Fourteen men of a mechanised fishing vessel from Tamil Nadu had a providential escape when a speeding Liberian flagged crude oil tanker rammed into it, about 60 nautical miles off the coast of Colachel in Kanyakumari district, extensively damaging the Indian vessel, reported PTI. Police on Tuesday said the crew of the deep sea fishing craft named Sea Queen, which lay anchored away from the Colachel harbour, was completely taken aback when the huge tanker hit and cruised without stopping.
in view of 'Kaanum Pongal' celebrations in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, the Chennai Police has deployed more than 15,000 personnel to facilitate crowd and maintain law and order in the city. Security has been beefed up in major public places like the Marina Beach, Besant Nagar, Elliots Beach, and Guindy National Park. According to Greater Chennai Police, 11 temporary Police helpline booths have been installed in beaches.
In other news, two men died during the Jallikattu events organised in Tamil Nadu as part of Pongal celebrations. The deceased has been identified as Aravind Raj, who had tamed nine bulls in three rounds. He was tossed by a bull and suffered grave injuries. He was rushed to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai where the doctors declared him dead on arrival. Meanwhile in a Jallikattu event in Trichy, a spectator died after being gored by a bull. CM M K Stalin condoled the deaths and announced a solatium of Rs 3 lakh to the families of the deceased.In other news, two men died during the Jallikattu events organised in Tamil Nadu as part of Pongal celebrations. The deceased has been identified as Aravind Raj, who had tamed nine bulls in three rounds. He was tossed by a bull and suffered grave injuries. He was rushed to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai where the doctors declared him dead on arrival. Meanwhile in a Jallikattu event in Trichy, a spectator died after being gored by a bull. CM M K Stalin condoled the deaths and announced a solatium of Rs 3 lakh to the families of the deceased.
A thick layer of smog covered Chennai City on Saturday morning following Bhogi celebrations across the city. With air quality in the city at 'moderate' levels, the Tamil Nadu pollution control board warned people with asthma and lung conditions to take adequate precautions. Ahead of Pongal, Bhogi is celebrated across the state by setting up bonfires in front of homes.
Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan said, “One should not mistake me being part of the yatra to leaning towards a “party” as I did that for a “united India.” Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival, Kamal Haasan said that he would have walked the streets of the national capital during the Emergency as well if he had that much sense of politics in the 1970s. “I came into politics because I am angry. I thought I must come into politics, I must have my effect on politics before it has its ill-effects on me,” he stated.
A day after DMK leader Shivaji Krishnamoorthy sparked a controversy over abusive statements against Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, the party suspended him on Saturday, news agency ANI reported. On Friday, Krishnamoorthy had said, “If the Governor refuses to utter the name of Ambedkar in his Assembly speech, don’t I have the right to assault him? If you (governor) don’t read out the speech given by the Tamil Nadu government, then go to Kashmir, and we’ll send terrorists so that they’ll gun you down”.
Tamil Nadu transport department to operate over 16,000 buses for Pongal
The Tamil Nadu transport department will operate 16,932 buses from January 12 to 14 and 15,619 buses from January 16 to 18 in view of the Pongal festival on January 15. Of these, 10,749 buses (including 2,100 regular buses operated daily) are set to be operated from Chennai and 6,183 between various destinations in the state for three days from January 12.
The buses will be operated from Madhavaram new bus stand, KK Nagar bus stand, Tambaram – railway station bus stand and MEPZ Sanatorium, Poonamalle bus stand and Dr MGR Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT). The government will run special link buses on the above days for commuters to reach the bus stands.
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As many as 12 pre-booking centres are set up across the CMBT, Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) and Poonamalle. People can also book their tickets online by visiting the TNSTC website or using their app.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said Tuesday that 708 urban clinics similar to Delhi’s “mohalla clinics” would be set up in the state by February-end.
Subramanian recalled M K Stalin’s visit to Delhi in April 2022 and said the chief minister had witnessed how the clinics, staffed by a doctor, nurse and a pharmacist, were functioning effectively and wanted to replicate them in the southern state. Read More
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A 51-year-old man working at a temple in Mela Seval in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district has been killed allegedly by men whom he scolded for drinking on the temple’s premises, police said.
The Munnerpallam police on Monday arrested seven men aged 18-24, who belonged to a caste different from that of Krishnan alias Kittu Saamy, whose body was found with several injuries on the temple’s premises on January 15. Read More
According to a press release by CMRL, the metro services in the city has witnessed a gradual increase in its passenger flow since January 2022. A maximum of 2,66,464 passengers have travelled in Chennai Metro Trains on a single day (13.01.2023) during Pongal festival holidays.
Out of this, 21,731 passengers used the Purathchi Thalaivar Dr MG Ramachandran Central Metro, 14,649 passengers used the Guindy Metro, 13,607 passengers used the Tirumangalam Metro, and 12,909 passengers used the Airport Metro Stations to commute.
Marxist revolutionary leader Che Guevara’s daughter Aleida Guevara, a human rights advocate, reached Chennai on Tuesday to a rousing reception. Aleida, who landed in Chennai along with her daughter Estefania, was welcomed by Tamil Nadu CPI (M) state secretary K Balakrishnan and other leaders.
Balakrishnan took to Twitter and shared a picture of Aleida and her daughter taking part in a meeting at the Tamil Nadu State Committee Office. Read more.
Tejasvi Surya, national president of the BJP Yuva Morcha and the party’s MP from Bengaluru South, allegedly opened the emergency exit door of an IndiGo aircraft before takeoff, at the Chennai airport on December 10 last year.
The airline released a statement on Tuesday, over a month after the incident, following some media reports on it. While the reports named Surya, IndiGo, however, did not name anyone in its statement.
“A passenger travelling on Flight 6E 7339 from Chennai to Tiruchirapalli on Dec 10, 2022, accidentally opened the emergency exit during the boarding process. The passenger immediately apologised for the action. As per SOPs, the incident was logged and the aircraft underwent mandatory engineering checks, which led to a delay in the flight’s departure,” the airline said. Read more.
Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji on Tuesday took a potshot at Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai and MP Tejasvi Surya indirectly in the wake of the recent controversy where the latter had allegedly opened the emergency exit door of an IndiGo aircraft before takeoff, at the Chennai airport.
Minister Balaji said earlier he raised a question about two over-enthusiastic individuals who played with air craft's Emergency door and now DGCA has ordered a probe. Taking a dig at Annamalai without naming him, Balaji asked whether Annamalai , who earlier bluffed saying that he wears a foreign watch because he is a nationalist, will again say he opened the door to breathe the free air.
Aleida Guevara, daughter of Cuban revolutionary Ernesto 'Che' Guevara arrived here on a two-day visit on Tuesday to attend events organised by the state unit of the CPI(M). She was accorded a warm welcome at the airport by CPI(M) state secretary G Balakrishnan and senior leader G Ramakrishnan among others.
According to the CPI(M), Aleida, who arrived here from Thiruvananthapuram, is likely to attend a party meeting on Tuesday and will participate in a public reception on Wednesday. The public event will be attended by, among others DMK MP Kanimozhi and VCK founder and Lok Sabha member Thol Thirumavalavan. Aleida's daughter Estefania Guevara will also be felicitated at the event. PTI
Fourteen men of a mechanised fishing vessel from Tamil Nadu had a providential escape when a speeding Liberian flagged crude oil tanker rammed into it, about 60 nautical miles off the coast of Colachel in Kanyakumari district, extensively damaging the Indian vessel.
Police on Tuesday said the crew of the deep sea fishing craft named Sea Queen, which lay anchored away from the Colachel harbour, was completely taken aback when the huge tanker hit and cruised without stopping. (PTI)
The growing distrust between the government of Tamil Nadu and its governor found its way from the Assembly to Twitter last week when #GetOutRavi trended. Representatives of the DMK subsequently met the President of India to submit a memorandum on the issue as well.
For his part, Governor R N Ravi, first, stirred up sentiments by speaking about the name of the state and then went on to omit portions of the Governor’s Address to the legislative assembly. Read More
As part of its initiative to make the city garbage-free, the Greater Chennai Corporation has come up with several measures to clear the waste that gets dumped on beaches during the Pongal holidays.
Large crowds are expected in the Marina, Elliots, Palavakkam, Neelankarai and Akkarai beach areas on Tuesday and Wednesday. Read More
Amid the large gathering of cadres at AIADMK’s headquarters ‘MGR Maligai’, Palaniswami, former ministers and MLAs paid floral tributes and cut a giant cake to mark the birth anniversary of their leader, known as Puratchi Thalaivar MGR.
In a statement, Palaniswami (EPS) said he was overjoyed at the gesture of the cadres who are celebrating MGR’s birthday through various welfare activities. He said the party would continue to follow the path laid down by their leaders Puratchithalaivar and Amma (J Jayalalithaa) and work hard to bring AIADMK to power again. Read More
Marina Beach in Chennai begins to see a huge influx of people to celebrate Kaanum Pongal. Fire and rescue service personnel were deployed along the shore and barricades have been raised on the beach to stop the public from reaching the shore.
The Chennai police had beefed up security across the city and the traffic wing has announced traffic diversions in the city to avoid congestion on the beach road.
• Zoo is open for visitors on Kannum Pongal 17.01.2023 (Tuesday).
• Zoo has extended timing from 8.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M.
• Visitors can observe the feeding of herbivore animals such as Indian Gaur, Rhinoceroes, Black Buck, Sambar Deer, Hog Deer, Spotted Deer, Swamp Deer, Nilgai, and others from 11.00 a.m. onwards
• Two Elephant shower show is schedule at 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm and 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm
• Documentary and short films portraying about zoo activities and zoo animals is screened in large LED monitored at two points.
• A photo booth was setup to take a memorable photograph with family & friends.
• Nine medical help desks are setup with five ambulance ready at the spot
to address any medical emergency need.
• Three number of watch towers were setup to control to crowd of visitors.
• The 8 exhibits connecting through narrow pathways and closed exhibits
are closed.
• A uniformed staff is deployed near all the enclosures and at various
points of the zoo.
• Information and Navigation boards are set up at various locations for the
convenience of visitors.
A day after 26 people were injured and one died during the 'Jallikattu' in Palmedu village, Madurai District Collector Aneesh Sekhar has said that extra measures have been taken for the safe conduct of the annual bull-taming sport.
'The administration has decided to take extra measures for the safe conduct of the Jallikattu. The display area has been made different from the play area to reduce the risk of injuries,' Sekhar told ANI. A bull tamer, who was critically injured during a Jallikattu event at Palamedu in Madurai, died at Madurai's Rajaji Government Hospital on Monday. Only 300 bull tamers and 150 spectators were allowed in the Palamedu Jallikattu competition.
In view of ‘Kaanum Pongal’ celebrations in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, the Chennai Police has deployed more than 15,000 personnel to manage crowds and maintain law and order in the city, reported ANI. Security has been beefed up in major public places like the Marina Beach, Besant Nagar, Elliots Beach, and Guindy National Park.
According to Greater Chennai Police, 11 temporary Police helpline booths have been installed in beaches. Two temporary mini-control rooms have been set up near Uzlaipalar Statue and Gandhi Statue. Seven ambulances and two fire engines have been kept on standby as precautionary measures. Read more.
Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin flags off 'Jallikattu' event in Madurai's Alanganallur. Before letting out the first bull through the Vadivasal, Udhayanidhi Stalin administered an oath to the bull tamers that the culture and tradition of the state will be safeguarded, none will hurt the bull, and follow all guidelines prescribed by the government. The minister then offered prayers to the bull and flagged off the event.
Tamil Nadu Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Tuesday flagged off the Reckla Race in Kadiyapatti, Sivaganga district. Sharing a video of the same, the MP said: Immense pleasure in starting the Rekla Race in Kadiyapatti, which is within my parliamentary constituency.Immense pleasure in starting the Rekla Race in Kadiyapatti, which is within my parliamentary constituency.
Observing the 106th birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK founder Dr MGR, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, along with other DMK cabinet ministers and officials, will garland his statue at Dr MGR Medical University campus in Guindy at 09:30 am today.
The state’s main opposition party AIADMK has also planned several events to celebrate MGR's birth anniversary.