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Chennai Hyderabad June 2, 3 Highlights: TN reports 25,317 fresh cases, 483 deaths; Active cases in Telangana over 33,000

Chennai, Hyderabad Coronavirus (Covid-19) Latest News June 2, 3 Highlights: As of Wednesday, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 2,88,702.

Hyderabad: A COVID-19 patient on oxygen support waits in an ambulance outside the District Hospital Koti, in Hyderabad (PTI)

Chennai, Hyderabad Coronavirus News June 2, 3 Highlights: Tamil Nadu recorded 25,317 positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the state tally to 21,48,346. Among these, Chennai reported 2217 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,09,234. The state recorded 483 deaths on Wednesday, putting the state toll at 25,205. 368 of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 32,263 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 18,34,439.

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Live Blog

Catch the latest news in Chennai and Hyderabad as we bring you live updates on COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 and lockdown across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and more through the day. Also read Karnataka Bengaluru news

14:54 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Chennai gangster fires at cops, tries to jump off bridge before getting arrested

In a movie-like scene, the Chennai Police arrested notorious gangster Manikandan aka C D Mani who attempted to jump off a bridge after firing at the cops on Wednesday.

Manikandan, a history-sheeter with about 32 criminal cases against him including murder and extortion, had been absconding for several years. He indulged in criminal activities at Kotturpuram, Teyanmpet, Koyambedu, Saidapet in the city. The police had been trailing Manikandan and searching places he frequented.

On Wednesday afternoon, based on a tip-off, sub-inspector Balakrishnan Kanakaraj intercepted a car at Porur bridge and asked the passenger to lower the glass window. Suddenly, Manikandan opened fire from inside the car injuring Balakrishnan on his left shoulder.

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14:30 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Over 20.33 lakh people vaccinated in Chennai till date

A total of 20,33,917 people have been vaccinated in Chennai till date, with 4866 people inoculated on Wedneday alone, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).

13:52 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Fuel prices in Chennai and Hyderabad today

Prices of petrol and diesel remained unchanged across the country for the second consecutive day on Thursday, June 3, 2021. The key fuel prices had touched record highs on June 1, when petrol rose by 26 paise per litre while diesel inched up 23 paise in the national capital.

In Chennai, petrol is priced at Rs. 95.99 per litre and diesel is priced at Rs. 90.12 per litre.

In Hyderabad, petrol is priced at Rs. 98.20 per litre while diesel costs Rs. 93.08 per litre.

12:31 (IST)03 Jun 2021
M K Stalin pays tribute to Kalaignar on 97th birth anniversary

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin paid tribute to his father and former Dravidian leader M Karunanidhi on his 97th birth anniversary today.

12:08 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Wanted in MCOCA case, Suraj Thombre arrested from Hyderabad by Pune Police

Pune City Police have arrested gangster Suraj Ashok Thombre, who was wanted on Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) charges in a case lodged at the Samarth police station. Thombre is known to be a rival of the Andekar gang led by gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar, who was also booked under MCOCA by Pune City Police.

Police said Thombre and his close aide Somnath Sayaji Gaikwad were earlier working with the Andekar gang. But they parted ways in 2018 and formed their own gangs, and the two have clashed with each other multiple times.

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11:33 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Hyderabad: Halo around sun brings excitement, superstitions to light

A colorful big halo around the sun on Wednesday afternoon mesmerised many in Hyderabad. Photos and videos of the halo soon flooded social media platforms, with many sharing their opinions and some drawing comparisons to a similar sight from Bengaluru recently.

As the unique spectacle coincided with Telangana’s eighth state formation day celebration on June 2, many considered it a ‘blessing’. At the same time, much misinformation and misconceptions were also shared. Some called it a bad omen ahead of a catastrophe, while some linked it to the upcoming solar eclipse.

Raghunandan Kumar, the founder secretary and director at Planetary Society of India, clarified that the halo was a local weather event. He said a similar weather phenomenon had been observed in Yadadri district a few days ago. On Wednesday, he said the ’22-degree halo’ lasted for an hour-and-a-half, and was observed from Hyderabad and surrounding districts.

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11:00 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Puducherry: NR Congress, BJP reach deal for Cabinet

A month after poll results were announced, Puducherry might finally have a new Cabinet by June 7, with leaders of the ruling NR Congress-BJP alliance indicating a deal had been reached in talks.

Puducherry BJP chief V Saminathan said a consensus had been reached, and that the party had demanded the post of Speaker and some ministerial posts. “An announcement will be made on Thursday,” he said.

The BJP was earlier insisting on at least three important posts, including of Deputy CM, Speaker and at least one minister. The NR Congress led by Chief Minister N Rangasamy felt this excessive given that the Union territory’s Lt Governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan, is the BJP’s former Tamil Nadu chief.

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10:44 (IST)03 Jun 2021
TNAU employees donate Rs 2 crore to CMPRF

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has donated Rs 2 crore as a contribution from the employees, to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.

TNAU Vice-chancellor Dr N Kumar handed over the cheque for the amount, which was voluntary contribution of employees' two-day salary, to Chief Minister M K Stalin recently to support the government's efforts in fighting the Covid pandemic, a TNAU release said on Wednesday. (PTI)

10:30 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana crack down on hospitals overcharging Covid patients

After receiving hundreds of complaints, the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments have started to crack down on private hospitals overcharging Covid-19 patients in the name of “procedure charges”.

Both states have issued notices to over 100 hospitals each, with the Telangana government cancelling the permit to treat Covid-19 patients of 22 hospitals in Hyderabad, including the Secunderabad branch of KIMS, Virinchi and Century Hospitals at Banjara Hills and Max Health at Kukatpally.

Telangana Director of Public Health G Srinivasa Rao said that 174 complaints were received against 113 hospitals and that showcause notices were issued to 105 hospitals. “These complaints were about overcharging for providing certain facilities, irrelevant charges, and excess charging on certain items. In some cases, the treatment was mismanaged or proper attention was not given to the patient,” Rao said.

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10:27 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Ola launches free door delivery of oxygen to COVID patients in Chennai

Ola Foundation, the CSR arm of the ride hailing platform Ola, would provide free oxygen concentrators to COVID-19 patients under home quarantine in Chennai through its mobile application, the company said on Wednesday.

The company with initial supply of 500 oxygen concentrators has rolled out the "O2forIndia" programme to serve patients free of charge by offering door delivery of oxygen concentrators and pick-up, a release said. The concentrators would be scaled up as per need, with about 10,000 such available across the country.

Ola Foundation has partnered with GiveIndia for the launch of the 'O2forIndia' initiative, it said. To avail the service, patients who are under home quarantine, can place requests for oxygen concentrators through Ola mobile application by providing a few basic details.

"After submitting the necessary details, Ola will arrange for free home delivery of the oxygen concentrator by specially trained personnel through cabs", the statement said. After the patient gets better and no longer requires oxygen support, Ola would arrange for the oxygen concentrator to be picked up and thereafter to be 'sterilised' and ready for use by another patient, it said.

The 'O2forIndia' initiative was launched in the presence of Greater Chennai City Corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi in Chennai. (PTI)

10:10 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Frontload TN’s June vaccine supplies from first week itself, Stalin tells Centre

The Tamil Nadu government has urged the Centre to ‘frontload’ its June vaccine supplies from the first week itself, saying it has “almost exhausted” the doses and the vaccination programme in the state was coming to a “grinding halt.”

Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, also reiterating Tamil Nadu’s earlier demand to operationalise the Integrated Vaccine Complex (IVC) at Chengalpattu near here.

“Also, given the fact that we have almost exhausted the vaccines supplied to us and the vaccination programme has come to a grinding halt, I request you to prioritise Tamil Nadu and frontload the June month’s supplies from the first week itself,” Stalin told Vardhan.

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09:54 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Ex-minister facing charges of sexual assault seeks advance bail

Former AIADMK minister Dr M Manikandan, fearing arrest in a sexual harassment case, moved the Madras High Court on Wednesday seeking anticipatory bail. Following a complaint from a woman, a case against him was registered by the police for offences, including cheating and rape.

Denying the charges, Manikandan submitted that the complainant was very well aware that he is a married man and claimed she was in a consensual relationship with him.

Hence, the consent was an active one as she was aware of the consequences of the alleged relationship. Hence, the offences under sections dealing with rape and cheating cannot be sustained.She has been threatening him to extort money with  a few persons and there was no material prima facie to make out a case under this section, the petitioner claimed.

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09:45 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Youth carrying bundles of cash worth Rs 28 lakh caught at Chennai Central railway station

A 21-year-old youth was arrested by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Chennai Central station on Tuesday morning for carrying bundles of currency notes worth Rs 28 lakh without any valid proof. He was handed over to the income tax officials for further questioning.

At around 5:30 am on Tuesday, an express train from Andhra Pradesh reached platform 3. The police found a person leaving the train without any baggage. RPF sub-inspector Akansha Singh and constable Manoj questioned the man. His contradictory responses raised the police’s suspicion and he was brought to higher officials for interrogation.

Speaking to Indianexpress.com, Sivanesan, the railway police inspector, Chennai Central, said the man had a towel tied to his abdomen like a belt and when he removed it, they found seven bundles of Rs 2000 currency notes.

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09:42 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Telangana to conduct digital survey of lands in state

Telangana Govt has decided to conduct Digital Survey of agriculture lands in the state. Initially, a pilot digital survey will be held in 27 select villages across state from 11th of this month. The idea is to free the state from land disputes & provide permanent security to land holders.

"With an aim to make Telangana state, a land disputes-free state, the state government is conducting the digital survey of the agriculture lands. The government’s aim is to conduct digital survey of agriculture lands in the state, fix the coordinates and there by provide total security and protection to the pattadars on a permanent basis," Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said, according to a release from the CMO.

In this regard,  a review meeting was chaired by the CM on Wednesday. The CM said that initially, the pilot survey should be done in the villages where there are no land disputes. Later, in the villages where there are govt lands and forest department lands. After this, the CM wanted total guidelines on the Digital Survey should be prepared for the total survey in the state. He wanted the survey of the agriculture lands should be taken up first and later the urban lands, the CMO statement said. 

He reiterated that the entire responsibility of the survey rests with the agencies. While the District Collectors, MLAs and MPs and other public representatives would be available to cooperate with the survey.

09:40 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Cyclone Tauktae: Stalin announces Rs 20L each to kin of 21 missing fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced a relief of Rs 20 lakh each to the kin of 21 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who went missing during cyclone Tauktae last month, the state government said on Wednesday.

Separately, the Coast Guard and other agencies were involved in search operations to locate the missing fishermen after Stalin took it up with the Centre, an official release in Chennai said.

As many as nine fishermen who set sail from Nagapattinam have gone missing after their boat capsized near Lakshadweep while 12 others from Kanyakumari also are missing. The latter were part of a fishing team that set sail from Beypore in Kerala, the release said, adding the 21 missing persons could not be traced even after over 15 days of search operations.

"Therefore, considering the humble background of the 21 fishermen's families, Chief Minister Stalin has directed a relief of Rs 20 lakh each to their kin," it said. (PTI)

09:39 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Telangana to launch facility for vaccinating students travelling abroad

Director of Public Health, Government of Telangana, on Wednesday informed that a separate facility for vaccination of students going abroad for higher education is proposed to be launched by government in Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM), Narayanguda, Hyderabad. 

This was one of the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on May 30.

An online slot booking system for the convenience of these students is being developed and will be rolled out on 04.06.2021. Link for this facility will be made available at https://www.health.telangana.gov.in Vaccination will commence and slots will be available from 05.06.2021, he informed.

09:36 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Relatives made to identify body of Covid patient in morgue, Tamil Nadu hospital orders action

A hospital in Tamil Nadu has ordered action after family members of a man, who succumbed to Covid, were made to enter the mortuary and identify his body. When the relatives entered the morgue, they reportedly found many bodies of Covid victims had not been disposed but kept there.

The incident took place at the Theni Government Medical College and Hospital in the state.

On Saturday, the man, 47, belonging to Periyakulam in Theni had complaints of breathlessness. On admission to the hospital, it was found he was Covid-19 positive but succumbed to the infection on Monday evening. On reaching the hospital mortuary on Tuesday to claim the body, the relatives were asked by the security to find the body by themselves.

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09:33 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Telangana reports 2384 fresh cases, 17 deaths

Telangana reported 2384 new infections and 2,242 recoveries from coronavirus infections on Wednesday. The days also witnessed 17 lives succumb to the virus. The number of patients under treatment and home or institutional isolation now stands at 33,379.

As many as 1,08,696 tests were conducted during the day. Results were awaited for 1,847 samples. The test positivity rate for the day was 2.23 percent. 

The overall recovery rate improved further to 93.7 percent. With 307 new infections,  Greater Hyderabad continued to report highest number of cases followed by Nalgonda,  Khammam, Rangareddy, Kothagudem, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Siddipet districts, all of which reported over 100 cases. 

09:30 (IST)03 Jun 2021
TN reports 25,317 fresh cases, 2217 from Chennai alone

Tamil Nadu recorded 25,317 positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the state tally to 21,48,346. Among these, Chennai reported 2217 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,09,234. The state recorded 483 deaths on Wednesday, putting the state toll at 25,205. 368 of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 32,263 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 18,34,439.

As of Wednesday, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 2,88,702. Till date, 12,65,038 males, 8,83,270 females and 38 transgenders have tested positive for the virus in the state.

According to a bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, 2,80,16,841 samples from the state have been tested till date, with 1,74,329 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 269 COVID-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 69 are government and 200 are private facilities.

09:30 (IST)03 Jun 2021
Welcome to today's live blog

Good morning!
Welcome to the live blog from Chennai and Hyderabad where we bring to you the latest updates on COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, politics, civic issues and more across Chennai and Hyderabad throughout the day. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the states in real time.

14:43 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Happy Birthday Ilaiyaraaja: When the genius composer spoke about picking old tunes for new songs

Music legend Ilaiyaraaja is celebrating his 78th birthday on Wednesday. In a decorated career spanning more than four decades, Ilaiyaraaja had composed numerous songs. And you would have read numerous articles analyzing and dissecting his music notes. However, did you know Ilaiyaraaja was a postmodernist? He believes that nothing is new in art, which is the bedrock of an artistic system of thought known as postmodernism.

Ilaiyaraaja has churned out thousands of songs and the last thing you would ever imagine is he lifts from the songs of other composers. Many years ago, while performing one of the live shows, late singing legend SP Balasubrahmanyam asked Ilaiyaraaja to share his experience of filmmakers giving him reference of past songs and asking him to deliver similar tunes. “It will happen in the career of every music composer,” Ilaiyaraaja said.

He further explained, “Kamal Haasan, while making Apoorva Sagodharargal, gave me a situation and I composed a tune for that. But, he was not satisfied with it. He told me that the tune is good but it was not what he was expecting. And he then gave me an example of an old song. And based on that I composed the song called Puthu Maappillaikku. I went ahead and recorded the song even before showing it to Kamal. And when he heard it, he appreciated the song.”

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14:06 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Ajith Kumar receives bomb threat, turns out to be a hoax

Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar received a bomb threat call on Monday, which later turned out to be a hoax. As per reports, the threat call was made to the Chennai city police control room, in which the caller said a bomb has been planted at the actor’s house in the city’s Injambakkam area.

Following the threat, the police reached the actor’s residence along with the dog squad and carried out a complete search. While no bomb was found at the house, investigation revealed that the call was made by a man named Dinesh who is suffering from mental illness, reports said.

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13:57 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Fuel prices in Chennai and Hyderabad today

After rising for two successive days and hitting new record highs on Tuesday, petrol and diesel prices were steady across the country on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. The auto fuel prices had touched record highs on June 1, when petrol rose by 26 paise per litre while diesel inched up 23 paise in the national capital.

In Chennai, petrol is priced at Rs. 95.99 per litre and diesel costs Rs. 90.12 per litre.

In Hyderabad, petrol is priced at Rs. 98.20 per litre and diesel at Rs. 93.08 per litre.

13:36 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Madras HC issues set of instructions for appointments in Tamil Nadu varsities

The Madras High Court has issued a set of instructions over appointments in universities in Tamil Nadu and has directed, among others, termination if illegalities were found. Justice R Mahadevan issued the instructions while hearing a case regarding various illegalities by Bharathiar University in Coimbatore on the appointment of a person as Assistant Technical Officer (Library) and later his promotion as the Technical Officer.

The directions include termination and foregoing the right to appointment if a person employed under a specific quota converts. Justice Mahadevan, who issued the instructions recently, also directed the University to proceed against the members in the selection committee who had caused the illegal appointment of M Gowthaman to the said post against norms.

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13:07 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Over 20.29 lakh people vaccinated in Chennai till date

A total of 20,29,051 people have been vaccinated in Chennai till date, with 5996 people inoculated on Tuesday alone, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).

12:41 (IST)02 Jun 2021
No need for testing prior to discharge for mild and moderate cases, says TN Public Health Director

Amid reports that several hospitals in Tamil Nadu are testing COVID-19 patients before discharging them, the Director of Public Health has issued a statement, directing hospitals to adhere to government guidelines and not carry out RT-PCR tests for patients who are being discharged for mild and moderate cases.

However, for those who are being treated for severe COVID-19 cases, patients have to test negative after resolution of their symptoms.

12:34 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Telangana: Covid-19 triggers spike in demand for high-risk, high-cost lung transplants

After Dr. Pathlavath Anil Kumar, a young faculty member at Bengaluru’s Christ University lost his battle against Covid-19 at a Hyderabad hospital on Monday night, his teacher Prof Vinod Pavarala took to Twitter to share his grief: “No teacher should have to mourn the passing of his/her student. I am shattered. All offers to help by OUCourier @KTRTRS and many of his friends came to naught. We heard the family’s cry too late.”

Kumar was just 38. Battling Covid Pneumonia since May 5, when he tested positive for the infection, Kumar was one among the many coronavirus patients with fully damaged lungs and advised to undergo a lung transplant by doctors. After spending over Rs 20 lakh for the treatment at the private hospital, the family started a fundraiser via an online portal. Along with hospital bills and supporting documents, his wife M Kavita wrote: “We have arranged amounts from savings and loans. In the next 30 days, we need Rs 1 crore more for a lung transplant.”

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12:30 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Telangana: President, Vice President extend wishes on State Formation Day
12:28 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Hyderabad techie returns home after four years in Pakistan jail: ‘Saw several like me there’

After spending four years in a Pakistan jail, Hyderabad-based software professional Vaindam Prasanth returned home safe on Tuesday. Prasanth, a native of Visakhapatnam, according to police, had illegally crossed over to Pakistan while ‘trying to go to Switzerland on foot’. The 32-year-old was arrested in 2017 on suspicion that he was an Indian spy.

He was released on May 31, 2021, and handed over to Indian Authorities, said Cyberabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar on Tuesday. Speaking to the media, Prasanth thanked the government for bringing him back at the earliest. “I saw several people like me over there, hailing from different states, languishing for years. It is very difficult to come back once you are there because you know the situation between India and Pakistan. I never thought I could return in four years,” he said.

After Prasanth went missing on April 11, 2017, his father Babu Rao lodged a complaint with the Madhapur police station in Cyberabad on April 29. A case was registered in this regard and as efforts were on to trace him, the family received a video message from him in 2019 that he was detained in Pakistan.

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11:48 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Andhra Pradesh APPSC pioneers digital evaluation for competitive exam

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has successfully accomplished a pioneering initiative by digitally evaluating over 48,000 scanned answer sheets of the Group-1 services main examination, with confidentiality and security as the prime features. The Commission authorities said this was a new paradigm in the government recruitment process, particularly in filling up the top level posts.

A three-stage process, embedded with necessary checks and balances in the digital software, ensured a fool proof evaluation of the answer sheets and awarding of marks in a transparent manner, they said. The APPSC issued the notification in 2018 for filling up 165 notified posts under various Group-1 services in the state government.

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11:38 (IST)02 Jun 2021
PM Modi extends wishes on Telangana State Formation Day
11:13 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Chennai: Korean Consulate launches Legal Aid Centre

The Consulate General of Republic of Korea in Chennai on Tuesday announced the launch of a Legal Aid Centre to benefit Korean investors in south India. The centre has been launched to 'troubleshoot' diverse legal issues encountered by Korean investors for a duration of six months, an official release said.

There are approximately 150 Korean companies in Tamil Nadu and 250 in south India, which employ three lakh Indians and create 1.5 million jobs indirectly, one of the highest foreign presences in the region, according to Hong-yup Lee, Deputy Consul General.

"Korean companies expressed the hurdles and complications in their daily business operations due to complicated intricate local business laws and customs of India due to diverse culture in different states."

"This initiative shall enhance functioning of Korean companies with less business hassles, thereby bringing more investments from Korea, contributing to local economic prosperity and welfare, realising the goals of "Make in India" campaign and expanding overseas exports from India further," the release said.

A lawyer and business analysts have been hired for this purpose. The centre can be contacted through e-mail at chennai@mofa.go.kr and telephone on 044-40615500. (PTI)

10:53 (IST)02 Jun 2021
TS PGECET 2021: Last date for application submission extended

The Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) has announced an extension for the submission of the online application forms without a late fee for the TS PGECET 2021. The last date for applications to be submitted without a late fee is now June 15. Candidates may apply for the exam on the official website — tsche.ac.in. Previously, the last date for submission of applications was May 7.

The Telangana State Post Graduate Engineering Common Entrance Test (TS PGECET) 2021 will commence on June 19 and will continue till June 22. Admit cards will be available from June 10 and candidates may download them from the official website- tsche.ac.in.

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10:51 (IST)02 Jun 2021
MMHRC donates oxygen concentrators to TN govt

Madurai-based Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC) on Tuesday said it has donated oxygen concentrators worth Rs 1.5 crore to the Tamil Nadu government.

Dr B Kannan, Medical Administrator of MMHRC, met Chief Minister M K Stalin at the Secretariat here and also handed over a cheque for Rs 25 lakh the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund, a release in Chennai said.

According to Dr S Gurushankar, Chairman, MMHRC was also creating awareness among the public to strictly follow the covid-19 guidelines of the state government. (PTI)

10:20 (IST)02 Jun 2021
ED files chargesheet against Hyderabad jewellers, CAs for depositing demonetised notes

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against 25 Hyderabad-based jewellers and chartered accountants for depositing demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 amounting to Rs 111 crores in their banks.

The ED chargesheet states that the jewellers forged 6,000 gold sale invoices and cash receipts in the names of fictitious customers to show gold purchases from 8 PM to midnight of November 8, 2016, the evening Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation. 

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10:06 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Over 1 cr covid vaccines administered in AP so far

Andhra Pradesh crossed a significant milestone on Tuesday as over one crore doses (first and second combined) of the coronavirus vaccine were administered so far. At last count, 1,00,56,636 doses of the vaccine were administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers and persons above the age of 45 years.

Of these, 75,28,539 persons got the first dose while 25,28,097 of them took the second jab as well, health department officials said. They said more than 4.43 lakh people were administered the second dose of Covaxin, leaving no pendency on that count.

Currently over three lakh doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are available with the state, after the Centre supplied two lakh extra doses in May. In the first fortnight of June, the state is expected to get another 8,76,870 doses from the Centre.

The state government is purchasing another 20,74,730 on its own but the stocks are expected only in the second half of the month, the health officials said. "We are now giving only the first dose to everyone as more than 47 lakh registered persons have to be covered first. We can't say when we will be able to start inoculating those in the 18-44 age group because we dont have adequate stocks as of now," a senior official said. (PTI)

09:51 (IST)02 Jun 2021
San Antonio donates USD 10,000 to Chennai for covid-19 relief

Chennai's Sister City in the US, San Antonio, has donated USD 10,000 towards COVID-19 relief work in the southern metropolis.

A release from the US Consulate General in Chennai said San Antonio, Texas, donated the sum as a gesture of solidarity with its sister city. Chennai and San Antonio signed a Sister City International agreement in 2008 to deepen cooperation between the two in trade, investment, and culture.

"Members of the Rotary Club of San Antonio donated USD 5,000 to the Rotary Club of Madras East as a token of the sister city's support during this unprecedented time. Anuja SA, a non-profit organization created to promote the Sister City alliance between San Antonio and Chennai, donated USD 5,000 to double the total donation to USD 10,000," it said.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said his city "stands in support of those who are affected by the ongoing crisis in India." The relationship between Chennai and San Antonio was an important one, Nirenberg added. (PTI)

09:40 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Dr Vinay K Nandicoori appointed as director of CCMB, Hyderabad

Dr Vinay K Nandicoori has been appointed as the new director of the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. He is a well-known molecular biologist, and has been a scientist at the DBT-National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi.

Dr Nandicoori’s research interest extensively spans molecular signalling networks in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the micro-organism that causes TB. His research has found national and international relevance and recognition. His education and research training have been in the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Texas A&M University and University of Virginia, USA. He holds the prestigious JC Bose fellowship. He is an elected fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, and National Academy of Sciences, India.

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09:31 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Apollo launches initiative to aid home-quarantined covid patients

Apollo Hospitals on Tuesday announced an initiative to provide home-quarantined Covid-19 patients medical care.

The "Advanced Covid Care beyond Hospitals", will offer covid-infected with the best of medical care while they are in quarantine at home and help relieve the capacity pressure on the hospitals and healthcare system, a release from the hospital said. The initiative will ensure expert advice and timely guidance from covid specialists through phone.

"Through regular monitoring by critical care specialists and video consultations with ICU doctors, timely recognition of symptoms, right steps of treatment at the right time can be initiated. In case of development of complications and the need for oxygen support and hospitalisation, it can also be arranged promptly," it said.

According to Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, regular monitoring of parameters just like in hospital with video consultation from special ICU doctors will ensure timely treatment and any potentially serious complication can be addressed immediately. (PTI)

09:21 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Tamil Nadu promotes students of Class 1-8 without exams

The Tamil Nadu state government has announced a mass promotion for students of Class 1-8. Students will be promoted to the next classes without exams amid the coronavirus outbreak. The decision has been taken amid the spread of COVID-19 during the second wave of the pandemic in the state.

The Tamil Nadu State education department released an official notice regarding this announcement. The school education board of the state will evaluate the students based on alternate assessment criteria. The guidelines for the same will be released soon. The dates for the declaration of results will also be announced separately.

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09:20 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Hyderabad: Six more hospitals lose license to treat covid patient

Six more hospitals in Hyderabad have lost their license to treat Covid patients in the city.

The hospitals are:

1. KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad

2. Sunshine Hospitals, Gachibowli 

3. Century Hospitals, Banjara Hills

4. Lotus Hospitals, Lakdikapul

5. Medisys Hospital, L.B.Nagar

6. Integro Hospital, Tolichowki Main Road, Retibowli

The office of the Director of Public Health informed that eight complaints were received against eight hospitals on Tuesday. As of date, a total of 174 complaints have been received against 113 hospitals who have been issued show-cause notices.

With six more hospitals losing the permission to treat Covid patients, action has been taken against 22 hospitals across the state till date. The hospitals have been asked to discharge the patients under their care after completion of treatment and not admit any new patients.

The complaints against hospitals range from excess and irrelevant charges in addition to prescribed norms, mismanagement, and lack of proper attention, etc.

09:20 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Hyderabad: Six more hospitals lose license to treat covid patient

Six more hospitals in Hyderabad have lost their license to treat Covid patients in the city.

The hospitals are:

1. KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad

2. Sunshine Hospitals, Gachibowli 

3. Century Hospitals, Banjara Hills

4. Lotus Hospitals, Lakdikapul

5. Medisys Hospital, L.B.Nagar

6. Integro Hospital, Tolichowki Main Road, Retibowli

The office of the Director of Public Health informed that eight complaints were received against eight hospitals on Tuesday. As of date, a total of 174 complaints have been received against 113 hospitals who have been issued show-cause notices.

With six more hospitals losing the permission to treat Covid patients, action has been taken against 22 hospitals across the state till date. The hospitals have been asked to discharge the patients under their care after completion of treatment and not admit any new patients.

The complaints against hospitals range from excess and irrelevant charges in addition to prescribed norms, mismanagement, and lack of proper attention, etc.

09:11 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Gujarat principal health secy Jayanti Ravi transferred to TN

Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare department of Gujarat government, has been appointed as Secretary, Auroville Foundation, Tamil Nadu, on deputation for three years.

The appointment was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in its order dated May 24 that was made public Tuesday.

A 1991-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, Jayanti (53), a native of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, has a Ph.D in e-governance and Masters in Nuclear Physics.

Read more

09:10 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Madras HC quashes criminal cases against CPI, CPI(M) leaders

The Madras High Court on Tuesday quashed the criminal cases pending before a lower court against K Balakrishnan and R Mutharasan, general secretaries of the Tamil Nadu unit of the CPI(M) and CPI respectively and two others.

Justice N Satishkumar quashed the proceedings pending before the XIV Metropolitan Magistrate in Egmore, after holding that staging a protest against the general price rise could never be construed as an undemocratic act and that the cases had no merit.

The charge against the accused was that they had staged the agitation near Tarapore Towers on Anna Salai on September 10, 2018 to register their protest against the steep hike in the prices of petrol and diesel without prior permission and that they had prevented the police personnel from discharging their public duty.

When the Magistrate court issued summons to the accused, requiring them to appear before him on June 7, they moved the High Court with the present criminal original petitions to stay/quash the proceedings. (PTI) 

09:08 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Tamil Nadu: Liquor shops shut in lockdown, tipplers brew spurious liquor

As liquor shops remain closed in Tamil Nadu owing to the coronavirus lockdown, tipplers in the state are resorting to brewing spurious arrack with fatal consequences. The state-run Tasmac liquor stores in the state were open during earlier lockdowns.

In Mayiladuthurai, two people died Sunday after allegedly consuming spurious arrack; the local police said the duo had used an unknown chemical to brew it.

On Saturday, Prabhu (33), who worked at a printing press and Selvam (36), a daily-wage labourer, of Senthangudi village consumed the arrack that they had prepared themselves. They also offered it to six other villagers. Soon after, when all eight of them reached home, they experienced discomfort and some even reportedly faced vision problems.

Read more

09:07 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Wish collective and committed efforts of people and the government transform state into Bangaru Telangana: Telangana Governor Tamilisai

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan wished the people of Telangana on the occasion of the state formation day on Wednesday.

She recalled that the 29th state of India was formed on June 2, 2014, after a six-decade long historic struggle by the people. The formation of the state fulfilled the aspirations of the people, who waged relentless agitations and umpteen sacrifices, to realize the long cherished goal of having their own State to prosper and to protect and promote their own unique identity.

Dr Soundararajan said she was delighted to note that the youngest State of the country has made rapid strides in heralding a new dawn by ushering in a series of welfare and development initiatives. The State’s initiatives in irrigation, agriculture, Information Technology, pharmaceutical, and health sectors, welfare and developmental activities in different spheres are helping the State emerge as a torch bearer in many sectors, she said. 

" I am confident that with the inspired resilience of people, government, and the administration at all levels, soon we shall overcome this COVID-19 pandemic crisis. I wish that with the collective and committed efforts of all the sections of the people and the government the State will soon be transformed as the “Bangaru Telangana,” she said.

09:05 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Telangana CM extends wishes on 8th State Formation Day

On the occasion of eighth Telangana State Formation Day, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao extended his greetings to the people. The CM said he felt proud to announce that the newly formed state has achieved and made rapid strides in development and welfare sectors, becoming a role model for other states, and the country as well. 

"With many battles, sacrifices, martyrdom, we have achieved the Telangana State in a parliamentary democratic way. The Telangana state is fulfilling the demands of the Separate Telangana statehood movement one by one. Water for irrigation and drinking, Power, medical and Health, Roads and all other infrastructure facilities are being provided, reaching short term and long term aims," he said, according to a statement from the CMO. 

The Telangana state government has successfully revived and revitalized the agriculture sector by constructing irrigation projects, stabilizing the farm sector, and also strengthened the rural economy. Rao said people in Telangana made their contributions to the success of the state and thanked them for the same.

He said, though there is a great economic loss incurred by the Corona pandemic, with the people’s support the state is marching forward. With the faith and confidence reposed in him by the people, he said, is a rock of support to him. He said he would not rest till with the people’s support to make the Telangana State a 'Bangaru Telangana' a golden State.

The state government is committed to uplift aged people, otherwise abled, women, artistes, artisans, all these communities., and the Telangana state has become a partner to their happiness, he added.

09:03 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Telangana records 2493 fresh cases, 15 deaths

Telangana reported 2,493 new Covid-19 infections on Tuesday. Fifteen people succumbed to the virus and 3,308 patients were declared having recovered fully on the day. The active caseload of patients under treatment now stands at 33,254. Greater Hyderabad reported maximum cases with 318 cases.

As many as 94,189 tests were conducted and results of 1,462 were awaited. The test positivity rate further dropped to 2.6 percent. The cumulative Covid-19 caseload for Telangana now stands at 5,80,844 and the recovery rate stands at 93.7 percent. 

09:02 (IST)02 Jun 2021
TN reports 26,513 fresh cases, 490 deaths

Tamil Nadu recorded 26,513 positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the state tally to 21,23,029. Among these, Chennai reported 2467 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,06,937. The state recorded 490 deaths on Tuesday, putting the state toll at 24,722. 379 of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 31,673 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 18,02,176.

As of Tuesday, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 2,96,131. Till date, 12,50,950 males, 8,72,041 females and 38 transgenders have tested positive for the virus in the state.

According to a bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, 2,78,42,512 samples from the state have been tested till date, with 1,67,397 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 269 COVID-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 69 are government and 200 are private facilities.

09:01 (IST)02 Jun 2021
Welcome to today's live blog

Good morning!
Welcome to the live blog from Chennai and Hyderabad where we bring to you the latest updates on COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, politics, civic issues and more across Chennai and Hyderabad throughout the day. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the states in real time.

A 21-year-old youth was arrested by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Chennai Central station on Tuesday morning for carrying bundles of currency notes worth Rs 28 lakh without any valid proof. He was handed over to the income tax officials for further questioning.

READ | Youth carrying bundles of cash worth Rs 28 lakh caught at Chennai Central railway station

A colorful big halo around the sun on Wednesday afternoon mesmerised many in Hyderabad. Photos and videos of the halo soon flooded social media platforms, with many sharing their opinions and some drawing comparisons to a similar sight from Bengaluru recently. As the unique spectacle coincided with Telangana’s eighth state formation day celebration on June 2, many considered it a ‘blessing’.

READ | Hyderabad: Halo around sun brings excitement, superstitions to light

For assistance on COVID-19-related queries and mental health support in Chennai, citizens can contact the Greater Chennai Corporation's (GCC) COVID-19 helpline 044 46122300 or 044 25384520 | Citizens can also contact the general helpline 104, the 24-hour helplines 044 29510400 or 29510500 and the 24 x 7 mobile helplines 8754448477 or 9444340496 | Citizens can find the nearest GCC-facilitated COVID-19 fever clinic here | For lodging rain-related complaints and assistance during the monsoon, citizens can contact the GCC's monsoon helplines 044 25384530 or 044 25384540 or the control room 1913 (available 24x7)

Chennai Hyderabad Coronavirus May 31, June 1 Highlights

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