The announcement followed a demand raised by AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami during Thursday’s Question Hour. He asked the minister whether the government would implement the elevated corridor project, which had been proposed during the AIADMK regime.

Replying to him, the minister said the government had already announced an eight-lane road from Chennai to Kanniyakumari.

Explaining the traffic congestion in suburban areas surrounding Chennai, Aadhav said the travel time from Chengalpattu to Chennai airport had increased to nearly three hours due to heavy traffic.

"The same situation is witnessed while travelling from Tiruvallur through Poonamallee. The elevated corridor between Tambaram and Chengalpattu will be implemented after detailed discussions with the Union government. A meeting with the Union government is scheduled for next month," he assured.

The group comprised 22 men and 27 women, hailing from various parts of the city and State, including Chromepet, Perambur, Alwarpet, Singaperumal Koil, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Theni, Namakkal, Erode, Karur, Tiruchy, Salem, and Coimbatore.

They left by flight from Chennai on August 14 through Mahadev Kailash Yatra, a spiritual tourism company located in Radha Nagar in Chromepet, and were scheduled to return on Thursday (August 27).

However, while they were undergoing immigration procedures near the Nepal-China border after completing the pilgrimage, the flash flood struck the area and swept away the immigration office building.

Since then, there has been no information about the 49-member group, leaving their families deeply worried.

The group was led by Sathya Narayanan, the son of the travel company's owner.

Besides him, Vikraman, Manjula, Velavendhan, Rajalakshmi, Amudha, and Kishore are from Chromepet, while Meenakshi, Latha Bhanumathi, Saraswathi, Chandran, Gopal, and Arunachalam are from Kancheepuram.

Around 6 am on Wednesday, Meenakshi and Chandran informed their families that they were travelling towards Nepal. That was the last the kin heard from them.

Fearing for their safety, relatives have appealed to the central and Tamil Nadu governments to take immediate steps to trace and rescue the pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the families of the six Kancheepuram residents submitted petitions at the Kancheepuram Collector's Office, seeking urgent action to locate the missing pilgrims.

The experts said this was why talks between the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would not resolve the Cauvery water-sharing dispute and could instead work against Tamil Nadu's interests.

Retired senior Public Works Department engineer A Veerappan, hydrology expert S Janakarajan, State Platform for Common School System general secretary Prince Gajendrababu, advocate Vetriselvan of Poovulagin Nanbargal and Electricity Department Engineers' Association coordinator S Gandhi made the remarks at a press conference.

The federation said Karnataka's proposal to construct the Mekedatu dam, along with plans for a new dam at Rasimanal and to raise the height of the Mettur reservoir by 10 feet, were among the key issues concerning Tamil Nadu.

It said Karnataka was also spreading incorrect information that Tamil Nadu's consent was not required for the Mekedatu project. According to the experts, a Supreme Court judgment requires the consent of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala, among the Cauvery basin states, for constructing a new dam across the Cauvery.

They said Karnataka's detailed project report for the Mekedatu dam had been returned as it did not fulfil the required conditions.

The federation said more than 50 rounds of talks held between the two states in the 1990s had failed to resolve the Cauvery dispute.

"The Mekedatu dam cannot be constructed based on the Supreme Court judgment and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award, and we will not allow it to be constructed," the experts said.

They also said constructing dams at Rasimanal and Hogenakkal to store additional Cauvery water was not immediately feasible. Any new dam across the Cauvery would require approval from the Central Water Commission and Karnataka, which they said was unlikely in the present circumstances.

A new dam with a storage capacity of 10-15 TMC could take three years to construct and cost between Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 3,000 crore, they said.

As an alternative, the experts suggested filling more than 200 lakes and irrigation tanks in drought-prone areas on either side of the Cauvery basin through water-lifting projects.

They also said the proposed Godavari-Cauvery river-linking project was not feasible and urged the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw its decision to seek the constitution of a new tribunal, saying the move was unprecedented and would not benefit the state.

Intervening in the proceedings, Premallatha urged members to avoid unnecessary confrontations and devote more time to issues concerning the people.

"The Assembly is meant to discuss people's problems. But for the past three or four days, there have been continuous arguments. Members keep making allegations against one another, consuming valuable time. What benefit does this bring to the people of Tamil Nadu?" she asked.

She said members appeared to be spending more time preparing for arguments than discussing public issues. Though the House was convened to debate demands for grants, only about an hour was being spent on people's issues, while much of the remaining time was consumed by arguments, she said.

"Everyone should be given an opportunity to speak in the House. This is an Assembly, not a fighting forum," Premallatha said, urging the Speaker to ensure that proceedings remained focused on public concerns.

She further said the House remained peaceful until Aadhav began speaking and suggested that he should not be allowed to intervene if his participation repeatedly led to disruptions.

Responding to her remarks, Aadhav said he respected Premallatha and knew how late DMDK founder Vijayakant had conducted himself as Leader of the Opposition.

"When opposition members make false statements and allegations, I am compelled to respond and clarify them. I also request Anniyar to tell the same thing to the DMK members about how they should speak in the House," he said.

Giving a break-up on the pilgrims, Rajmohan said 11 people from Cuddalore, 5 from Krishnagiri, 16 from Thanjavur, 1 each from Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai and Namakkal, 4 from Tiruchirappalli,

2 from Tiruvarur, 7 from Mayiladuthurai, and 6 from Chennai - accounting from 10 districts, and 3 from Puducherry, totally 57, went to the Kailash yatra travelling in three vehicles.

“The second vehicle was stuck due to the sudden flooding. About 20 Tamils were quickly rescued and evacuated to safety,” he said.

The minister emphasised that this disaster served as a “wake-up call” regarding climate change and the need for stricter adherence to sustainable development goals.

Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu announced the demands for grants for the Social Justice Department in the Assembly. The scheme was among 67 major announcements made by the minister.

Under the 'Agam' scheme, the government will provide safe and permanent housing for sanitation workers, who play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness and public health in residential areas and urban centres.

The initiative aims to improve workers' living standards and ensure a safe, dignified living environment for their families.

In another announcement, the government said a Tribal Cultural Centre would be established at Nandanam in Chennai.

The centre will expand the activities of the Tribal Research Centre, currently operating in Udhagamandalam in the Nilgiris district, to the State capital.

The proposed centre will work to preserve and promote the diverse cultures, traditions, and art forms of tribal communities.

It will also create greater public awareness about the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu's tribal population.

"During the DMK regime, following the then Chief Minister's demand, a team from the Union government came, but it did not take any decision," he said.

Urging the TVK-led government to consider the issue, Chezhian said the new government should procure paddy with a moisture content of up to 17 per cent.

Replying to him, Minister Venkataramanan said that if the government procured paddy with more than 17 per cent moisture content, the rice recovery would be only 60 to 62 kg for every 100 kg of paddy.

"However, if paddy with below 17 per cent moisture content is procured, the rice recovery would be above 68 kg for every 100 kg of paddy. The government procures paddy with a moisture content of up to 17 per cent to avoid this loss," the Minister said.

He also said that around 13,161 metric tonnes of paddy were available in Civil Supplies godowns and that 361 Direct Procurement Centres were functioning across 10 Delta districts.

Participating in the Assembly proceedings, Sindu said the Tamil word "thani" generally refers to something separate or isolated and could convey a sense of separation or discrimination. She argued that it was therefore not an appropriate translation for a reserved constituency.

Referring to Articles 330 and 332 of the Indian Constitution, she said the Constitution provides special rights and political representation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, under which reserved constituencies were created. She said the term should reflect the special rights and representation guaranteed to these communities rather than suggesting separation.

Sindu requested the Speaker to consider renaming "rhani thoguthi" as either "sirappu thoguthi", meaning special constituency, or "urimai thoguthi", meaning rights constituency.

Responding to her request, the Speaker said it was a valid and good suggestion. He said the matter would be discussed with the Chief Minister and an appropriate decision would be taken.

She clarified through a suo motu statement under Rule 111 in the Assembly that there was no connection between Suzlon's groundbreaking ceremony in Andhra Pradesh and its proposed investment in Tamil Nadu.

"Social media platforms have spread wrong information regarding Suzlon's investment, claiming that the company had dropped its investment in Tamil Nadu and invested in Andhra Pradesh. There is no connection between Suzlon's proposed investment in the State and the groundbreaking event in Andhra Pradesh. Both are separate, she clarified.

Suzlon had signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government during a recent event in Chennai, proposing an investment of Rs 500 crore and the creation of around 500 jobs in Coimbatore and Thoothukudi.

Suzlon has had a long business association with Tamil Nadu. The company commenced production in the State in 2006 and stopped operations in 2011. Meanwhile, it continued to support its sister concern, SE Forge.

The company has now decided to resume direct investment in Tamil Nadu, the Minister said.

Among those whose whereabouts remain unknown are 67-year-old Natarajan of Vellode in Erode, who runs a mess, and his wife Krishnaveni (56). The couple had embarked on the pilgrimage with eight relatives through a Chennai-based travel operator and were scheduled to return to Chennai on Thursday.

The sudden loss of communication has left their families deeply worried, with no clarity on whether the pilgrims were caught in the floods or stranded in areas where telephone connectivity has been disrupted.

In a desperate attempt to locate his parents, their son Kavinraj left Erode on Thursday morning, travelled to Bengaluru and flew from there to Kathmandu. Meanwhile, relatives gathered at the couple's home in Kanagapuram, anxiously awaiting information.

Family members said the couple had closed their mess for 15 days to undertake the pilgrimage and had remained in regular contact with relatives throughout their journey.

“Natarajan spoke to the family last on Wednesday evening. He said they were waiting at an immigration office. After that, we could not reach them,” family members said.

A similar sense of anguish has gripped families in Coimbatore, where another group of pilgrims has also become unreachable. Punitha Chandrasekaran, a retired private-school principal, and her husband Chandrasekaran, a retired professor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, both residents of Vadavalli, had travelled to Kailash along with a 45-year-old woman and her son.

Their relatives have also been unable to establish contact with them following the floods. Their neighbour Ramesh Kumar said Chandrasekaran had managed to tell his son that he was in Tibet. Communication was subsequently lost, however, leaving the family uncertain about the group's current location and safety.

Despite opposition from the DMK and AIADMK, Speaker JCD Prabhakar did not change his stand on the issue. Under the new protocol, Ministers presenting grant requests for their respective departments will make departmental announcements during the introductory stage. Normally, such announcements are made only after the debate and the Minister's reply.

The Speaker announced that the new procedure would be followed from Thursday. Opposition parties, including the DMK and AIADMK, opposed the move.

Describing it as a "cinema climax," DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu said the audience should know the climax only at the end of a film, not at the beginning.

Replying to him, Minister for Social Justice Vanni Arasu said some films had two climaxes — one at the beginning and another at the end.

Speaker Prabhakar rejected the Opposition's demand that the announcements be made at the end of the Minister's speech. He directed Ministers Vanni Arasu, V Sampath Kumar and AM Shahjahan to read out their departmental announcements while moving the demands for grants at the introductory stage. Following the Speaker's direction, the Ministers read out their respective departmental announcements.

In another incident, the Speaker heard the Opposition's concerns during Zero Hour. Minister Rajmohan attempted to read out a statement on the Nepal issue before the Opposition raised the matter.

The DMK and AIADMK members raised their voices in protest. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said the Minister should read out the statement only after the Opposition was allowed to raise the issue of the Nepal disaster.

Recalling the debate on the Karur incident, in which 41 people died at a TVK public meeting, Speaker Prabhakar said that during the discussion on the incident, then Chief Minister MK Stalin had read out the statement first, followed by the Opposition raising the issue.

However, the Opposition stood by its demand. Following the intervention of House Leader KA Sengottaiyan and Minister Rajmohan, the Speaker allowed the Opposition to raise the Nepal issue.

The State government constituted the committee on October 6, 2025, following orders of the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court. Its mandate is to identify temples under the HR&CE Department's control that were constructed in accordance with Agama traditions.

Details concerning the Agama practices of the temples were submitted to the committee by the respective regional Joint Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners of the department. The committee subsequently examined the reports.

The department said the public could point out any omissions in the details or submit comments for the committee's consideration.

Details of all 34,971 temples examined by the panel have been published on the HR&CE Department's website.

Members of the public may submit representations by post to the Commissioner's Office, HR&CE Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-34, or through the department's website.

The representations should be submitted within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice, the department noted.

“The concept of fixing a duration for 45 days itself is wrong. No government has followed this so far. Samba crop could take between 105 and 125 days, and needs discharge of at least 10,000 cusecs per day. It will be possible only when Mettur level reaches 100 feet and the inflow is between 8,000 and 12,000 cusecs,” said Sami Natarajan, general secretary of the CPM-affiliated Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam.

According to him, no farmer would demand discharge for just 45 days when the Mettur level is merely 89 feet. “The water released would not reach the tail-end areas. Also, after 45 days, the dam may go empty and the farmers who commenced samba cultivation wouldn’t get water. The nurseries they planted may wither away,” Natarajan cautioned.

Opening the shutters after the dam reached 100 feet and following the turn system of irrigation would help realise at least a single crop samba, he opined. “The officials should take the reading of water availability every day and act accordingly. Otherwise, the release of water from September 1 for 45 days would be useless," he said.

Echoing him, P Viswanathan, president of Tamil Nadu River and Ayagutdars Association, said releasing water when the level in Mettur dam is below 100 feet could prove dangerous for farmers. As the dam could not be opened on the customary date of June 12, all waterbodies across the region has dried up and the groundwater level has also depleted.

“It would take at least 30 days for the water from Mettur to reach the main canals. The shutters should remain open for at least 90 days for the water to reach the tail-end areas. If that does not happen, cultivating samba could end in a disaster for farmers,” he said.

Viswanathan said the State government should get at least 60 TMC of water from Karnataka to realise samba cultivation in the Delta region. “We cannot trust the monsoon rains. Like how the Southwest monsoon failed, the Northeast monsoon, too, may fail,” he said. If his fears come true, venturing into samba cultivation would result in a huge loss, he said, advising that the farmers should wait until the outflow reaches a minimum of 30,000 cusecs per day.

AS THINGS STAND

• Level: 89.24 feet (full level : 120 feet)

• Inflow: 7,454 cusecs

• Outflow: 2,003 cusecs

• Capacity: 51.787 TMC (full capacity: 93.470 TMC)

(Data on August 27)

The biological mother, Pavithra (23), a daily wage labourer from Ezhil Nagar, is married to Ganesan (25), who is unemployed and faces several criminal cases, police said.

Pavithra became pregnant with her second child in December last year and sought financial help from a neighbour, Dhanam. Dhanam suggested handing over the baby to a childless couple for money and introduced her to a private hospital nurse, Aandal.

Knowing that an Andhra Pradesh-based couple, Selvarasi and Gnanasekaran, were looking for a surrogate, Aandal proposed that they adopt Pavithra's child instead. The couple and Pavithra reached an oral agreement, under which the couple agreed to cover all pregnancy-related expenses and pay Pavithra Rs 4 lakh.

Last week, Pavithra was admitted to a private hospital in Villivakkam, where she delivered a baby girl on Tuesday. Following the delivery, hospital administrator Visalakshmi allegedly altered the medical records, replacing Pavithra's name with Selvarasi's to present the latter as the biological mother. Police sources said the hospital's doctor, Rajasekaran (45), was also involved in the fraud.

The illegal transaction came to light when neighbours noticed Pavithra returning home without her infant and alerted the police.

Following a probe, police arrested Pavithra (23); the buyer couple, Selvarasi (30) and Gnanasekaran (35); mediators Dhanam (50), Visalakshmi (45), and Aandal (45); and doctor Rajasekaran (40).

The child has been rescued and placed in a government home, police added.

He also denied the allegation that G Square owned land around Parandur and Pannur. The company has claimed it had sent a notice to the Assembly Speaker, seeking evidence for allegations made against it in the House.

"We started off as a private land aggregator and have facilitated close to 5,000 acres of land deals between 2011 and 2021 for various large corporates smoothly," he said, adding that the company shifted to a B2C model after COVID, which helped it grow rapidly as demand for plotted developments picked up during the pandemic.

Ramajeyam alleged that competitors resorted to creating a negative narrative around G Square. "They set a narrative," he said.

This comes two days after a heated exchange in the Assembly over the Parandur airport project, during which Minister R Nirmalkumar referred to "G Square maapillai", a reference to DMK president MK Stalin's son-in-law V Sabareesan.

The minister also alleged that people who had invested money in land around Parandur stood to benefit from the earlier airport proposal.

Ramajeyam denied any business connection between G Square and Sabareesan. "There is no connection between the 'son-in-law', any Minister in the DMK, its family and G Square," he said.

Organised jointly by the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), iTNT Hub, and the German Indian Business Alliance (GIBA), the ninth edition of the conclave — 'AI Tamil Nadu 2030: Positioning Tamil Nadu as India's AI Capital' — brought together practitioners from India, Germany, and the US to map out the State's strategy in the global AI landscape.

While India may lag behind the US and China in developing fundamental models, it has not missed the broader opportunity, said B Ravindran, professor at IIT-Madras and head of its Centre for Responsible AI. "In terms of actually figuring out how to get the best value out of AI, there's still a lot of work that needs to be done," he said, noting that the technology's impact on MSMEs remains largely untapped.

Elaborating on practical application, iTNT Hub CEO Vanitha Venugopal said: "For an MSME, that could mean using AI for inventory forecasting, quality control or export documentation."

However, businesses must avoid adopting technology purely out of trend, cautioned Ann Grace, head of AI engineering, AI platform, and automation at US-based Guardian Life. She advised companies to evaluate whether a problem genuinely requires AI, assess their data, and determine expected business returns before investing.

SICCI executive committee member Gopi Koteeswaran observed that enterprise AI remains an evolving space requiring significant investment in expertise, time, and resources. He highlighted MSMEs, automotive, healthcare, and drug discovery as key areas where Tamil Nadu could take the lead.

Selvakumar, who led the German delegation, noted that Europe and Germany are focused on AI applications in manufacturing and precision engineering. He called for deeper collaboration with Tamil Nadu on AI infrastructure and Sovereign AI.

SICCI also released a report titled "The Way Forward: AI for Tamil Nadu" during the event.

The group of 57 devotees who were taken on the tour organised by a Kumbakonam-based agency travelled by three buses.

While one bus carrying 21 of them was not caught in the fury of the flood, the remaining members on the other two buses are missing, leaving their families in deep anguish.

According to sources, among the 21 pilgrims who were rescued, 11 were airlifted to Trishuli army camp while 10 were taken to Ghunsa army base by private helicopters.

Later, all of them were brought from the army camps to Kathmandu, from where they would be sent back to India, sources said.

Karpagam from Tiruchy, one of the rescued pilgrims, contacted her family members via voice message and informed that the group of 21 persons from their vehicle were safe at Trishuli army camp.

Meanwhile, the anxious relatives of pilgrims who went from Thanjavur are trying to get information about the family members.

Revenue officials from the district visited Super Yatra Agency in Kumbakonam for the second consecutive day and commenced inquiry about the missing pilgrims and the status of the rescued persons.

The family members of the pilgrims whose information is yet to be received expressed anguish and are trying to know any information about their situation.

“My mother sent a photo after reaching Nepal around 6 am on Wednesday. But there is no information from her after that. We have been trying to contact her but she is out of reach,” said Raja from Thanjavur, whose mother Chithra is among those missing.

Murali, whose mother Ilavarasi, was part of the group, is banking on the belief that his mother is somewhere safe and would return soon.

The family of Vimala from Srirangam, who went for the pilgrimage organised by a Chromepet-based travel agency, said she was not reachable from Wednesday. They had last heard from her around 8 am on Wednesday.

"We have been trying to get information about her but in vain. We appeal to the government to trace the missing pilgrims at the earliest and bring them back safely,” said her brother Satheesh.

“The government has an objective to eradicate corruption, and a guideline framed in this regard may strengthen its objective,” observed Justice B Pugalendhi.

Observing that almost every payment can now be made digitally, the judge said the government should consider fixing an appropriate threshold for the amount of cash that government employees can carry to their office.

The court was hearing a writ petition filed by a sub-registrar, challenging the proceedings before the Tribunal for Disciplinary Proceedings, Tirunelveli, after she was found in possession of Rs 45,000 while on duty at Mukkodal in Tirunelveli on January 8, 2021.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the sub-registrar had been harassed for possessing the money, which she was carrying for her wedding expenses.

The court said the case was registered after a surprise inspection by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.

However, the court noted that there appeared to be no common guideline prescribing the maximum amount of cash a government servant could possess while on duty.

It also noted there have been cases when prosecutions had been initiated for possessing as low as Rs 1,500 in cash.

The additional advocate general produced a circular issued by the Inspector General of Registration, Chennai, dated February 23, 2009, prescribing certain guidelines on the possession of money by the Registration Department staff.

The court, however, said there appeared to be no common guideline or government order, covering all government employees in the State.

The matter has been posted for September 3, 2026.

Participating in the debate on the demands for grants for the Social Justice, Backward Classes, Most Backwards Classes and Minorities Welfare departments in the Assembly, Shanmugam said a major effort was under way against reservation and questioned the manner in which the proposed census would collect caste details.

"The Centre has said that around 40 questions will be asked in the caste census and that people themselves should state their caste. This could multiply the number of castes several times. This is a planned conspiracy," he alleged.

Shanmugam said the Centre and State governments already possessed caste lists and argued that the census should be conducted based on those lists.

"If a caste census is conducted using the existing lists, there will be no problem. Therefore, this cannot be considered a genuine caste census," he said, urging the State government to conduct its own exercise instead of waiting for the Centre.

Referring to caste surveys conducted in Bihar and Telangana, Shanmugam said states had the authority to provide internal reservations and urged Tamil Nadu to follow their example.

He also alleged that governments were pursuing policies that could weaken reservation without formally abolishing it through a constitutional amendment.

Participating in the debate on the demands for grants of the Social Justice, Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare departments, DMK members E Raja, Govi Chezhiaan, PK Sekarbabu, EV Velu, KN Nehru highlighted the party's contribution to social justice, including the creation of the Backward Classes Welfare Department and various welfare measures for Scheduled Castes.

Responding, Aadhav Arjuna acknowledged that the DMK had introduced the Anaithu Sathiyinarum Archakar Agalam scheme and described it as a good initiative.

However, he alleged that the scheme had not been fully implemented for five years and demanded data on the number of persons appointed as priests under it.

Former Minister PK Sekarbabu countered that the then Chief Minister, MK Stalin, had implemented the scheme. "MK Stalin removed the thorn that Periyar had felt in his heart," he said.

Aadhav hit back, saying DMK members were well aware of who had challenged the scheme in court. The government would win the case and certainly implement the scheme, he said. He also questioned Sekarbabu's right to invoke Periyar's name.

The exchange escalated when Aadhav responded to DMK MLA Raja, citing the DMK's past association with the BJP.

He questioned why the party had remained in the BJP-led Union government, referred to its 1999-2003 alliance with the BJP and asked what stand it had taken during the Godhra riots.

He also questioned the DMK's record on Dalit welfare, claiming that 28% of Dalits continued to live in huts. He questioned whether merely changing the name of 'colonies' had addressed caste inequalities.

In a pointed personal reference, Aadhav said he had worked in the DMK between 2015 and 2021.

"I did not betray anyone where I worked. Stalin knows that," he said, warning that revealing what happened during those six years would not be in the DMK's interest.

Sparks fly over Armstrong murder debate

Meanwhile, a heated exchange broke out over the murder of BSP State president K Armstrong and the subsequent transfer of the case to the CBI.

Speaking during the debate, Aadav Arjuna referred to the Vengaivayal issue and the murder of Armstrong, and said the slain BSP leader's wife, Porkodi, had sought a CBI probe during the previous DMK regime.

He said she had allegedly raised questions over the possible involvement of a former DMK minister in the case, but the then government had not transferred the investigation to the central agency.

Aadav Arjuna said the case was shifted to the CBI only after the TVK government came to power.

His remarks triggered protests from DMK members. Sekar Babu rose to respond, saying that he and Armstrong were born in the same constituency and that the DMK and its government had stood firmly with Armstrong's family following his murder.

He said the government had also extended support for the funeral arrangements.

Rejecting allegations of political violence, Sekar Babu said the DMK was not an organisation that resorted to violence to defeat its political opponents and added that they are ready to face the CBI investigation.

Aadav Arjuna then questioned why Sekar Babu was offering an explanation when he had not named anyone during his speech.

Sekar Babu subsequently sought the Speaker's permission to explain his remarks, but was not allowed to continue. DMK MLAs then shouted, demanding that the Speaker permit Sekar Babu to speak, leading to further commotion in the House.

Making the announcements during the demand for grants for the Backward Classes and Most Backwards Classes Welfare Department in the Assembly, Minister for Backwards Classes, Most Backwards Classes V Sampath Kumar announced that the new MBC Welfare Board would be formed to promote the social, educational and economic advancement of people belonging to Most Backwards Classes.

The government has earmarked Rs 3 crore for the establishment of the board during the current financial year.

Eligible persons from MBC communities will be registered as members, enabling them to access welfare benefits similar to those offered by other labour welfare boards.

In another major announcement, the government increased the monthly food allowance for students staying in social justice hostels to ensure access to nutritious, high-quality food.

The allowance for school students will increase from Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,800 per month, while college students will receive Rs 2,000 per month, up from the existing Rs 1,500.

Alerting the Assembly about the situation during Zero Hour on Thursday (August 27), he said Chennai district recorded 33 dengue cases, the highest in the State since January 1, followed by Coimbatore.

Responding to queries raised by DMK member O Panneerselvam and AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, the Minister said fever cases were being monitored daily at 5,805 government and private hospitals.

"The Health Department is monitoring dengue clusters and taking measures to eradicate the mosquito menace. I appeal to the public and to people's representatives to support efforts to eradicate mosquitoes, the primary cause of dengue fever. People need not worry about dengue, as the situation is under control," the Minister said.

According to a DVAC press release, the checks were conducted at various government offices in all 38 districts as part of efforts to detect corruption and irregularities. The total value of cash seized and suspicious digital transactions identified during the operation stood at Rs 1.18 crore.

In Chennai, the checks covered the Sub-Registrar Office at Pallavaram, where Rs 1.50 lakh was seized, the SRO at Royapuram, where Rs 9,500 was found, and the RTO check post at Poonamallee, where Rs 25,150 was seized. At the office of the Chief Electrical Inspector to Government in Guindy, suspicious GPay transactions amounting to Rs 31.52 lakh were detected.

Among other major findings, Rs 2.14 lakh was seized at the Town Panchayat Office in Thenkanikottai, Krishnagiri district, while Rs 1.92 lakh was seized at the Tiruppur City Municipal Corporation office. The Nilgiris Panchayat Union Office accounted for Rs 6.85 lakh in unaccounted cash.

Suspicious GPay transactions included Rs 6.69 lakh at the BDO Office in Vanapuram, Kallakurichi, Rs 5.45 lakh at the Town Panchayat Office in Sethiyathope, Cuddalore, and Rs 3.80 lakh at the BDO Office in Kadayanallur, Tenkasi.

The DVAC said further action would be taken based on the findings of the surprise checks.

VIL Aviation Private Limited started the ‘VIL Heli Station’, a South India Helicopter Operations Base, at Nagarathiram Angalammal Arts & Science College (NAAS) near Madurai.

The helicopter service will cater to travel, tourism, business visits, corporate needs and medical emergencies. “We will charge Rs 1.60 lakh per hour, with up to five passengers able to travel in the helicopter,” said Mohammed RS Hameed, director, VIL Aviation.

Bookings have already commenced. “A passenger needs to book 45 minutes in advance to avail of the service,” he said. “We are starting with one helicopter. If we receive more bookings, we will bring our other helicopters for the service,” said Hameed.

The flying time from Madurai to Tiruchendur is 20 minutes, Rameswaram 30 minutes, Coimbatore 30 minutes and Chennai 1.10 hours.

There will be no waiting charge for passengers. “Suppose a family books a trip to Kodaikanal, which is a 30-minute journey from Madurai. We will drop them at the destination and wait there. We will not charge for the waiting time,” he clarified.

Karumuttu Hari Thiagarajan, managing director of Thiagarajar Mills, Madurai; and N Jegatheesan, secretary and correspondent of NAAS College spoke during the launch ceremony.

Jegatheesan expressed confidence that the helicopter service would promote tourism in southern Tamil Nadu. “At a time when Madurai Airport has got international status, it is awaiting more flights to be operated from here. In this context, operating a helicopter service will help tourism,” he said.

“Already, a family has booked a trip to Kodaikanal. VIL Aviation will also soon introduce Madurai city tourism at an affordable price,” he added.

Hari Thiagarajan said a repair and maintenance centre would be opened at the operational base in Madurai, which would later provide employment opportunities for youngsters pursuing aviation courses.

NAAS College has entered into an MoU with the company, and steps will soon be initiated to provide a VIP lounge, passenger waiting area, cafeteria and other facilities at the heli station.

“At all 600 operational locations, we have identified helicopter landing base facilities either at existing helicopter bases, private schools, or through arrangements with private hotels or landowners,” said the Hameed, adding that the company has a Non-Scheduled Operator permit.

Madurai is the company’s third operational location in Tamil Nadu after Chennai and Coimbatore, he said.

The business community hailed the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening helicopter connectivity and regional aerial mobility in southern Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, further heightening tension in the region, residents of Athipali in Gudalur said they spotted a tiger in their neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon.

The shutdown was called by political parties and various organisations following the recent deaths of two farmers in separate tiger attacks in the ‘O’ Valley area and surrounding parts of Gudalur.

Tensions escalated when unidentified persons allegedly hurled stones at tourist vehicles near the Iron Bridge on the Gudalur–Kozhikode Road. A 12-year-old girl from Kerala sustained a minor head injury in the incident and was administered first aid at a government hospital before returning to her hometown with her family.

The stone-pelting incident left several tourists alarmed, with members of the protesting groups reportedly stationed at various locations and urging tourists to turn back. The police have intensified security arrangements across Gudalur to prevent further such incidents.

Shops and commercial establishments remained closed from Thursday morning across Gudalur, Srimadurai, Masinagudi, Devarshola, Nellakotta, Nadukani, Devala, Pandalur, Cherambadi, Erumad, Uppatti, Pattavayal, and Thaloor.

Several busy areas wore a deserted look as autos, jeeps, tourist vehicles and goods carriers remained off the roads.

The disruption caused considerable inconvenience to tourists travelling through Gudalur, a key route connecting Kerala with the Nilgiris, and Ooty. Interstate bus services connecting Tamil Nadu with Kerala and Karnataka, however, continued to operate normally.

After chairing a high-level meeting on Thursday to take stock of the situation, Chief Minister Vijay deputed ministers Aadhav Arjuna, A Rajmohan, K Thennarasu, and Agriculture Minister R Vinoth to lead the high-level team to the flood-hit country to coordinate rescue and relief operations and ensure the safe return of Tamils.

The ministers left from Chennai by flight on Thursday (August 27) night.

An official statement said a total of 103 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu had undertaken the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in two groups.

While one group comprised 57 people - 54 from various districts of Tamil Nadu and three from Puducherry - the other group comprised 49 people, all from Chennai.

Soon after learning about Tamils missing in the disaster, the chief minister ordered the opening of helplines, and also initiated measures through the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Nepal, and officials at the Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to provide assistance to those affected.

To expedite rescue and relief operations, Vijay deputed a high-level team headed by Ashish Kumar, Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi, along with a team of officials, to Nepal. The team will coordinate with the Nepalese authorities on rescue and relief operations.

The team was instructed to take immediate steps for the safe repatriation of 20 Tamils rescued from the flash floods, identify the status of those who could not be contacted, expedite rescue operations, and provide medical assistance.

Besides them, Non-Resident Tamils Welfare and Rehabilitation Department Director R Satish will also camp at the Tamil Nadu House in Delhi.

The team of ministers and officials will monitor the rescue efforts, coordinate medical assistance and counselling through medical teams for Tamils rescued from Nepal and ensure their safe return to Tamil Nadu, the statement said.

After the DMK, AIADMK, CPM, CPI, Congress, and PMK raised the matter in the Assembly, Minister Rajmohan said the chief minister has already conducted a review meeting. “The State government has set up helpline numbers for needy people.

Within 24 hours of the helpline numbers being announced, 937 calls were received and assistance was provided," the minister said.

Later, speaking to reporters at Chennai airport while leaving, Raj Mohan said preliminary information indicated that around 103 people from Tamil Nadu could have travelled to Nepal. Of them, 26 had been rescued so far.

"Those who travelled in groups can be contacted easily. However, there are difficulties in reaching some who travelled in smaller groups or individually. Their families have also been contacting the government for information," he said.

The minister said the government had received information that those who could not be contacted were not facing any immediate threat to their lives.

More than 70 bridges and over 40 connecting roads have been damaged in the disaster-hit areas, making road rescue operations and transportation of rescued persons difficult. Rescue efforts have therefore been intensified through both road and air routes, he said.

The chief minister was being briefed on the situation every hour, Rajmohan said, adding that arrangements were being made to bring the stranded Tamils to Delhi and from there safely to Tamil Nadu.

The unions also urged the state government to ban bike taxis and develop a separate government app for auto services.

Auto meter fares have not been revised in the state for 13 years. The unions have held several protests seeking a fare revision.

In 2022, the Madras High Court directed the government to revise meter fares in line with rising prices and monitor them regularly, while ensuring that the revision did not affect the public or drivers.

As part of the latest move, a committee comprising two joint transport commissioners and two deputy transport commissioners held consultations with representatives of various auto drivers' unions at the Transport Commissioner's office in Guindy, Chennai, in two sessions on Thursday.

Representatives who attended included Tamil Nadu Auto Thozhilalar Sammelanam (CITU) state working president S Balasubramaniam, HMS Auto Workers' Union working president M Subramaniam Pillai and AIUTUC Auto Workers' Union state general secretary Mariappan.

Speaking after the meeting, Balasubramaniam said the unions had sought a fare of Rs 60 for the first 1.5 km and Rs 30 for every subsequent kilometre. They also sought a waiting charge of Re 1 per minute and a night-time fare of 1.5 times the normal rate.

"We have also urged the state government to develop a separate government app for auto services and ban bike taxis in Tamil Nadu. We have put forward these three demands and expect announcements on them to be included in the Transport Department's demands for grants," he said.

The Transport Department's demands for grants are scheduled to be taken up in the Assembly on Friday. However, the consultation was held only on Thursday and its report could take a day or two to be prepared.

It remains to be seen whether the auto unions' demands will be included in the demands for grants.

Normally, the chief minister occupies a separate and spacious chair close to the Speaker's Chair and the ministers are seated separately, next to him, as per their seniority, in the front row.

The facing row is occupied by the Leader of the Opposition and leaders of the Legislature parties based on their numerical strength in the 234-member House with their respective party members behind.

In the afternoon session, Vijay casually moved from his chair, located on the right side of Speaker J C D Prabhakar and sat between Ministers K A Sengottaiyan (also Leader of the House) and Aadhav Arjuna.

According to a source, in the past no chief minister sat on the seat meant for ministers.

Normally, the ministers or legislators change their positions for a brief while to speak with their colleagues. But this perhaps is the first time a chief minister has shifted from his official chair to have a word with his colleagues.

Earlier in the day, Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin pointed out that the department secretaries should be asked to be present in the House when important issues are raised in the House by the members.

"The Speaker mentioned that then chief minister spoke about the Karur (stampede) incident during the previous DMK regime. Then our leader and CM (M K Stalin) was present in the House and so were the chief secretary and department secretaries. Now, both the chief minister and department secretaries are not present in the House," Udhayanidhi said.

Responding, Aadhav Arjuna said the secretaries were present in the adjoining "war room" and taking notes from the members' speeches.

The Speaker concurred with Udhayanidhi and said the senior officials will be asked to be present in the House during Assembly sessions.

The CM had attended certain government events earlier in the day, and had turned up for the session later.

The experts said this was why talks between the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would not resolve the Cauvery water-sharing dispute and could instead work against Tamil Nadu's interests.

Retired senior Public Works Department engineer A Veerappan, hydrology expert S Janakarajan, State Platform for Common School System general secretary Prince Gajendrababu, advocate Vetriselvan of Poovulagin Nanbargal and Electricity Department Engineers' Association coordinator S Gandhi made the remarks at a press conference.

The federation said Karnataka's proposal to construct the Mekedatu dam, along with plans for a new dam at Rasimanal and to raise the height of the Mettur reservoir by 10 feet, were among the key issues concerning Tamil Nadu.

It said Karnataka was also spreading incorrect information that Tamil Nadu's consent was not required for the Mekedatu project. According to the experts, a Supreme Court judgment requires the consent of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala, among the Cauvery basin states, for constructing a new dam across the Cauvery.

They said Karnataka's detailed project report for the Mekedatu dam had been returned as it did not fulfil the required conditions.

The federation said more than 50 rounds of talks held between the two states in the 1990s had failed to resolve the Cauvery dispute.

"The Mekedatu dam cannot be constructed based on the Supreme Court judgment and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award, and we will not allow it to be constructed," the experts said.

They also said constructing dams at Rasimanal and Hogenakkal to store additional Cauvery water was not immediately feasible. Any new dam across the Cauvery would require approval from the Central Water Commission and Karnataka, which they said was unlikely in the present circumstances.

A new dam with a storage capacity of 10-15 TMC could take three years to construct and cost between Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 3,000 crore, they said.

As an alternative, the experts suggested filling more than 200 lakes and irrigation tanks in drought-prone areas on either side of the Cauvery basin through water-lifting projects.

They also said the proposed Godavari-Cauvery river-linking project was not feasible and urged the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw its decision to seek the constitution of a new tribunal, saying the move was unprecedented and would not benefit the state.

During the debate for demand for grants to his department, he told the House that in a major boost to female literacy, the government announced that it will fully cover undergraduate tuition fees for Muslim female students admitted under the government quota in government, government-aided, and self-financing institutions across arts, science, engineering, medicine, agriculture, and law courses, backed by an initial allocation of Rs 20 crore.

He said additionally, the existing Wakf Board scholarship for Muslim girls in Classes one to eight has been extended to cover Class nine and 10 students with an annual grant of Rs 2,000, benefiting 41,384 schoolgirls at an outlay of Rs 8.28 crore.

"To further promote higher education access in the capital, the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board will establish a new dedicated Minorities Women’s Arts and Science College in Chennai with a starting grant of Rs 2.45 crore", he said adding "the state will set up a Rs 100 crore revolving fund to offer interest-free loans aimed at developing income-generating assets—such as commercial complexes and marriage halls—on Muslim Wakf and Christian religious properties".

Noting that modern skill development training aligned with contemporary market demands will be provided to 10,000 minority youth over four years, through the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC), he said, "Training modules will cover Information Technology, Automobile, Apparel Designing, Beauty and Wellness, Embroidery, and Agriculture across all districts to promote self-employment and elevate family living standards".

According to a Daily Thanthi report, under the expanded scheme, women will be allowed to travel free of cost from October 2 on ordinary and deluxe buses operating within metropolitan and urban areas.

The benefit will also cover ordinary-fare buses operating between districts, including suburban and hilly routes.

Officials said 3,633 buses in Chennai and more than 9,000 buses in other districts would come under the scheme. The government is expected to issue detailed guidelines soon.

In metropolitan areas, digital signboards displaying ‘Vetri Payanam’ will be installed on buses covered by the free travel scheme, making them easily identifiable to passengers.

For buses operating in other districts, the signboards are expected to carry the words ‘Magalir Kattanam Illa Payanam’ (Women’s Free Travel).

Officials also said the government would take a final decision on whether the buses covered under the scheme should be painted in a distinctive colour. The proposed identification measures are aimed at helping women easily recognise buses eligible for free travel.

Late PS Gowrisankar Raja, headmaster of Eluvapalli Panchayat Union Primary School, was selected for the award in recognition of his exceptional courage and sacrifice.

On March 5, 2025, during the lunch break, Class III student Nithin accidentally slipped into a farm pond located near the school. On seeing the boy struggling in the water, Gowrisankar Raja attempted to rescue him.

However, despite his efforts, both the eight-year-old boy and the headmaster died in the incident.

The Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Award is given by the Centre for acts of exceptional bravery in saving lives. Nominations are received from State governments every year, following which the awardees are selected and announced by the President.

At the Secretariat on Thursday, Chief Minister Vijay presented the award medal and certificate to K.Sirisha, wife of the deceased headmaster.

The award was presented in recognition of Gowrisankar Raja’s bravery, courage and supreme sacrifice while attempting to save the schoolboy.

The Tamil Nadu government said that 103 people from Tamil Nadu had travelled to Nepal for the Kailash Yatra.

49-member group from Tamil Nadu

The group, comprising 22 men and 27 women, left for the pilgrimage on August 14 through Mahadev Kailash Yatra, a spiritual tourism and travel company based in Radhanagar, Chromepet, Chennai.

The pilgrims were from several parts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai's Chromepet, Perambur, Alwarpet, Singaperumal Koil, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Theni, Namakkal, Erode, Karur, Tiruchy, Salem and Coimbatore.

The group reportedly travelled from Chennai airport to Nepal via Delhi on August 14. They were scheduled to complete the pilgrimage and return to Chennai on Thursday, August 27.

Flash flood near Nepal border

After completing their pilgrimage, the group was reportedly travelling towards the Nepal border through the China border route. They were said to be undergoing immigration formalities at an immigration office when a sudden flash flood reportedly swept through the area and completely damaged the building.

Following the incident, communication with the 49 pilgrims was reportedly lost. Their families have been unable to ascertain their whereabouts or condition.

Seven members of the group are from Chromepet: Sathya Narayanan, Vikraman, Manjula, Velavendhan, Rajalakshmi, Amudha and Kishore. Sathya Narayanan, the son of the travel company's owner, was reportedly leading the group.

Six Kancheepuram pilgrims untraceable

The six pilgrims from Kancheepuram have been identified as Meenakshi, Latha Bhanumathi, Saraswathi, Chandran, Gopal and Arunachalam.

Meenakshi and Chandran reportedly spoke to their families in Kancheepuram around 6 am on Wednesday, saying that they were travelling towards Nepal. However, no further communication has been received from them after reports of the flash flood.

With the pilgrims expected to return to Chennai on Thursday, their families are now deeply worried after being unable to contact them for more than 24 hours. They have urged the Centre and Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps to trace and rescue the 49-member group.

The families of the six Kancheepuram pilgrims have also submitted petitions to District Collector Sneha, seeking urgent intervention to locate their relatives and ensure their safety.

Sugar prices have increased from around Rs 50 per kg last month to Rs 75, citing supply shortage and increased consumption.

Halwa prices may rise further

A popular sweet shop in Tirunelveli Junction has raised the price of halwa by Rs 20, from Rs 320 to Rs 340 per kg. Prices of other sweets, mixtures and savoury items have also been increased by Rs 20, while chips now cost Rs 380 per kg.

Other popular halwa shops are already selling the sweet at Rs 340 per kg, while the famous Iruttukadai halwa in Tirunelveli Town is priced at Rs 440 per kg. Shop owners said they are considering another hike of up to Rs 40 per kg and are likely to announce the revised prices within a day or two.

Sugar continued its upward march, rising by about Re 1 per kg to nearly Rs 64 on Tuesday in the retail market as recent government measures to curtail the surge take effect.

As per the data compiled by the Department of Consumer Affairs (Price Monitoring Division), the all-India average rate of sugar stood at Rs 63.97 per kg on August 25, a 31 per cent increase from Rs 48.81 per kg a month back.

The average rate is 38 per cent higher than the year-ago level, when sugar was available at Rs 46.31 per kg.

The data showed that the maximum selling price on Monday was Rs 76 per kg, while the modal rate was Rs 65 per kg.

The government and sugar industry bodies said ex-mill rates have fallen in the past few days. However, the impact is yet to be seen at the retail level.

The announcement followed a demand raised by AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami during Question Hour on Thursday. He asked the Minister whether the government would implement the Tambaram–Chengalpattu elevated corridor project, which had been proposed during the AIADMK regime.

Replying to him, Minister Aadhav said the government had already announced an eight-lane road project from Chennai to Kanniyakumari.

Explaining the traffic congestion in the suburban areas surrounding Chennai, he said travel time from Chengalpattu to Chennai Airport had increased to nearly three hours due to heavy traffic.

"The same situation is being witnessed while travelling from Tiruvallur through Poonamallee. The elevated corridor between Tambaram and Chengalpattu will be implemented after detailed discussions with the Union government. A meeting with the Union government is scheduled for next month," he assured.

The festival is observed on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Avani. On the day of the Avittam star, people who have traditionally undergone Upanayanam and Gayatri Upadesam, including members of Brahmin, Viswakarma and Chettiar communities, take part in the ritual.

As part of the ceremony, devotees remove their old sacred threads and wear new ones. The ritual is traditionally performed near rivers or other water bodies.

In Tiruchy, members of different Hindu communities gathered at the Cauvery riverbank, a private marriage hall in Srirangam and gurukuls for the ceremony. They performed tarpanam for the Devas and Rishis, offered prayers and chanted Gayatri mantras.

According to tradition, unmarried men wear one sacred thread, while married men wear two. Married men whose fathers have passed away wear three sacred threads.

The day is also considered important for the study of the Vedas. Many devotees visited teachers and scholars to begin or continue learning Vedic recitations and scriptures.

On this day, devotees perform Rishi Tharpanam to honour the ancient sages and express their gratitude for the Vedic knowledge they passed down through generations. The ritual of chanting mantras and replacing the old sacred thread with a new one is traditionally believed to bring strength and dignity to Brahmins.

Devotees also recite the Gayatri Mantra, a sacred hymn dedicated to Savitr, the Sun deity mentioned in the Rig Veda. Chanting it 1,008 times is believed to cleanse one of accumulated sins and bring purity and peace to the mind.

Among those affected is Shivaranjini, a tourist from Tamil Nadu travelling as part of a group, who remains stranded in Nepal. Her husband, Muthunathan, expressed hope that the central Government would ensure her safe rescue.

Speaking to ANI, Muthunathan said his wife told him that the group was nearing the Tibet border on August 26 around 9 am when they heard a loud sound.

"She said that while they were nearing the Tibet border on August 26 around 9 am, they heard a loud sound. Immediately, they got off the bus, and they were taken to a nearby military camp," he said.

He added that he received word the following day that she was safe, but that the group is now seeking further assistance, showcasing the communication between them through phones.

"Yesterday, I got the message that she was safe. Her group has also sent a message to the TN Secretariat for help to be airlifted. Communication is suffering due to no network. Hopefully, the central government and state government will help with a safe rescue of all the people," Muthunathan said.

Several people from Kumbakonam are also stranded in flood-ravaged Nepal. Kumbakonam Tehsildar, Poongodi, said, "57 people from here have travelled to Nepal. Of them, 20 are safe, while there is no information yet about the remaining people.

The District Collector is continuously monitoring the situation and is in contact with the concerned authorities through the External Affairs Ministry" Sumati, a local, said, "My elder brother Ramesh travelled to Nepal a few days ago. We came to the travel agent to inquire whether he had been caught in the floods. They told us that 21 people were safe and showed us the list. However, my brother's name was not on the list. We have been trying to call my brother since yesterday, but we have been unable to contact him."

A Kumbakonam-based travel agency in Thanjavur district which had arranged a tour to Nepal said, "We had sent a group of 57 people to Nepal on the 24th. We have confirmed that 20 of them are safe, but we currently have no information about the remaining 37 members. We have also been in contact with the tourism office in Nepal, and they have assured us that they will provide an update on their status as soon as more information is available." A devastating mid-morning flash flood triggered by an avalanche on the Lhende tributary wreaked havoc across three districts in Nepal on Wednesday, leaving at least 165 people dead and scores missing.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board's preliminary data, a total of 579 travellers (466 foreigners and 113 Nepalis) are missing from the affected area, Nepal's disaster management authority informs. Meanwhile, the state government has activated emergency helplines for those looking for assistance and to contact their families if they are stranded.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's office stated that reports are emerging that many Indians, including Tamils, have gone missing in the flash floods. Outlining the steps taken to ensure swift rescue on X, it said, "I have directed the senior officials of the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi to take all necessary actions to swiftly rescue those from Tamil Nadu who have gone missing in this disaster and to provide the required assistance to those affected." Emergency helplines have also been set up with a toll-free number: 1800 309 3793 in India, and for those abroad, they can give a missed call on +91 80 6900 9900. For Tamil Nadu House, New Delhi (Control Room), people can dial 9289516712.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, he said a decision taken by the Chief Secretary, the highest-ranking official in the government administration, could not be treated as the action of an individual official and demanded that the Chief Minister explain the government's position. He also asked to revoke the decision made at the Chief Secretary's meeting and to withdraw the controversial circular entirely.

He criticised the government's response to demands for action against senior officials, saying it was unacceptable to claim that an explanation had been sought from a Joint Director who had forwarded the decision to colleges while no action had been taken against those responsible for the original decision.

Referring to the apology tendered by the Higher Education Minister in the Assembly, Shanmugam said the CPM had not sought an apology. “We have demanded action against those responsible for the wrongdoing and continue to demand the same,” he said, alleging that the government had failed to provide a responsible response.

Shanmugam alleged that a circular issued following a meeting attended by the Chief Secretary and senior officials directed the School Education Department, Higher Education Department, police and district administration to coordinate efforts to prevent students and youth from participating in protests by Left organisations and the Cockroach Janatha Katchi.

He said the directive had been classified as a “high-priority” and “urgent” matter, with action-taken reports sought from the departments. Describing the move as “completely illegal” and unconstitutional, Shanmugam alleged that the government had deliberately targeted Left organisations.

Shanmugam said the right to protest was not limited to Left organisations and alleged that deploying multiple departments to suppress such protests was unconstitutional. He also objected to the police's involvement in educational institutions, arguing that it prevented students from exercising their right to protest.

Shanmugam also accused the government of taking a lenient approach towards the Gujiliamparai tehsildar, who had directed village administrative officers to collect details of CPM and CPI members in the taluk.

He termed the move an act of intimidation, unconstitutional and an abuse of official authority. Although the issue was brought to the government's attention, the district administration initially said the tehsildar would be transferred after completing his training. Subsequently, an explanation was sought from him under Rule 17A of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants' Conduct Rules.

Shanmugam said the action suggested that the government was treating what he described as a serious misuse of official power as a minor disciplinary issue.

He also criticised Law Minister R Nirmalkumar's statement that the tehsildar's circular had no connection with the government and had been issued based on his personal likes and dislikes. Shanmugam said that if a government official had misused his position for personal reasons, it would amount to a serious offence and warrant appropriate action.

He alleged that seeking an explanation under Rule 17A, rather than taking stringent action, appeared to be an attempt to protect the official rather than to hold him accountable.

Shanmugam reiterated his demand for action against the Chief Secretary, the Gujiliamparai tehsildar, and all other officials responsible, as well as the revocation of the decision taken at the Chief Secretary's meeting and the complete withdrawal of the circular.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, new power connection without field inspection is possible only if the GPS location details provided by applicants are successfully verified.

What will the new procedure of electricity connection be?

Under the new procedure, applicants will have to provide the GPS location code of the place where the connection is sought along with the required documents while applying online. Submission of hard copies of documents will not be compulsory.

How will electricity connection applications be processed without field surveys?

The GPS details provided by applicants will be verified through a Geographic Information System (GIS) application. If the information is found to be correct, the application will be forwarded to the next stage without a field survey.

If the GPS verification fails, the regular field inspection procedure will be followed.

What happens after GPS verification?

After verification, the actual GPS location where the meter is to be installed will be recorded and checked during the assessment and provision of the electricity connection. The meter details will then be recorded before the connection is provided.

How will applicants receive updates?

The status of the application and any changes will be communicated to applicants through SMS or email notification.

On Monday evening, a patrol team found Madesh (41), Rangan (41), Sadayappan (31), and Kari (68) walking along the forest road with a gunny bag in Guthiyalathur forest area within Kadambur Forest Range.

They stopped the men and checked the bag, in which they found chopped pieces of deer meat and some poaching materials. When questioned, they allegedly admitted to killing a deer.