The former chief minister highlighted two critical developments that he claimed exposed the fiscal mismanagement and administrative failures of the state government.

He said on 'X' that under the TVK regime, Tamil Nadu's Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue growth has hit an unprecedented low, sinking well below the national average (of 22.9 per cent in October).

"The economic growth of Tamil Nadu has been completely buried under the TVK rule," he remarked, pointing to the latest fiscal indicators as proof of a deteriorating state economy.

Compounding the state's financial worries, Stalin stated that a massive Korean investment proposal worth Rs 1,614 crore, which was originally bound for Tamil Nadu, has shifted to Andhra Pradesh, and blamed the loss on the "sheer negligence" of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government.

He further alleged that the Guidance Tamil Nadu -- the state’s premier nodal agency for investment promotion and single-window clearance, which historically brought immense global prestige to the state -- has allegedly been systematically dismantled and sacrificed to satisfy the "personal egos" of individuals within the ruling dispensation.

"One must learn from them how to move so rapidly in reverse gear across all sectors," Stalin said, mocking the state government's performance.

The DMK leader also took a direct swipe at Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, accusing him of being completely detached from the state's pressing economic realities and noted that while the state's financial future hangs in the balance, the CM is busy embarking on public roadshows and waving to crowds in assembly constituencies bound for upcoming by-elections.

Warning people of a bleak financial future, Stalin concluded with a caution: "Brace for tough times. Tamil Nadu is doomed under the TVK government."

DMK leader and former finance minister Thangam Thennarasu also hit out at the TVK government over the state’s economic performance, alleging that Tamil Nadu continues to witness a sharp decline and economic stagnation under its rule.

Citing official figures for October GST revenue growth, Thennarasu highlighted that while neighbouring southern states recorded strong double-digit growth, Tamil Nadu lagged behind with a modest 3 per cent increase.

According to data shared by him, neighbouring states saw substantial growth in October GST mop-up, with Andhra Pradesh recording 24 per cent, Kerala 23 per cent, Karnataka 18 per cent, and Telangana registering 14 per cent growth.

In contrast, Tamil Nadu’s collections grew by only 3 per cent, following contractions of -1 per cent in August and -5 per cent in September.

"It is concerning that Tamil Nadu, once among India’s leading states in economic growth, continues to witness a decline under the TVK government," Thennarasu posted on 'X'.

He pointed out that although taxes collected on key goods imported into Tamil Nadu contributed to a modest uptick in overall receipts, tax revenue generated from domestic production has steadily dropped.

"I wish to point out to the TVK government that this must be viewed as an indicator of the broader economic stagnation prevailing in the state," he said.

Urging the state administration to take corrective measures, Thennarasu said the government must boost internal manufacturing rather than relying heavily on levies from imported commodities.

"I therefore urge the TVK government to take immediate steps to increase domestic production and expand sales to other states and overseas markets, instead of relying solely on revenue from imported goods. This is essential to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s overall economy and create more employment opportunities for our young people," he added.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased, Abhimanyu, was a resident of Venbavur village. According to the police, he had been in contact with the minor girl from the same village and had reportedly bought her a mobile phone.

Perambalur murder: Father attacks college student

When the girl's father, Balasubramanian, a former village panchayat president, came to know about their association, he became angry and confronted Abhimanyu on Monday.

An argument broke out between the two and soon turned violent. In a fit of rage, Balasubramanian allegedly attacked Abhimanyu with an iron rod before taking out a concealed knife and stabbing him in the left side of his chest.

Abhimanyu sustained severe injuries and died on the spot.

Police search for absconding murder accused

On receiving information, police rushed to the scene, recovered the body and sent it to a government hospital for postmortem examination.

A case has been registered against Balasubramanian, who fled after the attack. Police have launched a search to trace and arrest him.

The amendments to the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules, 2003, were notified through Government Order issued by the Home, Prohibition and Excise Department on October 23. The notification does not provide for transferring the operation of TASMAC’s retail liquor outlets to private players.

Private parties were already permitted to run bars through a tender process under the earlier rules. The latest amendments revise the authorisation framework, providing for district-level approvals and separate authorisations for individual retail shops and bars. TASMAC will collect the tender amount, remit it to the government by the 25th of the following month and retain one per cent as agency commission.

The provision allowing bars to operate either adjoining a TASMAC outlet or within 100 metres of it, as well as the minimum plinth area requirement of 20 square metres, had been introduced through an earlier amendment in July.

The latest notification also prescribes a separate inspection framework for bars, mandates electronic maintenance of daily transaction records and requires drinking water and washbasin facilities. It makes it mandatory to display signboards in Tamil, including authorisation details and health warnings in Tamil and English.

Both shops and bars can function only between noon and 10 pm. The rules prohibit the sale of liquor to persons below 21 years and bar their entry into drinking establishments or employment in shops and bars.

The amendments also specify dry days, including Thiruvalluvar Day, Gandhi Jayanthi, May Day, Independence Day and Republic Day, besides other days notified by the government.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 held for circulating counterfeit notes in Vellore

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tamil Nadu: 3 assault cop and HG personnel, held

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

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

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

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

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

Tiruchy: 3 held in separate ganja peddling cases

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two arrested in separate Pocso cases in Ambattur, Guduvanchery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kancheepuram: Three, including school student, killed in accident

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

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

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

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

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

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22-yr jail for kidnap, assault of minor

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

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

Retired Warden killed inside CSI school in Sivaganga

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Trio snatches gold chain from home alone woman

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

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

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

Thanjavur ganja peddler nabbed in Ariyalur

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

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

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

Two murdered in Otteri, Avadi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Man arrested for kidnap, murder of a Chennai woman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Man hacked to death by friend following argument in Thoothukudi market

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Virudhunagar SP Gautham Goyal conducted an inquiry.

History sheeter hacked to death in Indira Nagar

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

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

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

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

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

College student killed in clash over wastewater

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

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

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

Man held after pregnant wife dies by suicide in Otteri

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

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

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

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

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

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

Man held for sexual assault of toddler in Ennore

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

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

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

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

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

Techie flees after running over sleeping senior citizen in Chengalpattu; nabbed

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

Visuals showed the victim's friend sitting beside the body, holding an umbrella over it to protect it from the rain while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

The deceased was identified as Kumar (77), who lived in a thatched hut in the neighbourhood. According to local residents, Kumar was sleeping along the roadside when a car reversing from a nearby marriage hall ran over him, killing him on the spot.

Police sources said the techie, who was behind the wheel, got down to check on the man but drove off upon seeing a mob gathering at the scene, as his wife and child were inside the vehicle.

The elderly man was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Meanwhile, the Chengalpattu police traced the car using CCTV footage and arrested the driver, G Saravanan (43), an employee with a private IT firm.

Bizman held under Pocso in Tirunelveli

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

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

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

Special Sub-Inspector transferred to Armed Reserve on bribe charges

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

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

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

Guest worker killed over card game in Chennai

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

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

Chennai: Woman dies after pushed to floor while rescuing son

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

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

READ FULL STORY HERE

Kancheepuram silk showroom owners arrested in Rs 20 crore fraud case

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

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

READ FULL STORY HERE

Sathankulam man kills teen lover’s mother for opposing relationship

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

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

2 lorry drivers confess to murder of coworker in Tiruvallur

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

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

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

READ FULL STORY HERE

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

The cancelled flights include:

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

• Chennai-Vijayawada: 6E7305 (2.45 pm)

• Chennai-Rajahmundry: 6E7365 (2.35 pm)

• Rajahmundry-Chennai: 6E7366 (4.50 pm)

• Kadapa-Chennai: 6E7398 (1.25 pm)

• Chennai-Kadapa: 6E7397 (2.50 pm)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact for complaints and assistance of northeast monsoon 2026 by GCC

Parrys records highest rainfall of 149.2 mm in Chennai

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

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

Cyclone Murasu intensifies into severe storm

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

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

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

Rains to continue, says weather blogger

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

Cyclone Murasu: 10 key things to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cyclone Murasu 480 km from Chennai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rain forecast for Tamil Nadu

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

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

Chennai to receive rain from Sunday (November 1)

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

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

Bay of Bengal depression likely to intensify into Cyclone Murasu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

--- RMC's October 30 bulletin

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

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

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

Arnab cyclone death toll rises to six in Andhra Pradesh

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

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

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

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

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Arnab to further weaken into cyclonic storm, then deep depression

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Andhra worst hit by Cyclone Arnab, 3 killed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-- PTI

Cyclone Arnab crosses Andhra coast; damages roads, electric poles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cyclone Arnab: Two electrocuted in separate incidents in Andhra

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

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

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

-- PTI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cyclone Arnab's landfall process continues along Andhra coast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

--- PTI

What is the TN rain status?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chhattisgarh on alert for heavy rains due to Cyclone Arnab

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

31 houses collapsed in Tiruchy after rains

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

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

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

Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister K A Sengottaiyan on Monday said 14 people have died due to lightning strikes since the onset of the Northeast monsoon, even as intensifying rains triggered red alerts and prompted authorities to bar tourist entry to major hill stations.

Detailing the state's monsoon relief efforts, Sengottaiyan said families of the deceased have been provided Rs 4 lakh each as compensation.

He firmly dismissed media reports claiming 35 rain-related fatalities in a single day.

Red alert in Kodaikanal

With the Northeast monsoon intensifying across Tamil Nadu, a red alert has been sounded in Kodaikanal, keeping tourists away and leaving popular spots in the hill station deserted.

The continuous downpour has not only impacted the local hospitality and tourism sectors but has also severely disrupted the daily lives of residents in Dindigul district. In the Moonjikkal-Dobikana (Topikkanal) area of Kodaikanal, over 20 houses were flooded, forcing residents to spend sleepless nights safeguarding their belongings and livestock. - PTI

Cyclone Arnab likely to intensify into severe cyclonic storm by midnight today

Cyclonic Storm Arnab over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight on October 26 and a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27.

It is expected to move northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28.

At landfall, the storm is likely to bring maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, with gusts reaching 140 kmph.

At 8.30 am on October 26, Cyclonic Storm Arnab was centred over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.

It was located 580 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha, 610 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 620 km northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands, 690 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 790 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam and 860 km east-southeast of Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh, according to the IMD.

Cyclone warning: No 1 signal hoisted at 9 ports in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Over 150 school students rescued after landslide blocks Ooty road

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Rain forecast till 1 pm in six Tamil Nadu districts

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

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

Schools closed in Tamil Nadu's Erode district today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the current TN weather status?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Very heavy rain forecast in several districts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Schools closed in four Tamil Nadu districts today

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

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

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

Key updates from TN districts on October 22:

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

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

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

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

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

---- PTI

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

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

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

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What is the current TN weather status?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Monsoon safety advisory for public, EB staff

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

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

• Avoid walking through stagnant rainwater near electrical installations.

• Inform the EB department about damaged infrastructure.

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

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

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

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

• Stay away from open windows and metal grills.

• Avoid using electrical appliances and telephones during lightning.

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

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

• Do not tie cattle to electric poles or wires

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

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

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

• RCCBs alone cannot guarantee complete protection without proper insulation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Potholes plague Tambaram-Velachery road

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

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

Chennai streets inundated after overnight heavy rain spell

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

Chennai Corporation to spend Rs 21.80 crore on pothole repairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rainfall likely to increase

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

Puzhal lake storage crosses 5 TMC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RMC issues rain alert till 10 am

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

Overnight heavy rain spell in Chennai

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

TN rain forecast: Here are the details

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The state government has also despatched the essential equipment to the neighbouring state to assist in the power restoration, Kumar told reporters here.

A day ago, Naidu in a post on X, had said he called on Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and sought assistance from the Tamil Nadu government for the restoration of power systems. He requested that manpower and machinery be sent for restoration, as a large number of power poles were damaged due to the Murasu cyclone. And the Tamil Nadu CM responded positively to the request, he said.

Meanwhile, in its latest bulletin the IMD said the Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 14 kmph and lay centered at about 120 km east-southeast of Nellore, 140 km east-southeast of Kavali, 170 km northeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 180 km southeast of Ongole and 220 km south of Machilipatnam.

It will cross South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur during the midnight of November 2 and early monrning of Novembner 3 with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph, it said.

Dismissing his petition, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu said there was no ground to interfere with the high court's February 20 judgment and the October 26 order.

On October 26, the high court dismissed Nehru's review petition challenging its earlier order, which directed the DVAC to register a case based on information provided by the ED in the alleged Rs 634 crore "cash-for-job" scam.

It also dismissed the review petition filed by the state government after it withdrew from the case.

The matter pertains to allegations of cash-for-jobs allegations when Nehru, a DMK strongman from Tiruchirappalli, headed the Municipal Administration and Water Supply department during the 2021-26 DMK rule in Tamil Nadu.

Dismissing the review petition, the bench, in its order, said two things weigh with it here. First, the order was reserved on February 4, 2026 and pronounced only on February 20, 2026, and admittedly there was a gap of more than two weeks. If the review applicant, once notice reached him, wished to bring anything to the attention of the court, nothing stopped him from moving an application in that window of 16 days. No such attempt was made.

This, in substance, fortifies the submission of Advocate General that the review applicant sat by and watched the proceedings before complaining, the bench added.

The bench said second, all that the court directed was the registration of a case and an investigation, nothing more. The court did not, and at that stage could not, decide anyone's guilt. The observations record the case of the Enforcement Directorate, not any conclusion of this court on it. Whether that material holds up, and whether the review applicant or his relatives had any part in what was alleged, were questions for the investigation to answer, and thereafter for a criminal court to decide.

Whether that material holds up, and whether the review applicant or his relatives had any part in what was alleged, were questions for the investigation to answer, and thereafter for a criminal court to decide, it said.

The HC bench further said a direction to register a case and investigate was, by its very character, a preliminary step. It settles nobody's guilt, and it need not await the version of every person who might eventually come to be investigated.

The review applicant will have his say, in full, once the investigation reaches him, the bench added.

The HC bench further said that in the contempt petition, the complaint was that the order of this court dated February 20, 2026 had not been obeyed. With the review petition now withdrawn, and with the Advocate General placing on record a clear assurance that the authority concerned shall carry the investigation forward based on the FIR registered, the very grievance behind the contempt petition stands met.

The accused allegedly lured victims with attractive offers and collected advance processing fees without providing the promised services, the officer said.

The case came to light following a complaint by a resident of Dindigul in Tamil Nadu, alleging that he was cheated of around Rs 40,000 on the pretext of arranging a personal loan.

During the investigation, police traced a suspicious bank account in east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar, which received suspected proceeds of cyber fraud amounting to Rs 2.60 lakh.

"The arrested accused have been identified as Ravi Sharma (42), Sunny Kashyap (40) and Gaurav (33). Sharma operated a fake loan and financial services office in Noida, while Gaurav arranged mule bank accounts by offering commissions. Sunny provided his bank accounts for routing the cheated money," the officer said.

Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, he said the government had not ruled out privatisation and was analysing its feasibility. “However privatisation alone cannot be considered a solution to all problems in the sector,” he said.

Further, Vignesh said the government is analysing its feasibility, while taking into account the circumstances that led former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to bring liquor sales under state control in 2003.

“When Jayalalithaa closed private liquor outlets in 2003 and took it under the control of the state government, the circumstances that prompted the decision must also be considered. Privatisation could lead to a monopoly or the formation of syndicates that might manipulate prices during tenders. There is also the possibility of illegal liquor sales. Therefore, privatisation alone cannot be considered a solution to all the issues,” he said.

The Minister said no sales target had been fixed for Deepavali. More than 960 employees had been issued show-cause notices seeking explanations for their participation in protests against the bottle-buying system across the State. “Four employees had also been suspended for closing shops that had already opened. Further action will be taken if their explanations are not satisfactory,” he added.

The Minister said that alternative staff would be deployed to ensure that liquor outlets functioned without disruption.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, Surya, a resident of Samayanallur in Madurai district, was a known history-sheeter in the area. He had more than 10 criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder and assault, registered against him at various police stations.

Gang attacks history-sheeter at abandoned building

According to police, Surya went to the premises of an old panchayat office near the Samayanallur National Highway on Sunday night. He was sitting and drinking at an abandoned building when a gang armed with deadly weapons suddenly entered the premises and surrounded him.

The gang attacked him repeatedly with sharp weapons. When Surya tried to escape, the attackers chased him and continued the assault. They allegedly slashed his face before fleeing the spot.

Surya suffered severe injuries and died at the scene.

Madurai rowdy murder: Police suspect old rivalry

On Monday (Nov 2, 2026) morning, passers-by found Surya lying dead and alerted the Samayanallur police. A police team rushed to the spot, recovered the body and sent it to a government hospital for postmortem examination.

Police suspect that an old enmity or business rivalry could have led to the murder. A case has been registered, and efforts are under way to identify and arrest the gang members.

According to a Maalaimalar report, CM Vijay travelled by road from Tiruchy Airport to Pudukottai, where he received a warm welcome from the public along the route.

Upon reaching the Pudukkottai Collectorate, Vijay was accorded a police guard of honour. He also visited an exhibition showcasing traditional agricultural produce, including indigenous varieties of paddy, cashew nuts and millets.

During the visit, CM Vijay inaugurated completed development projects and laid the foundation stone for various new initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure and public facilities in the district.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the new rules also prohibit people below the age of 21 from entering bars or being employed there.

The amendments were notified through a government gazette, which states that bar licences will be granted through a tender process.

What are the rules on the location of bars?

• Bars can be located adjacent to a TASMAC shop or within 100 metres of one.

• Businesses or factories in areas governed by development and town planning authorities have been exempted from the distance restrictions.

• Bars cannot be established in Integrated Tribal Development Project areas in hilly regions.

What facilities must bars provide?

• Each bar must have a minimum floor area of 20 square metres.

• It should also provide drinking water and handwashing facilities.

• The premises and surrounding areas must be maintained hygienically, with adequate tables and chairs for customers.

• Bar operators must also install barriers to ensure that alcohol consumption inside the premises is not visible from outside.

What other conditions have been prescribed?

• Bars must display messages stating that drinking alcohol is injurious to health and advising customers not to drive after consuming alcohol.

• People below 21 years of age must not be allowed inside bars or employed there.

Who can inspect the bars?

The rules permit inspections by officials below the rank of Collector of Customs and by officials below the rank of Tahsildar authorised by the District Collector.

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

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

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

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

This year, the anticipated rush at Erode's bustling EKM Abdul Gani Textile Market is missing. "Traders at Gani Market used to record an overall business of over Rs 500 crore a week during these times in the past. Over the past few weeks, however, the turnover has dropped to a mere Rs 100 crore," said K Selvaraj, president of the Erode Gani Weekly Market Association.

Traders attribute the slump to a sharp increase garment prices that was driven up by the increase in prices of yarn, dyeing and other raw materials. This is prompting buyers to cut back on purchases or postpone bulk orders in the hope of a post-festival price correction. Continuous rain over the past week has further dampened sales.

The market, known for its affordable garments and competitive prices, has around 740 weekly shops and 300 daily shops. It usually attracts wholesale buyers from across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Buyers typically arrive at least a month before Deepavali to purchase garments in bulk. This year, however, demand from neighbouring states as well as within Tamil Nadu has remained subdued.

The price increase has affected garments across segments. "Hosiery products manufactured in Tirupur have become costlier, with the wholesale price of a pack of 12 underwear pieces rising from Rs 360 to Rs 420. Add a small profit margin, and the selling price rises further. Buyers are therefore postponing bulk purchases and restricting themselves to minimum quantities. Many believe garment prices have been raised for Deepavali and will come down after the festival. This time, it does not feel like a festive season at all," said V Sundaram, another trader.

Shopkeepers said that chudithars sourced from Surat and Mumbai and children's ready-made garments from Kolkata have also become 10 per cent costlier. Towels manufactured by small-scale producers in and around Salem have seen price increases of up to Rs 10, while lungis produced by powerloom units in Kumarapalayam and Pallipalayam have also become more expensive.

Nightwear has witnessed a particularly steep increase. A nightie that previously sold for Rs 150 to Rs 190 a piece now costs around Rs 250, another trader said, attributing the increase to higher dyeing charges, yarn prices and other raw material costs.

The slowdown has hit traders at a crucial time, when Deepavali purchases normally provide a significant boost to business. However, MP Muthurathinam, president, Tirupur Exporters and Manufacturers Association (TEAMA), said the manufacturing sector had been able to withstand several challenges, including the ongoing unrest in the European countries, largely because of the good domestic market.

"The purchasing power in the Indian market is currently stronger than in the export market. Domestic trade in Tirupur is worth around Rs 35,000 crore annually," he said.

Slump at the market

• Erode Gani Market turnover plunges from Rs 500 crore to Rs 100 crore weekly

• Wholesale underwear prices rise from Rs 360 to Rs 420 per dozen

• Chudithars and children’s garments become 10 per cent costlier; nightie prices hit Rs 250

• Buyers cut bulk purchases, hoping garment prices will fall after Deepavali

• Tirupur’s domestic garment market is valued at Rs 35,000 crore annually

According to the police, the three workers were employed at a cattle farm owned by the convict Jeeva’s father Ravi in Kattur village, Thottiyam, where they were forced to work from 5 am till midnight without wages, physically assaulted and housed in a cattle shed.

The case came to light after Musiri Revenue divisional officer Ravichandran received information that Jeeva was allegedly keeping the three workers as bonded labourers at his farm. An inquiry was conducted and the workers were rescued. One of the workers, Babul Majumdar from Tripura, had come to Chennai in search of employment. He was brought to the farm in July 2016 after being promised a monthly salary of Rs 10,000 by Jeeva. Another worker, Arjun Mishra from Odisha, was brought to the farm by Ravi after he got down at Vellore railway station looking for work. He had been promised a monthly salary of Rs 3,000. The third worker, Vinoth Kumar from Tirupattur, had come to Chennai seeking employment before being brought to the farm by an unidentified person.

The police report states that all three workers were beaten up and made to work for nearly 19 hours a day. The Thottiyam police registered a case in December 2018 under Section 370 (A) of the Indian Penal Code, read with Sections 16 and 17 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. The chargesheet was filed on April 1, 2019.

The first additional district judge, Tiruchy, convicted Jeeva and sentenced him to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. Ravi died during the proceedings, while his wife Suntharambal was acquitted.

The Chief Minister is expected to arrive at Coimbatore International Airport from Chennai on a special flight and then travel by road to Perundurai. A roadshow has been planned along the route, with barricades erected on both sides of a 10-km stretch in anticipation of large crowds.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting arrangements at a private college in Perundurai, where Vijay will participate in a government function to distribute welfare assistance to women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from 13 districts, Sengottaiyan dismissed speculation that the visit was aimed at the bypoll.

"After assuming office, the Chief Minister is participating in a programme aimed at bringing about a transformation in the lives of women. The event brings together women from 13 districts," he said.

Vijay is scheduled to distribute loans worth Rs 1,110 crore to around 4,000 women SHGs from Erode, Karur, Tirupur, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Salem and other districts.

Police officials said they deployed more than 4,500 personnel for security.

Meanwhile, the Erode district administration has prohibited drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles within a 2-km radius of the venue, surrounding areas, and the proposed route of the Chief Minister. District Collector S Kandasamy warned that officials will take action against those who violate the restriction.

According to a Government Order, R Krishnaraj, Superintendent of Central Prison, Madurai, has been transferred to Central Prison, Salem, to fill an existing vacancy.

A Parasuraman, Superintendent of Central Prison, Cuddalore, has been posted as Superintendent of Central Prison, Madurai, in place of Krishnaraj.

G Vinoth, Additional Superintendent of Central Prison, Salem, has been transferred to Central Prison, Cuddalore, to fill the existing vacancy.

Pending the completion of the transfers, A Murugesan, Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Madurai Range, will temporarily take charge as Superintendent, Madurai.

The transfer and posting orders were issued by K Shankar, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Tamil Nadu.

It may be noted that within two days of the Theni jailbreak in which 17 inmates escaped, the government had transferred out DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore and posted Shankar in his place.

All the 17 escaped inmates were recaptured by police within two days of the incident.

The arrest of MIDS professor A Kalaiyarasan raises several questions that go beyond the clarifications offered by State ministers. Are local police personnel empowered to detain individuals over social media posts without first issuing a summons and seeking an explanation? On what basis do police officers at a local station assume the authority to determine an online post's authenticity and act on it so hastily? Descending on the residence of a respected academician in the early hours, rather than following due process, raises concerns about possible intimidation. What legal procedure is prescribed in such cases? What safeguards protect against arbitrary police action, and did the police violate or bypass any of them in this case?

— K Saravanan, Chetpet, Chennai

The police's mindset has not changed despite several safeguards on pre-trial arrest of a person, whatever be his/her social standing. The cybercrime police are acting as the primary investigative agency in the arrest of Prof. Kalaiarasan. Imposing hefty fines on the personnel concerned is the only way to compensate the victim for such blatant misuse of power. They must pay the fine out of their pocket. A woman and her minor son were taken to the local police station without any reason and were kept until early morning due to a neighbour's complaint at a police quarters in Avadi. I had imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the cops when I learnt that the police detained the woman and the boy without any justification. Only such penalties will let the police behave in a civilised way and keep the law alive (See Alarmelu Mangai vs. The Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, dated 27/4/2010).

India’s exotic wildlife laws still riddled with loopholes

The Lar gibbon case has raised questions about the disparity in how India treats native and exotic wildlife. While trade in native wildlife is largely prohibited, possession of exotic species is permitted subject to regulations. In this case, the court allowed a breeder to retain two Lar gibbons, seven serval cats and two tufted capuchins, rejecting Vandalur Zoo's takeover bid, despite the Manipur Forest Department reportedly clarifying that it had neither approved the transfer nor issued registration certificates for the gibbons. Does India's legal framework adequately protect endangered species beyond its borders? Are regulatory loopholes allowing private ownership and trade in exotic wildlife, potentially undermining international conservation commitments? Should keeping endangered animals as status symbols, often fuelled by social media trends, be viewed as a serious conservation concern?

-- R Govindasamy, Medavakkam, Chennai

What you described will pale in comparison if you read more about Vantara, a zoo created by Anant Ambani near Jamnagar in Gujarat. If you want to know more, read an article by Sushovan Patnaik in article-14.com, dated September 29, 2026. The worst part is that Justice Krishna Murari, the judge who gave favourable orders for importing and keeping some animals without approval from the Central Zoo Authority, has now, after his retirement, been taken into its top governing body. Now, where will you complain?

“The garment sector in Tirupur, which depends significantly on European markets, could face challenges if the situation persists. So far, we have not felt any impact, but exports could be affected if the unrest continues in European countries,” said KM Subramanian, president, Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA).

Tirupur recorded garment exports worth around Rs 45,000 crore in the financial year 2025-26, of which nearly 40 per cent went to European countries, 30 per cent to the US, 10 per cent to the UK and the remaining 20 per cent to other markets.

“The sector had begun to see positive developments following free trade agreements, with some overseas buyers shifting their sourcing priorities towards India. However, the ongoing unrest could pose a fresh challenge to the improving business outlook. This is an alarming situation which needs to be monitored closely. We will know in about a week whether there is any impact on orders and enquiries,” Subramanian said.

Meanwhile, garment manufacturers are grappling with rising production costs as garment prices are increasing by 10 to 15 per cent amid a steep rise in the prices of raw materials, including yarn, cotton, dyes, accessories and other petroleum-based products. The exporters stated that the input cost increase began with the outbreak of war in West Asia and its repercussions on oil trade.

MP Muthurathinam, president, Tirupur Exporters and Manufacturers Association (TEAMA), said rising input costs have made it difficult for manufacturers to compete with exporters in other countries. “Petroleum-based products have become significantly more expensive, pushing up the prices of polyester yarn, rayon, dyes and sewing thread over the past few months. Though we receive enquiries from overseas buyers, they do not necessarily translate into orders because of the mismatch in prices. Orders are being diverted to countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and China, where manufacturers can offer products at more competitive prices,” he said.

Traders say many units have been relying on existing stocks to meet the festival demand, as nearly 70% of the sales in the current season came from old stock manufacturers catering to the domestic market ahead of Deepavali.

The rising costs have also affected manufacturers catering to the domestic market ahead of Deepavali. “Price of polyester yarn has increased from Rs 190 to Rs 280 per kg over the past year. If prices are not brought under control, a large number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will be affected. Units have been relying heavily on existing stocks to meet festival demand, with nearly 70 per cent of the garments sold during the current season coming from older stock and only around 30 per cent comprising new production,” said Muthurathinam.

The cost of printing, embroidery and other ancillary work has also increased sharply, putting further pressure on manufacturers’ margins.

Sakthi Kumar, proprietor of Hero Knits in Tirupur said the overall price of garments of polyester garments including sportswear have increased by 15 to 20 per cent over the past four months due to increase in cost of petroleum products.

With input costs remaining high and uncertainty clouding key export markets, garment manufacturers are concerned that any prolonged disruption in Europe could add to the pressure on an already challenging business environment.

The department is also preparing for the next Special TET exam for serving teachers, scheduled for early next year, and reiterated that TET qualification is mandatory for teachers seeking promotion to higher posts.

According to proceedings issued by the Directorate of Elementary Education, the department will conduct seniority-based promotion counselling for eligible teachers who have cleared TET. The department clarified that senior teachers who qualified in the eligibility test will be included in the promotion process, with the seniority list prepared using the date of its preparation as the crucial date.

The clarification followed a representation by three graduate teachers from government schools in Karur and Devakottai educational districts, who had approached the Madras High Court seeking promotion to middle school headmaster posts based on their seniority and TET qualification.

The Supreme Court ruled that serving teachers, regardless of length of service, must qualify in TET. It also made it clear that qualifying in the exam was mandatory for teachers seeking promotion.

However, teachers with less than five years remaining before retirement as on the date of the judgment were allowed to continue until superannuation without clearing TET, though they would not be eligible for promotion. Those recruited before the Right to Education Act and having more than five years left for retirement were given two years to qualify.

Meanwhile, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), released the subject-wise preparation schedule for the special TET 2026 for in-service teachers. The training programme will cover ten sessions, with weekend classes conducted at district teacher education and training institutes and designated government training centres.

The schedule includes seven weekend training sessions in November and December. Each training day will include five sessions covering child development and pedagogy, languages, and relevant subject areas.

The temple administration said the lapse showed severe carelessness during a VVIP visit. Janakiraman has been asked to submit a written explanation within 15 days.

The action came after Electricity minister R Nirmal Kumar said action would be taken against those responsible for the disruption.

The temple administration and the electricity board had made arrangements to ensure uninterrupted power during the V-P’s visit, and electricity was supplied through a generator as a precaution. However, after the Vice-President completed his darshan and was addressing reporters outside the temple, the power went off for about two minutes, plunging the temple into darkness.

A similar disruption had occurred the previous day as well, when AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami was offering prayers at the temple. Palaniswami later criticised the state government over the outage.

During the visit, Nabin is expected to meet functionaries representing different levels of the state organisation and participate in party-related programmes and private engagements, insiders said. The dates and detailed itinerary are yet to be finalised.

Nabin has already held a virtual interaction with BJP functionaries from the state unit and said he would visit shortly. He has also asked the state leadership to arrange meetings with representatives from across the organisation during his visit, sources said.

The proposed tour comes amid the BJP’s efforts to expand its organisational footprint in Tamil Nadu, strengthen its grassroots network and improve coordination among its state, district and booth-level units.

Nabin has previously undertaken organisational visits to Tamil Nadu. In December 2025, shortly after being appointed the party’s national working president, he travelled to Puducherry via Chennai. He returned to Tamil Nadu in January 2026 for a two-day visit to Coimbatore, where he met with party office-bearers, addressed functionaries, and reviewed preparations for the Assembly elections.

He also said the Chandrayaan 4 mission is planned for 2028, while preparations for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme are progressing steadily, with around 8,000 tests completed so far.

Speaking to reporters at Chennai airport, Narayanan said work on the Kulasekarapattinam launch facility was progressing rapidly, and efforts were under way to make the first launch possible in March or April.

Explaining the progress of the GSLV-F18 mission, which launched the navigation satellite on October 30, he said the satellite had been successfully placed in an initial elliptical orbit at an altitude of around 38,000 km. Using its onboard propulsion system, the satellite had been raised by another 5,500 km, with further orbital manoeuvres under way to position it in its designated orbit.

He described India's navigation satellite programme as a major achievement, highlighting its applications in precise positioning and timing, aviation, maritime traffic, railway operations and public safety.

On Gaganyaan, Narayanan said three uncrewed missions would be conducted before sending astronauts into space. The programme has undergone around 8,000 tests, and preparations for the initial uncrewed launches are progressing.

He also said work on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 was continuing, with Chandrayaan-4 targeted for 2028.

And yet, for decades, people approaching frontline offices for a legal-heir certificate, revenue records, driving licence or building approval have faced tedious delays and arbitrary decisions. An RTS Act can turn timely service from an administrative favour into an enforceable public duty.

Promise Vs Delivery

As Tamil Nadu prepares to draft an RTS law, it must recognise that neither legislation nor a digital portal alone can make public offices responsive.

More than 20 Indian states have enacted similar laws since 2010, but a substantial gap remains between their promise of time-bound service and its delivery on the ground. The CAG’s performance audits and other evaluations demonstrate why high ‘disposal rates’ cannot establish that citizens actually received the services they sought. In bureaucratic parlance, an application marked ‘disposed’ may have been rejected on technicalities, returned for correction, closed prematurely, or transferred between departments.

When deadlines are missed, many RTS laws provide for penalties against responsible officials and compensation for applicants, though provisions vary by State. Madhya Pradesh’s pioneering 2010 Act, for instance, permits a penalty of Rs 250 for each day of delay, up to Rs 5,000, and allows compensation to be paid to the applicant from the penalty recovered. But delay does not always result from an individual official’s neglect.

Acute staff shortages, delayed recruitments, dependence on clearances from other departments, belated fund releases, court stays, seasonal surges, and repetitive petitions can all impede service delivery. In such circumstances, even a conscientious official may struggle to meet deadlines. A fair RTS law must distinguish individual culpability from systemic failure without making citizens bear the cost of administrative shortcomings.

Strict personal penalties may also encourage officials to game the system. An application might be rejected for a minor reason just before the deadline, forcing the applicant to start again. Or it may be held back from formal registration until documents have been informally screened and a decision made. Both practices conceal the citizen’s actual waiting time and distort disposal figures. Monitoring should, therefore, track intake refusals, reasons for rejection, repeat applications and whether the service was ultimately delivered.

Pursuing appeals may be burdensome for citizens, and adjudicators may hesitate to penalise officials—whether from professional solidarity or because delays reflect wider administrative constraints. Penalties and compensation can thus remain on the statute book without providing meaningful accountability or redress.

The Right to Information Act, 2005, has a narrow task: it requires public authorities to disclose existing records, subject to statutory exemptions, and provides for penalties for non-compliance. Yet, barring the Union and a handful of States, its implementation remains poor.

An RTS law is more demanding. It may require eligibility checks, field inspections, funding processes, and coordinated action across several departments. Tamil Nadu must prepare for that operational complexity.

Principles for a successful model

To turn the statutory commitment into a workable reality, Tamil Nadu should follow five design principles:

1. Categorise services by administrative complexity: Public services differ in the time and scrutiny they require.

• Routine, standardised services such as birth, death, caste, income and residence certificates, driving licences, and revenue records such as chitta and adangal extracts are high-volume services with clear documentary requirements. They are well suited to firm statutory deadlines under an RTS law.

• Welfare services, such as PDS ration cards, social security pensions, healthcare enrolment, and subsidised housing require eligibility checks. The RTS law should only guarantee timely processing and a reasoned decision, while making clear that it cannot guarantee benefits beyond available funding.

• Complex or discretionary services, including commercial building approvals, environmental clearances, land-acquisition decisions and disputed patta transfers, may involve technical scrutiny, inter-agency consultation, inspections or public hearings. They need realistic, stage-wise timelines and reasoned decisions; firm deadlines for approval may be impractical.

Tamil Nadu should bring services under RTS Act in this order.

2. Set evidence-based, differentiated deadlines: The surest way to undermine an RTS law is to impose uniform deadlines — 30 days for all, or a few standard periods of 7, 15 and 30 days — for services of widely differing complexity.

A digitally available certificate may be issued promptly; a licence requiring inspection or a scholarship involving verification and fund release may take considerably longer.

Deadlines should be service-specific and evidence-based. Before setting them, the government should map each workflow, identify responsible officers and external dependencies, and conduct time-and-motion studies of actual processing times.

Only Karnataka’s Sakala has attempted something similar, other States largely codified legacy Citizens’ Charters. Benchmarks should reflect both median and 90th-percentile completion times, and be reviewed as systems improve. This preparation takes time, but skipping it risks undermining the law. Statutory deadlines must be grounded in evidence, not administrative guesswork.

3. Think big, start small, expand in phases: Tamil Nadu must resist the political temptation to notify hundreds of services on day one. Instead, it should begin with a disciplined pilot of 10-20 standardised, high-volume, low-discretion services such as revenue extracts, driving licence renewals, and utility connections across 2-3 diverse districts (such as Chennai, an industrial district like Coimbatore, and an agrarian district like Thanjavur). The pilot should track intake refusals, rejection grounds, appeal outcomes, staff capacity, and actual service delivery. Coverage should scale up across districts and departments only after back-end digital workflows and appeal arrangements are tested and stabilised.

4. Make the system digital by design: A central weakness of early RTS systems was treating digitisation as an add-on to paper-based workflows. A modern law should be digital by design: technology should shape service delivery from the outset, not merely move existing procedures online.

Applications filed online or through an e-Sevai centre should enter a common system, receive a unique tracking number and clear due date, and reach the responsible officer. Applicants should be able to track progress online, with assisted access available to those without internet connectivity. Repeat applications may be linked using the Aadhaar number.

Under the ‘once-only’ principle, departments should share information already held by government, sparing citizens from repeatedly submitting caste, income or residence documents. Where official records confirm eligibility, routine licence renewals and continuing welfare benefits could be processed automatically, subject to scheme rules and appropriate checks.

Digital systems cannot fix inefficient procedures. Before setting statutory deadlines, Tamil Nadu should redesign workflows, simplify back-end processes, and shorten approval chains. Automation, digital file tracking, and end-to-end e-services can reduce human intervention and make compliance easier to monitor.

5. From missed deadlines to meaningful redress: A statutory right is of little value if citizens must draft appeals, travel to offices and repeatedly pursue officials to enforce it. Tamil Nadu could adapt Haryana’s Auto Appeal System for notified services: send alerts to the responsible officer and supervisor as the deadline approaches, then automatically lodge an appeal with the first appellate authority if it is missed. The applicant should be notified and given a hearing, particularly where the facts are disputed.

For specified, low-risk and non-discretionary services with objective eligibility rules, the law could also provide for deemed approval when a complete application is not decided within the prescribed period. Madhya Pradesh’s 2021 amendment allows the portal to generate a digitally signed deemed approval automatically for services notified by the State.

A law that delivers

What seems straightforward in principle can prove elusive in practice. Making the RTS Act work is as much a governance challenge as a technological one.

Tamil Nadu should adopt a ‘slow trigger, fast bullet’ approach: take time to design the law carefully and put the necessary systems in place, then implement it decisively. This requires streamlined workflows, evidence-based deadlines, adequate staffing, effective interdepartmental coordination, fair accountability that distinguishes individual fault from systemic failure, and rigorous oversight.

By learning from other States’ experience, including their mistakes, Tamil Nadu can avoid creating a paper tiger that produces misleading figures and adds procedural burdens while leaving actual service delivery unchanged.

The author is a retired IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, former Vice-Chancellor of Indian Maritime University, Chennai, and Member, High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu

The prolonged delay in crediting salaries has left staff struggling to meet routine expenses, pay rent, and manage daily commuting costs, even as they continue to handle child protection cases and assist children in distress.

Employees said that the absence of regular salaries had placed them under severe financial pressure, particularly those who depend entirely on their monthly earnings to support their families. “We have to pay rent, buy groceries and take care of our families every month. When salaries are delayed for two consecutive months, it becomes extremely difficult to manage even basic expenses. We’re continuing to work, but we do not know when the pending amount will be credited,” a CHL staff member said.

Another employee said that the delay in travel allowances had added to their financial burden. Staff members often need to travel as part of their duties, including responding to cases and coordinating with relevant authorities. Without reimbursement, they are forced to spend from their own pockets to carry out official responsibilities.

“Our travel allowance has been pending since April. We cannot stop travelling when a child needs help, so we end up spending our own money. With our salaries also pending, it is becoming increasingly difficult to continue meeting these expenses,” a staff member said.

The latest delay comes amid earlier concerns over salary and travel allowance payments reported by DT Next in its coverage of Child Helpline employees awaiting their June and July salaries and related dues. The recurring delays have raised concerns among staff about the financial uncertainty faced by personnel.

Employees have urged the authorities to release the pending salaries and clear travel allowances without further delay. They also sought a mechanism to ensure that salaries and reimbursements are credited regularly.

His mother, Arumugathammal, told DT Next that the video is a statement he gave to an advocate before he and his brother Tirupathi surrendered to police in Theni district on October 28.

Meenakshi Sundaram also claims the escape was planned by all the inmates, contradicting the police version that a partially disabled inmate, Linga Prasath, proposed it on October 26 while the prisoners were discussing the cancellation of their bail, and that the others acted on the idea spontaneously. Meenakshi Sundaram has also asked that the CCTV footage be verified in this connection.

The 17 inmates escaped from the jail at Thekkampatti in Theni district on the night of October 26, after allegedly assaulting prison personnel. Police say they staged a medical emergency, pretending that one of them was having an epileptic seizure, to lure the staff into their cell. All were recaptured within about 43 hours.

After recapture, the inmates were remanded and are being moved to central prisons, including those in Palayamkottai, Coimbatore and Salem. Meenakshi Sundaram and Thirupathi were lodged in Salem Central Prison.

In the video, Meenakshi Sundaram claims the escape was planned by 21 inmates [police sources say 17 inmates had escaped], contradicting the police version that a partially disabled inmate, Linga Prasath, proposed it on October 26 while the prisoners were discussing the cancellation of their bail, and that the others acted on the idea spontaneously. Meenakshi Sundaram has also asked that the CCTV footage be verified in this connection.

He says the inmates escaped not to harm anyone but to surrender before a judicial magistrate and explain the torture and inhuman living conditions they faced in the prison. He alleges that, after he complained about poor food and conditions to the prison superintendent and a judicial magistrate during a visit, the authorities did not act and prison guards tortured him instead. "I escaped from the prison fearing they might do something to me," he says in the video.

Meanwhile, Arumugathammal has sent a representation on October 31 to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, alleging that police had falsely booked her two sons in theft and ganja cases at Chintamani police station on October 9, a few months after Meenakashi Sundaram had been released from jail. She alleges that, after recapture, police assaulted the 17 inmates and remanded them without medical treatment, and that an advocate who met her sons in Salem jail told her of their injuries.

A senior prison officer said Meenakshi Sundaram had injuries when he was admitted and is being treated in the jail hospital. He added that, under prison rules, only advocates are allowed to meet such inmates for 30 days.

Madurai City Police Commissioner S Rajendran rejected the allegation that the brothers had been falsely booked. He said both are history sheeters, that Meenakshi Sundaram is accused in murder cases, that Tirupathi is a notorious ganja seller, and that they began committing crimes as juveniles. "Many youths were found to have procured ganja from Tirupathi," he said, adding that both are addicted to ganja.

Palaniswami chaired a meeting of district secretaries at the party headquarters in Royapettah on Sunday. He instructed functionaries to step up organisational work, including working closely with the Election Commission as it prepares to revise electoral rolls. He stressed the need to actively participate in correcting voter rolls.

The meeting also discussed preparations for the by-elections in Perundurai, Ambasamudram, Tiruchy East, Viralimalai and Karur constituencies. Despite the ruling party being in a favourable political position, Palaniswami asked district secretaries to work with full commitment to improve the AIADMK's electoral performance.

After the meeting, Palaniswami held separate consultations with district secretaries from the five constituencies at his Royapettah residence.

Meanwhile, two Chennai-based district secretaries, Virugai VN Ravi and T Nagar Sathya, were absent from Saturday's meeting.

The leadership is also planning to convene the party's General Council meeting in December. With recent electoral setbacks raising questions about its organisational strength, Palaniswami faces the challenge of improving the party's performance and restoring its cadre's confidence.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall across several northern Tamil Nadu districts over the next two days, as Cyclone Murasu moves towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Collectors directed to remain on high alert

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Revenue Administration and Disaster Management Department has directed district collectors across the State to remain on high alert and follow standard operating procedures for disaster management.

The Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration has instructed collectors to mobilise administrative machinery and take adequate preparedness measures. Officials have also been asked to maintain strict vigilance and immediately report any untoward incidents to the State Emergency Operations Centre.

Cyclone Murasu 480 km from Chennai

According to the IMD's latest bulletin issued at 9.14 pm on Sunday, Cyclone Murasu was moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 27 kmph over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.

At 2.30 pm on November 1, the system was centred about 480 km east-southeast of Chennai, 550 km east-southeast of Nellore, 560 km southeast of Machilipatnam, 600 km southeast of Ongole and 610 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam.

The weather department said the cyclone is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal around the morning of November 2. 

It is then expected to move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur as a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph, between 11.30 pm on November 2 and 4 am on November 3.

Orange and yellow alerts for Tamil Nadu districts

In its rainfall warning bulletin, the RMC has issued an orange alert for Tiruvallur on November 1 and for Chennai and Tiruvallur on November 2, indicating the possibility of very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm in 24 hours).

A yellow alert was issued for Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet and the Nilgiris on November 1, with heavy rainfall likely (7-11 cm).

On November 2, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris are under a yellow alert for heavy rainfall. On November 3, the warning is confined to isolated heavy rainfall over the Nilgiris.

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

Squally winds likely across northern Tamil Nadu

The weather department has forecast squally winds reaching 55-65 kmph, gusting up to 75 kmph, at isolated places in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts, as well as Puducherry, on November 1 and 2.

Winds reaching 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, are also likely at isolated places across the remaining north coastal Tamil Nadu districts.

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

After the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, issued an orange alert for Chennai and Tiruvallur districts, the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency directed district collectors of several districts to remain on high alert.

According to the RMC, the cyclone is very likely to continue moving west-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday morning. It is then expected to recurve and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur as a severe cyclonic storm between 11.30 pm on Monday and 4 am on Tuesday (November 3). The storm is expected to bring sustained wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph. Under its influence, Chennai and Tiruvallur are likely to experience thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds.

On November 2, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places in Chennai and Tiruvallur, while heavy rainfall is likely in Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris.

In meteorological parlance, heavy rainfall (yellow alert) implies 70-110 mm rainfall, while very heavy rainfall (orange alert) means up to 200 mm rainfall in 24 hours.

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

Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management B Chandramohan directed collectors of these districts to immediately mobilise the administrative machinery and implement precautionary measures. Emergency response teams and district authorities have been instructed to maintain strict vigilance and promptly report any untoward incidents to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) to facilitate swift rescue and relief operations.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until November 4 morning. Those fishing in deep waters have been asked to return immediately to the harbour or coast.

Residents have been advised to avoid beaches and coastal roads, waterlogged underpasses and fallen power lines, and follow weather updates.

Explaining the impact of the cyclone on moisture conditions, easterly winds, and rainfall activity, weather blogger Pradeep John, popularly known as Tamil Nadu Weatherman, told DT Next: "Cyclone Arnab had cut off the easterly winds, resulting in dry weather in northern Tamil Nadu and other parts of the State.

However, Cyclone Murasu has not disrupted the easterly winds. As the severe cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall near Nellore, rainfall activity is likely to continue across the State over the next few days."

The contractors claim that the orders are being allotted for a commission of up to 20 per cent.

“After we learned that the MLA was planning to allocate the contracts to party functionaries, we met her in person recently and requested her to distribute them among all contractors. But she said they were for her children (party functionaries),” claimed M Jegan, the association’s treasurer. “The MLA also disrespected us and forced us to leave the place,” he alleged.

According to the rules, in the panchayat president's absence, the Block Development Officer allots tenders for such works through the panchayat clerk.

Jegan said contractors are attached to various political parties and that works had never before been allotted only to contractors from the ruling party. “Now they are bringing in a new culture,” he alleged.

DT Next couldn't reach MLA Kulanthai Rani before the news went to print. A party functionary responded on her behalf that the MLA was attending a government event and would clarify the issue later.

District Collector P Akash said the allotment of the works would follow the law, with no deviation allowed.

Meanwhile, association members submitted a representation to the Project Development Officer, who assured them the district administration would ensure fair contract allotment.

Prakash allegedly helped Veeramani cover up his crimes, and Chennai police had earlier issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against Prakash after a team that went to Prakash’s residence to issue summons for an enquiry three weeks ago was informed that he is abroad.

Prakash is the son of SRMU general secretary N Kannaiah and is said to be an associate of the prime accused, Veeramani and allegedly acted as a conduit for the businessman.

“After the passport authority impounds or revokes a passport, the person cannot renew a visa. If the visa expires, it becomes illegal to stay in the foreign country, after which they can be deported back to India,” a police official said.

An LOC notice has been issued against five suspects to prevent them from leaving the country, an official release stated. Last week, Police had detained Veeramani’s daughter, Archana, when she attempted to board an international flight. She was questioned about Veeramani’s alleged crimes and the financial transactions that took place to save him from legal action. Archana eventually complained of ill health and was admitted to a hospital.

The police said that steps are being taken to complete the investigation in the registered cases at the earliest and file the final report before the court.

Meanwhile, SIT arrested Seenu alias Srinivasan, the security guard posted at Gem Veeramani’s residence, in connection with two cases. The police said he was aware that minors were being brought to the house but did not alert authorities. His arrest takes the total number of persons arrested in the case to nine.

Further, searches were conducted at the house of accused Ganesan at Kolathur and at the dance school run by accused Shanthi at Neelankarai, and evidence has been seized.

So far, 12 survivors have filed complaints against Veeramani and his associates.

The leadership has reportedly rejected requests from some incumbent district secretaries to raise the upper age limit for the post from 70 to 75 years.

The party had fixed 70 years as the maximum age for district secretaries as part of a broader organisational overhaul that also introduced age ceilings and a two-term limit for several positions. The reforms aimed to facilitate generational change and create opportunities for younger functionaries.

The move follows internal consultations to implement the party's decision to expand the number of organisational districts from 77 to 110. The restructuring committee met with senior leaders on Sunday, after which party functionaries said the leadership sought to expedite the exercise.

As part of the process, district-level functionaries have been asked to redraw the existing organisational units, covering unions, wards, town panchayats and party areas, and submit their proposals to the headquarters within three days.

Party sources said the leadership also decided to refer the proposed divisions to a party-independent committee for scrutiny if it detected discrepancies or irregularities during the restructuring exercise.

Velladurai joined the AIADMK on Sunday in the presence of party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami at the party headquarters in Chennai. His induction carries political significance, as he is believed to be eyeing an AIADMK ticket from Ambasamudram, popularly known as Ambai, where a by-election is needed after AIADMK MLA Esakki Subbiah resigned and subsequently joined the ruling TVK.

Velladurai, who belongs to the Thevar community, could also bring a community dimension to the AIADMK's candidate selection in the constituency, which has a considerable chunk of the community votes.

Velladurai's possible candidature could end the discussions around fielding Seeman as a common opposition candidate against the TVK.

His political realignment also comes against the backdrop of the uncertainty surrounding his association with VK Sasikala. Velladurai had earlier joined the All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK), headed by Sasikala, and contested from Nanguneri in the 2026 Assembly election. He, however, failed to win.

The party removed Sasikala from the post of general secretary after internal differences. With the leadership arrangement he had aligned himself with no longer in place, Velladurai appears to have had limited political options, prompting his move to the AIADMK.

Explaining his decision, Velladurai told reporters after joining the AIADMK that the party principles he had associated with, along with Sasikala, did not suit him.

His entry now shifts focus to the AIADMK's candidate selection in Ambasamudram and whether Palaniswami will consider fielding him.

Speaking at the Tamil Nadu Day celebrations here on Sunday, Aadhav said Tamil should be made compulsory in all schools, irrespective of their educational boards. "I urge the Education Minister to make Tamil a compulsory subject from Classes 1 to 8 in every school in Tamil Nadu, whether affiliated with the CBSE or any other board. This should be implemented during the tenure of the present government," he said.

Stressing that the promotion of Tamil should begin with those in public office, Aadhav said the children of ministers, MLAs, IAS and IPS officers, and other government employees should also study in Tamil.

He also proposed a separate flag for Tamil Nadu, and suggested that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay hoist it for the first time on November 1 and July 18, with the flag displayed in every household. "We should have a State flag that reflects the pride of Tamil and upholds our linguistic identity," he said.

Arguing that both November 1, observed as Tamil Nadu Day, and July 18, marking the adoption of the name Tamil Nadu, held historical significance, he called for both days to be declared public holidays, on a par with Independence Day and Republic Day.

Water Resources and Rural Development Minister N Anand said the government would take steps to declare July 18 and November 1 public holidays from 2027.

However, BJP state chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy criticised the proposal for a separate State flag, describing it as unnecessary.

"Such remarks are unwarranted. The national flag is the symbol of India's unity. The United States, which was formed by the coming together of states, has flags for individual states. Aadhav Arjuna should understand that, unlike the US, India created states for administrative convenience," he said.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Balagurusamy said the relaxation, intended to benefit candidates appearing for Group I, II, III and IV examinations and other government recruitment processes, could have unintended consequences.

Urging the Chief Minister to restore the earlier age eligibility rules, he said any relaxation should be restricted to candidates genuinely affected by recruitment delays.

Citing the growing need for technical expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital governance, he said recruiting candidates at higher ages could reduce their productive years of service, particularly in demanding executive positions such as Deputy Collector and Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Pointing to intense competition for government jobs, he said 4,89,885 candidates were admitted for the recent Group II and Group IIA examinations against just 846 vacancies. He stressed the need to safeguard the employment prospects of younger graduates.

Instead of a uniform age-relaxation policy, Balagurusamy suggested setting separate eligibility criteria for different post categories.

He also called for a transparent annual recruitment calendar, timely vacancy notifications, and completion of selection processes within stipulated timelines to prevent recruitment delays.

He emphasised that government recruitment should prioritise merit, administrative efficiency, and the State's long-term interests.

He said Venkatesan earned a monthly remuneration of just Rs 2,800. With his wife having already passed away, his two children have now been left without parental support.

Considering the family's poor circumstances and the fact that Venkatesan was killed while on duty, Anbumani urged the State government to provide Rs 50 lakh as compensation to support the future of his two children.

Anbumani said the Home Guard staff was on patrol duty along with police personnel when he spotted three youths consuming alcohol in public at Aathanankurichi. After reprimanding them and sending them away, the youths allegedly returned a short while later and brutally assaulted Venkatesan near the Thalavoy police station premises when he was returning after completing his patrol duty, resulting in his death.

Condemning the killing, Anbumani said it was tragic that a Home Guard personnel who was merely performing his duty had been killed by intoxicated youths.

A massive boulder fell near the Nandagopal Bridge on the highway following heavy rain on Saturday night, triggering another landslip. Earthmovers have been deployed to remove the boulder and clear the debris.

Restoration work is continuing round the clock on the already battered arterial stretch, where a TNSTC bus driver was killed when his vehicle was caught in a landslide a week ago.

Traffic remains suspended on the affected stretch, with vehicles being diverted through the Kotagiri route. Authorities are also removing weakened trees and unstable rocks along the highway to prevent further incidents.

Meanwhile, restoration of the Mettupalayam-Ooty mountain railway track continued for the ninth consecutive day on Sunday, even as fresh landslips between Adderley and Hillgrove stations further hampered the work. Boulders and uprooted trees fell across the tracks, while earth buried sections of the railway line.

In a challenging operation, an excavator was carefully driven across a railway bridge suspended over a deep gorge to reach a landslip-hit stretch and carry out restoration work. A video of the manoeuvre has attracted attention on social media.

With restoration work still under way and continued rainfall posing further challenges, the Salem Division of Southern Railway has extended the cancellation of Mettupalayam-Ooty and Ooty-Mettupalayam mountain train services till November 4.

The dramatic footage of the truck tumbling several times into a tea estate has gone viral on social media. Police said the truck, driven by Arun, was transporting logs from Kattabettu to Ooty when he parked it by the roadside on Saturday night following heavy rain.

When he attempted to resume the journey on Sunday morning, the truck's wheels sank into the slush under the weight of the timber, leaving it stuck. He then decided to arrange a crane to retrieve the vehicle and went to a nearby tea shop.

Meanwhile, the truck, apparently unable to withstand the load's weight, tilted sideways and plunged a nearly 100-foot-deep slope, rolling several times through a tea estate.

The logs loaded on the truck were scattered across the estate. "As Arun had stepped away moments before the accident, he escaped unhurt," police said. People who witnessed the incident recorded the truck tumbling down the slope on their mobile phones and shared the footage on social media.

The police are taking steps to retrieve the mangled remains of vehicle and have advised goods vehicle operators against overloading, particularly during the rainy season.

The Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency (TNDRRA) said the storm was over the Bay of Bengal, 480 km east-southeast of Chennai, moving west-northwestwards. It is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday morning and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapuram between Monday night and early Tuesday.

Although landfall is forecast in Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu is likely to receive heavy rain.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Tiruvallur on Sunday. Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet and the Nilgiris are likely to receive heavy rain.

Winds along the northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts could reach 60-70 kmph, with gusts up to 80 kmph, from Monday evening to Tuesday morning. The sea is expected to remain very rough, with waves of four to six metres and reduced visibility, until Wednesday morning.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until November 4 morning. Those fishing in deep waters have been asked to return immediately to the harbour or coast.

The Commissionerate of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management has directed district collectors to follow disaster-management procedures, mobilise district machinery and take preparedness measures. They must report untoward incidents promptly.

Residents have been advised to avoid beaches and coastal roads, waterlogged underpasses and fallen power lines, and follow weather updates.

Reacting to the claim, the opposition DMK and BJP questioned the minister for not reporting the matter to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).

Speaking at the Tamil Nadu Day celebrations here, Rajmohan said an individual had offered him Rs 5 crore through TN Textbook and Educational Services Corporation chairman Layola Mani in exchange for securing the post. However, he said, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would not appoint an unsuitable candidate even for Rs 500 crore.

"The Chief Minister directed that the post be given to Pushpavanam Kuppusaamy, whom he considered suitable, without accepting even a rupee," he said.

Reacting to the statement, the DMK IT wing questioned Mani's role in the alleged matter, arguing that he could not escape scrutiny if he had acted as an intermediary in the purported bribery attempt. It also questioned why neither Rajmohan nor Mani had lodged a complaint with the DVAC.

"Why are the minister and Layola Mani shielding the person who allegedly offered the bribe? Is it because they received a cut for the party fund," the DMK IT wing asked, urging the vigilance agency to register a case and initiate a suo motu investigation.

BJP state chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy also criticised the minister for not reporting the alleged incident to the authorities.

"Should not a minister holding public office have lodged a complaint against the person who attempted to offer the Rs 5 crore and Layola Mani, who allegedly acted as an intermediary," he asked.