Chennai Hyderabad February 8, 9 Highlights: TN recoveries cross 8.25 lakh as cases continue to decline in state

The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has invited applications for the assistant agricultural officer, assistant horticultural officer, agricultural officer (extension), assistant director of horticulture, and horticultural officer. Interested can apply at tnpsc.gov.in, the last date to apply is March 4. The exam for assistant agricultural officer and assistant horticulture officer will be held on April 17 and the exam for the remaining post will be held on April 18.

A total of 991 jobs will be filled through this recruitment drive. To be selected for the job candidates will have to pass two successive stages, a written examination and an oral test (interview). The final selection will be made on the basis of the total marks obtained by the applicants at the written examination and oral test taken together subject to the rule of reservation of appointments.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami Monday inaugurated the second phase of the Chennai Outer Ring Road (CORR) built at a cost of 1,025 crore rupees. Rural Industries Minister P Benjamin, Tamil Culture Minister Mafoi K Pandiarajan, newly appointed Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan and other senior officials were present at the event.

The work for the second phase of the project began in March 2014. The 30.5-kilometer stretch built on behalf of the highways and minor ports department connecting the Nemilichery and Minjur on the Tiruvottiyur-Ponneri-Panchetty road is aimed to reduce the traffic congestion in the city suburbs connecting the national highways. The newly inaugurated stretch of the six-lane road is access controlled with service roads present on both ways.

The heavy vehicles can now reach the Tiruvallur port without entering the city. The motorists who intend to travel towards Tiruvallur and Andhra Pradesh can avail this road to reach the Chennai-Tiruvallur high road in less time. The motorists are subjected to pay the toll fee for which the government is yet to come up with a plan.

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Telangana added 149 fresh cases to its COVID-19 tally, taking the total infection count to nearly 2.96 lakh while one related fatality pushed the toll to 1,612. 

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 25, followed byMedchal Malkajgiri with nine, a government bulletin said on Tuesday.

The total number of cases stood at 2,95,831 while recoveries were 2,92,415. As many as 1804 patients are under treatment and 31,831 samples were tested on Monday. Cumulatively, over 81.54 lakh samples have been tested. The samples tested per million population was over 2.19 lakh, the bulletin said.

The case fatality rate in the state was 0.54 per cent while the recovery rate in Telangana was 98.84 per cent. (PTI)

Two cars caught fire near the Krishnagiri toll gate after supporters of former AIADMK leader V K Sasikala burst crackers ahead of her return to Tamil Nadu. Locals informed the fire department, who rushed to the spot and doused the blaze.

More than 100 cars were deployed on the Bengaluru highway to give a rousing reception to the 65-year-old confidante of Jayalalithaa. As per local reports, the AMMK cadres had firecrackers loaded in cars and two of those parked close to each other caught fire due to the bursting of the crackers.

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Firefighters douse two cars which caught fire after fireworks lit by #AMMK cadres fell into one of the cars on Monday. The vehicles, which had been parked near the #Krishnagiri toll plaza had been part of the convoy welcoming expelled #AIADMK leader #Sasikala back to #TamilNadu. pic.twitter.com/PoM68Hv0s1

— Express Chennai (@ie_chennai) February 9, 2021

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad have received the ACI World’s (Airports Council International) “Voice of Customer” recognition. The airport has been recognised for its continuous efforts to listen to passengers, engage and gather feedback to understand their needs and ensure customers’ voice was heard during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

According to an official press release, GMR Hyderabad Airport Limited (GHIAL) adapted to the new normal quickly and implemented several passenger friendly measures for a safe travel with the objective of restoring passenger trust in air travel.

The ruling AIADMK on Monday announced removal of seven of its office bearers including a district deputy secretary for alleged anti-party activities. Though party coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator K Palaniswami did not specify the reason that
prompted the action against the seven, they were suspected to have joined in welcoming expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala upon her return to Tamil Nadu after serving a jail term at the Parapana Agrahara central prison in Bengaluru.

The seven, from Tiruvallur and Krishnagiri districts, were being removed from all posts, including primary membership, for going against party principles and bringing disrepute to it, the two leaders said in an AIADMK statement. They warned party workers to not to have any truck with them.

Her nephew T T V Dhinakaran had earlier in the day said many AIADMK workers had turned up to welcome her on her return, even as she travelled in the car of a ruling party functionary for some distance due to some issue with her vehicle. (PTI)

Sometime in 2015, the mother of a two-year-old was beaten up and thrown out of the house by her alcoholic husband in the middle of the night, in a village near Melur in Madurai. She walked 13 km to her parents’ home carrying the child.

On Sunday, a film inspired by her story won the Tiger Award, the top honour at the recently concluded 50th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2021. The director of the film Koozhangal (Pebbles) is the woman’s elder brother, P S Vinothraj. She has a cameo, appearing in a hazy dream sequence. While the two lost their father at the age of nine, their mother is a street-vendor in Madurai town.

Pebbles became the first Tamil film and only the second Indian film, after Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s S Durga, to get the Tiger Award, with Vinothraj winning in his debut effort. Pebbles is also the first movie project for cinematographers Vignesh Kumily and G Parthib, and editor Ganesh Siva.

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The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) conducted 308 fever clinics in Chennai on Monday. A total of 18,812 people attended the clinics, with swabs collected from 140 people who were identified with ILI symptoms, while others were provided with medication for minor ailments.

The most number of camps were held in Tondiarpet (Zone 4) where 40 camps had been set up, while Madhavaram (Zone 3) had the least with six camps.

308 Fever clinics were conducted in Chennai today. 18,812 people attended the clinics and 140 symptomatic patients were identified & tested for COVID-19 and others given medicines for minor ailments.#Covid19Chennai#GCC #Chennai#ChennaiCorporation pic.twitter.com/BBUchA20rv

— Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) February 8, 2021

Former AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala on Monday returned to Tamil Nadu, having served a four-year jail term in a disproportionate assets case, with crowds giving her a rousing reception all along the way from Bengaluru to Chennai. As a nervous AIADMK government watched people greeting her with the official party flag, Sasikala promised she would be returning to “active politics”.

Her convoy consisting dozens of vehicles left Bengaluru in the morning but hadn’t reached Chennai till late in the night, as huge gatherings at almost all major towns made her 340-km trip longer. She stopped to give brief speeches at several places, saying the AIADMK was “in jitters” over her, and that she would never yield to “suppression”.

At other times, Sasikala said “the enemy” should not come to power and hence “everyone should work together like the children of the same mother, under the AIADMK banner”. Asked by reporters if she would return to active politics, with the Assembly elections near, she said, “Sure, for party workers.”

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Ratcheting up pressure on alliance partner AIADMK, DMDK treasurer Premalatha Vijayakanth said her party can clinch 10-15 per cent of the vote share if they contest alone.

Addressing a party meeting in T Nagar on Sunday, Premalatha said: “It is not a bigger deal for DMDK to contest alone in all the 234 constituencies. Functionaries have been appointed in all the constituencies, if Captain (Vijayakanth) decides, it will take less than a second to announce our candidates. However, respecting the alliance Dharma we are waiting patiently. But, I am here to say you all that there is a limit to our patience as well.”

Premalatha has been locking horns with her alliance partners over a seat-sharing for the upcoming assembly elections. With senior ally AIADMK, Premalatha has been upset over the delay in announcing the seats.

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The forest department imposed heavy fines on people who cut down a neem tree in Hyderabad's Saisabad area, following a complaint raised by a Class 8 student.

Officials said that locals had cut down the tree that was obstructing the construction of a house. In addition to knocking down a forty-year-old neem tree at night, attempts were also made to move the timber so that the landmark could not be seen and to burn the tree landmark.  

An student studying in the eighth grade noticed the incident at dawn and called the Forest Department toll free number. Introducing himself as a Green Brigadier, the student called for action against those who had hit a large tree near his home. 

Officials who conducted the investigation confirmed the tree felling without permission and said that those who were responsible were fined Rs 62,075. The student was later congratulated by the department officials.

The 48-day annual retreat for captive elephants in Tamil Nadu commenced Monday at the Thekkampatti village, near Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district.

Organised by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Trust (HR &CE), the camp was inaugurated by Forest Minister Dindigul Srinivasan, Municipal administration minister SP Velumani, and HR & CE Minister Sevur S Ramachandran by feeding fruits and sugarcane to the elephants.

The state government, which began preparations for the events a few months ago, had asked attending mahouts and their assistants to provide Covid-19 negative certificates before entering the camp. According to officials, Rs 1.67 crore was allocated for the camp, to set up shelters, bathing platforms, walking tracks, kitchen, food court, mobile toilets, etc., and ensure a supply of necessary medicines for the elephants and the people accompanying them.

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With her prison term over, VK Sasikala, expelled AIADMK leader and close aide of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Monday said she would remain involved in active politics.

Ever since she reached Chennai on Monday, Sasikala has received an enthusiastic welcome from her cadres. At more than 50 places, grand receptions –– which included drones cameras to carry banners featuring Sasikala’s face, with slogans inviting her to take over the party –– were organised by the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) cadres.

On her way, Sasikala stopped near Vaaniyambadi and addressed her cadres after a gap of four years. She said the government’s decision to stop her from using the AIADMK flag “reveals the fear among the current AIADMK leadership”.

“I thank everyone who wished for my good health. With the blessings of god and Amma, I have recovered from Covid-19. I thank the Karnataka government, their hospital doctors and nurses. Amma said even after her, the AIADMK party will stay here and rule for 100 years. To continue her vision, I will dedicate the remaining days of my life to the welfare of the party,” Sasikala said.

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Tangedco has announced a powercut in parts of Chennai today from 9 am to 2 pm to carry out maintenance work.

Here are the affected areas:

• Puzhal: Padmavathi Nagar, Lakshmi Kanthammal Nagar, Thirumal Nagar, Velmurugan Nagar, Revathi Nagar, Iyyan Thiruvalluvar Road and nearby areas.
• Sembium: TH Road, MH Road, Kamaraj Salai, Gandhi Nagar Street - 1st to 4th; Pallavan Salai, Jawahar Street, EB Road, Chinnathamburan Street, Palaniyappa Nagar, Pandiyan Street, Francis Colony, SSV Koil Street, Paper Mills Road and nearby areas.
• Tambaram Kadapperi: TNHB Colony Phase - 1, 2, 3; Annai Indira Nagar, Mummoorthy Nagar, TB Hospital, Kamatchi Nagar, Chitlapakkam 1st Main Road, Anna Salai Main Road, Padasalai Street, Ambedkar Street, Moovendhar Street, Saraswathypuram, Delhi Street and nearby areas.

A total of 30 passengers who had returned to Tamil Nadu from UK and 20 of their primary contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 till date. Among the 30 primary cases, nine cases were reported in Chennai, three each in Thanjavur, Madurai, Nilgiris and Chengalpattu and one each in Theni, Nagapattinam, Coimbatore, Karur and Virudhunagar and four in Trichy. Among the 20 contact cases, six were reported in Chennai, three in Thanjavur, two each in Nilgiris and Theni, four in Chengalpattu and three in Nagapattinam.

A total of 2300 passengers had travelled to Tamil Nadu from UK between November 25 and December 23, of which 2146 have been tested. Among these, 24 have tested positive, 2122 have tested negative and the tracing of more passengers is underway. Additionally, 3977 close contacts of the 2122 passengers who had tested negative were also tested for COVID-19 and were found to be negative.

A total of 1683 passengers had travelled to Tamil Nadu from UK between January 8 and February 8, of which 1406 have been tested. Among these, six have tested positive, 1390 have tested negative and the results of 10 passengers are awaited. Tracing of further passengers is underway.

All the UK returnees and their contacts have been kept in isolation wards, according to the Tamil Nadu Health Department.

Of the 30 primary cases, 26 of them who tested negative in their follow up RT-PCR test have been discharged and kept under home quarantine. Similarly, all 20 contact cases who tested negative in their follow up RT-PCR test have been discharged and kept under home quarantine. Four of the primary cases are under hospital isolation.

Tamil Nadu recorded 464 positive cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the state tally to 8,42,261. Among these, Chennai reported 143 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 2,32,464. The state recorded four deaths on Monday, putting the state toll at 12,383. All four of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 495 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 8,25,520.

As of Monday, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 4354. Till date, 5,08,997 males, 3,33,230 females and 34 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, 1,64,39,856 samples from the state have been tested till date, with 51,448 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 254 COVID-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 68 are government and 186 are private facilities.

Good morning!
Welcome to the live blog from Chennai and Hyderabad where we bring to you the latest updates on Tamil Nadu elections 2021, COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, UK COVID-19 virus in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and more across Chennai and Hyderabad throughout the day. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the states in real time.

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday offered all possible assistance to Uttarakhand, after a glacier burst triggered a deluge, killing 10 people on Sunday and leaving over 140 missing.

In a statement, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami expressed his grief over the deaths and said, " On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu and the state government, I extend my deep condolences and sympathies to the families of those killed in the flood". He added, "The Tamil Nadu government is prepared to extend all assistance to Uttarakhand." (PTI)

Authorities have identified the animal roaming in the vicinity of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad as a wild cat. Images of wild cats were recorded on Sunday night on cameras set up by the forest department. 

There have been reports of a leopard roaming around Shamshabad for some time now. However, the Forest Department personnel did not find any evidence or movement regarding a leopard.

Shamshabad Forest Divisional Officer Ch Shivayya said that the pictures of a healthy wild cat were caught on camera and there was no leopard wandering. He said that the locals need not be afraid.

Ratcheting up pressure on alliance partner AIADMK, DMDK treasurer Premalatha Vijayakanth said her party can clinch 10-15 per cent of the vote share if they contest alone.

Addressing a party meeting in T Nagar on Sunday, Premalatha said: “It is not a bigger deal for DMDK to contest alone in all the 234 constituencies. Functionaries have been appointed in all the constituencies, if Captain (Vijayakanth) decides, it will take less than a second to announce our candidates. However, respecting the alliance Dharma we are waiting patiently. But, I am here to say you all that there is a limit to our patience as well.”

Premalatha has been locking horns with her alliance partners over a seat-sharing for the upcoming assembly elections. With senior ally AIADMK, Premalatha has been upset over the delay in announcing the seats.

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The Telangana Government on Monday issued orders implementing 10 per cent reservation to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) for admissions into educational institutions and for initial appointments to posts in services under the State.

Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala flaunted the party’s flag on her car as she made her way back to Tamil Nadu from Bengaluru.

Sasikala, a close aide of J Jayalalithaa, returned to Tamil Nadu for the first time since her release on January 27 after a four-year jail term for corruption. Till now, she had been in Bengaluru, where she was treated for Covid.

The ruling party had complained to the police when she was spotted using the party flag after her release. Later, her team was tacitly warned by the Tamil Nadu police. The police department, without naming anyone, in a statement warned of action against those who involve themselves in unlawful activities.

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Tamil actor Suriya has tested positive for coronavirus. He took to Twitter to share the diagnosis.

Surya tweeted, “I am undergoing treatment for Covid-19 and am better now. Let us all realise that life hasn’t returned to normalcy yet. We also cannot be filled with fear and let life come to a standstill. We still need to be careful and safe. Lots of love and gratitude to the dedicated doctors and medical staff standing by my side.”

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The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) conducted 255 fever clinics in Chennai on Sunday. A total of 5352 people attended the clinics, with swabs collected from 17 people who were identified with ILI symptoms, while others were provided with medication for minor ailments.

The most number of camps were held in Tondiarpet (Zone 4) where 32 camps had been set up, while Manali (Zone 2) and Madhavaram (Zone 3) had the least with five camps each.

255 Fever clinics were conducted in Chennai today. 5,352 people attended the clinics and 17 symptomatic patients were identified & tested for COVID-19 and others given medicines for minor ailments.#Covid19Chennai#GCC #Chennai#ChennaiCorporation pic.twitter.com/DHABfqpgHZ

— Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) February 7, 2021

The fresh COVID-19 cases in Telangana continued to dwindle with 101 people testing
positive for the infection, the lowest in the last eight months, the state government said on Monday. 

The tally of COVID-19 cases rose marginally to 2,95,682 while one fatality pushed the toll to 1,611 as of Sunday, it said in a bulletin. The active cases too fell sharply to 1,842 with 97 more people being discharged, taking the cumulative recoveries to 2,92,229. 

Of the fresh cases on Sunday, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most at 24, followed by Rangareddy district (ten cases).

A total of 18,252 samples were tested on Sunday and cumulatively, over 81.22 lakh samples have been examined in the state so far. The samples tested per million population was over 2.18 lakh, the bulletin said.

The case fatality and recovery states stood at 0.54 per cent and 98.83 per cent respectively. (PTI)

With offline classes for grades for IX and XI resuming today, resumption of classes from I and VIII would be decided upon by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, said Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan on Sunday.

Students should attend the classes by wearing the masks in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and bring an acceptance from parents that they are willing to send their wards to school, he told reporters in Coimbatore. (PTI)

The Director of Medical Education, Telangana, terminated the services of 27 doctors across the state on charges of unauthorized absence from duty. They were working at government hospitals as well as medical colleges in various capacities. 

The order dated February 6, undersigned by Dr K Ramesh Reddy, reads, "It was brought to the Notice of the Director of Medical Education, Telangana State that the following Doctors are on Unauthorized absence in the various institutions and for the Doctors whose services have not been regulated are liable for termination under Rule 10 (e) of Telangana State  and Subordinate Service Rules -1996.  Hence the services of the Doctors Mentioned below are herewith terminated with immediate effect."

Amid growing outcry against the Centres move to privatise Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) which has a steel plant in Visakhapatnam, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the decision.

He said the state government is ready to work with the Steel Ministry to protect the Public Sector Enterprise, which provides employment to 20,000 people directly and many others indirectly. “The Government of Andhra Pradesh is ready to work with the Ministry of steel to protect the jewel of Andhra Pradesh.

Therefore, I request you to kindly reconsider the disinvestment plans of RINL Visakhapatnam and explore other opportunities to put the plant back on track,” he said in the letter, written on Saturday.

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The oldest single-screen movie theatre in Hyderabad, Yakut Mahal, which used a 1927-make projector imported from Chicago till a couple of years ago before film screening took a digital shift, may not bring characters alive on the big screen one more time. The pandemic-induced lockdown, the proprietors of the iconic theatre believe, was the last nail in the coffin.

Even as movie halls are now allowed to run shows with 100 per cent occupancy, the theatre management feels the operations may not be a viable option in the present scenario unless the government offers exhibitors like them a financial package to recuperate. On February 20, Yakut Mahal deluxe theatre, an important landmark in Yakutpura situated close to historic Charminar, will complete a year of no film screenings – a first in its 85 years of existence.

Even big players in the industry are suffering due to losses from months of shutdown and low footfall now, reasoned M.A Akhtar Sharfan, one of the ten siblings who manage the theatre now. “Despite years of losses, we kept the theatre running for the sake of people’s entertainment. Our history dates back to the Nizam’s era when nobilities and bureaucrats frequented the theatre just as the common folks did. But now, it looks like at least six months would pass by before the public starts flocking theatres like earlier,” says Akhtar, who is an advocate by profession.

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A 27-year-old Navy sailor, who was abducted, allegedly by three people from outside Chennai airport on January 31, died of burn injuries after he was set on fire on a hillock in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, the police said on Saturday.

Surajkumar Mithilesh Dubey, a native of Jharkhand, who was attached to INS Agrani, a Navy training establishment at Coimbatore, had sustained 90 per cent burn injuries and succumbed on Friday, the police said.

According to the police, he informed them of details of the alleged abduction and extortion attempt by the trio before his death. The police are in the process of verifying his statement.

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V K Sasikala, the former aide of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa departed for Chennai today. Sasikala had been released from Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara jail on January 27 after completing a four-year jail term in a disproportionate asset case in which former chief minister late J Jayalalithaa was also convicted. 

Sasikala is expected to be given a grand reception upon arrival in Chennai. 

Despite warning from the Krishnagiri police and complaints by ministers at the Chennai DGP's office against the uage of the AIADMK flag in Sasikala's vehicle, she was seen leaving the resort in Bengaluru in a car displaying the AIADMK flag.

AMMK cadres raise slogans praising #Sasikala who will be reaching Chennai today. The supporters have planned to provide her a grand reception in more than 50 points. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/O3c2wNZc2O

— Janardhan Koushik (@koushiktweets) February 8, 2021

Ahead of expelled leader Sasikala’s return on February 8 to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka, the ruling AIADMK has lodged a complaint with police against her camp, alleging a ‘conspiracy’ to unleash ‘violence’ and sought action to ensure peace in the state.

While Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam chief and Sasikala’s nephew Dhinakaran rubbished the conspiracy allegation as defamatory and lies, the police department warned of action against ‘activities contrary to law.’

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Tamil Nadu recorded 471 positive cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the state tally to 8,41,797. Among these, Chennai reported 151 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 2,32,316. The state recorded one death on Sunday, putting the state toll at 12,383. A total of 498 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 8,25,025.

As of Sunday, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 4389. Till date, 5,08,728 males, 3,33,035 females and 34 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, 1,63,88,243 samples from the state have been tested till date, with 53,530 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 254 COVID-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 68 are government and 186 are private facilities.

A total of 247 flights will be operated between Chennai and major cities today, with 123 arrivals and 124 departures scheduled at the Chennai International Airport.

#AAI #Chennaiairport #Update: Domestic Arrival/Departure schedule for 08.02.2021 #RepublicDay2021 @AAI_Official @pibchennai @ANI @TOIChennai @the_hindu @NewIndianXpress @dinathanthi @dinamalarweb @sivaetb @dt_next @DeccanChronicle @thenewsminute pic.twitter.com/OmhA2ird5i

— Chennai (MAA) Airport (@aaichnairport) February 7, 2021

Tangedco has announced a powercut in parts of Chennai today from 9 am to 2 pm to carry out maintenance work.

Here are the affected areas:

• Tambaram Madambakkam: Vijayanagaram, Parts of Velachery Main Road, Bajanai Koil Street, Varalakshmi Kalyana Mandapam and Annai Theresa Street.

Undergraduate and post-graduation classes for all streams as well as technical and engineering colleges across Tamil Nadu have reopened today. Hostels have also been allowed to operate.

According to an order issued by the state’s higher education department, colleges and universities will function six days a week to cope with the syllabus and practical hours of the semester for the academic year 2020-21, while following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Schools for Classes 9 and 11 have also reopened from today, after the government allowed schools for classes X and XII from January 19, 2021. As per the instructions of the Health Department, not more than 25 students are allowed to be seated in a classroom. They are further provided with zinc and vitamin tablets to boost their immunity.

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Good morning!
Welcome to the live blog from Chennai and Hyderabad where we bring to you the latest updates on Tamil Nadu elections 2021, COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, UK COVID-19 virus in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and more across Chennai and Hyderabad throughout the day. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the states in real time.