lost its ability to hunt effectively. A team led by P Devaraj, District Forest Officer of the Gudalur Forest Division, reached the spot after the tiger was trapped. The animal was examined by veterinarians before being shifted to MTR.

In a separate incident, a leopard suspected of killing a 36-year-old man near Hasanur in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) in Erode district was captured in a cage on Thursday. The leopard was trapped near Ongalvadi village following repeated attacks on humans and livestock in the area.

The forest department launched efforts to capture the animal after a daily wage worker from Bungalowthotti village was attacked and killed on the night of October 3. The incident triggered protests by villagers, who demanded immediate action to capture the leopard. However, the attacks continued, with a cow grazing on land near the forest department office being killed by the animal on Wednesday.

Following the latest incident, forest personnel installed a cage near Ongalvadi at night and intensified surveillance. The leopard was found trapped in the cage on Thursday morning. The animal is likely to be released in a suitable, densely forested area within the STR.

The calendar includes Pongal on January 15, Republic Day on January 26, Good Friday on March 26, Tamil New Year on April 14, Bakrid on May 17, Ayudha Pooja on October 8 and Deepavali on October 28.

Here is the full list of Tamil Nadu public holidays in 2027 – (24 holidays)

1. New Year’s Day – January 1 (Friday)

2. Pongal – January 15 (Friday)

3. Thiruvalluvar Day – January 16 (Saturday)

4. Uzhavar Thirunal – January 17 (Sunday)

5. Thaipoosam – January 22 (Friday)

6. Republic Day – January 26 (Tuesday)

7. Ramzan (Id-ul-Fitr) – March 10 (Wednesday)

8. Good Friday – March 26 (Friday)

9. Annual bank account closing day – April 1 (Thursday)

10. Telugu New Year’s Day – April 7 (Wednesday)

11. Tamil New Year / Dr BR Ambedkar’s Birthday – April 14 (Wednesday)

12. Mahavir Jayanti – April 19 (Monday)

13. May Day – May 1 (Saturday)

14. Bakrid (Id-ul-Zuha) – May 17 (Monday)

15. Muharram – June 15 (Tuesday)

16. Independence Day – August 15 (Sunday)

17. Milad-un-Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday) – August 15 (Sunday)

18. Krishna Jayanthi – August 25 (Wednesday)

19. Vinayagar Chathurthi – September 4 (Saturday)

20. Gandhi Jayanti – October 2 (Saturday)

21. Ayudha Pooja – October 8 (Friday)

22. Vijayadasami – October 9 (Saturday)

23. Deepavali – October 28 (Thursday)

24. Christmas – December 25 (Saturday)

Long weekends in 2027

Seven straightforward long-weekend opportunities emerge from the calendar for those with Saturdays and Sundays off:

January 1–3: New Year's Day falls on Friday.

January 15–17: Pongal falls on Friday, followed by the weekend.

January 22–24: Thaipoosam falls on Friday.

March 26–28: Good Friday creates a three-day weekend.

April 17–19: Mahavir Jayanti falls on Monday.

May 15–17: Bakrid falls on Monday.

October 8–10: Ayudha Pooja falls on Friday, followed by Vijayadasami on Saturday.

Deepavali falls on Thursday, October 28. Taking leave on Friday, October 29, could create a four-day break through Sunday, November 1, for employees with weekends off.

Note: The annual bank account closing day applies to commercial and cooperative banks, not the general public.

High tuition fees have led to this situation, say educationists and industry experts.

According to Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) sources, of the total 837 unfilled MBBS seats across the country (including All India Quota seats), 824 were vacant in deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry alone.

Educationists criticised the lack of a fee cap for deemed universities and pointed out that high-scoring NEET candidates are forced to forgo these seats simply because they cannot afford the exorbitant fees, thereby defeating the core purpose of conducting a merit-based national entrance examination.

Senior educationist and State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN) general secretary P B Prince Gajendra Babu told PTI that the high scorer in NEET, whose financial position does not permit them to get admitted to such private institutions with a high fee, simply opts out. Such candidates do not apply for the counselling.

"The lesser scorer who is financially sound applies and secures the seat," he said, adding, "NEET failed in both of its objectives -- neither ensure merit nor curb commercialisation of medical education."

He said all private medical education institutions, including those deemed to be universities that cannot reduce their fee structure and keep the seats unfilled, must be closed.

"The state governments should be encouraged to open an adequate number of medical colleges wherever needed," he added.

Industry experts cite the excessive annual tuition fees as the main driver behind the low intake.

A Srinath, a higher education career counsellor for the students in the city, claimed annual MBBS fees in deemed universities across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry range between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 35 lakh per year.

"The students have to pay hostel and mess fees between Rs 1.2 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh per year in private institutions. In contrast, the average annual fee across other parts of India in private institutions stands at around Rs 17 lakh, resulting in a substantial fee disparity over the four and a half year duration of the course," he said.

With the seats remaining unfilled, an additional round of counselling may be expected. The MCC will take a decision in this regard. "However, it is unclear till now," he added.

Heavy overnight rain caused inundation in parts of Chennai and many southern districts with Sankarankoil reeling under significant waterlogging due to intense downpour.

Persistent heavy rainfall in Kanyakumari district affected the Kollamcode municipal area. Floodwaters entered many homes in areas leaving residents struggling to leave their properties.

Vehicles and essential household goods have been submerged or damaged by the water.

Civic officials are currently working to clear the inundated water from houses and are also simultaneously checking the local drainage systems to clear blockages that may be exacerbating the flooding, an official said on Thursday.

Maximum temperatures range around 29 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius, and minimum temperatures hover around 24 degrees Celsius to 26 degrees Celsius.

The IMD has warned of light to moderate rain with thunderstorm and lightning likely at isolated places over Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Erode, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, and Thanjavur districts.

Roads in several areas, including Avadi, T Nagar, Velachery, and Old Washermenpet in Chennai got heavily riddled with potholes, muddy depressions, and infrastructure work was stalled on account of the heavy rain.

This has forced the suspension of MTC bus routes in parts like Secretariat Colony.

In Madurai, heavy rain has completely submerged over 140 acres of freshly planted paddy fields in villages and farmers have reported that the lack of desilted irrigation canals is causing the standing crops to rot, leading to calls for state crop compensation.

In some Cauvery delta districts, farmers noted the initial spells were still sporadic and inadequate to fully sustain the samba paddy crop.

As the northeast monsoon intensified, inflows to primary drinking water sources and irrigation dams are seeing a significant rise.

The combined storage of Chennai's core reservoirs - six primary reservoirs supplying drinking water to Chennai (including Red Hills, Chembarambakkam, and Cholavaram) has risen rapidly to 37 per cent capacity following the initial heavy spells.

The water level in the Vaigai dam has risen steadily to 44.88 feet (up from 43 feet last week) due to robust inflows, while the storage in Mullaperiyar dam reached 116.90 feet, in Papanasam dam, the level climbed to 48 feet over the past week and Perunchani dam saw the storage increase to 44.35 feet.

The IMD predicted moderate to heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry until October 26.