<p>The Thirumangalam police in Chennai on Thursday arrested a student for allegedly stalking a girl and creating&nbsp;a ruckus at the college where the latter is a student.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The police arrested the third-year law student after the girl&#39;s family members lodged a complaint.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The accused, 23-year-old Mithun Srinivasan, has been to sent to jail following a court order. The arrested student is the son of Tamil actress Bhuvaneshwari.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police said that the accused, Mithun and the girl know each other as they were students of a private school. After Class XII, the girl joined a private medical college to pursue MBBS while Mithun enrolled in a law college on the city&#39;s outskirts.</p>

<p>Reports say Mithun continued to harass the girl even after school days by posting messages on social media platforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;As she kept avoiding him, he went to her house in Tirumangalam two months ago and threatened to pour kerosene on her and even tried to set her house ablaze,&quot; a media reports said quoting inspector M Ravi.</p>

<p>Police said the accused also frequented her college and tried to strike up a conversation with her several times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The accused made her life hell, a police officer said. Unable to bear the harassment, the girl informed her parents who approached the police.</p>

<p>Mithun has been booked under Sections 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 448 (punishment for house trespass), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 506 (i) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act (penalty for harassment of women).</p>

<p>Police sources said Mithun was &#39;married&#39; to a Sri Lankan woman named Asmitha whose parents had approached the Madras high court seeking to annul the marriage and retrieve their daughter, the sources said.</p>


The accused, 23-year-old Mithun Srinivasan, has been to sent to jail following a court order

The Thirumangalam police in Chennai on Thursday arrested a student for allegedly stalking a girl and creating a ruckus at the college where the latter is a student. The police arrested the third-year law student after the girl's family members lodged a complaint. The accused, 23-year-old Mithun Srinivasan, has been to sent to jail following a court order. The arrested student is the son of Tamil actress Bhuvaneshwari. Police said that the accused, Mithun and the girl know each other as they were students of a private school. After Class XII, the girl joined a private medical college to pursue MBBS while Mithun enrolled in a law college on the city's outskirts. Reports say Mithun continued to harass the girl even after school days by posting messages on social media platforms. "As she kept avoiding him, he went to her house in Tirumangalam two months ago and threatened to pour kerosene on her and even tried to set her house ablaze," a media reports said quoting inspector M Ravi. Police said the accused also frequented her college and tried to strike up a conversation with her several times. The accused made her life hell, a police officer said. Unable to bear the harassment, the girl informed her parents who approached the police. Mithun has been booked under Sections 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 448 (punishment for house trespass), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 506 (i) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act (penalty for harassment of women). Police sources said Mithun was 'married' to a Sri Lankan woman named Asmitha whose parents had approached the Madras high court seeking to annul the marriage and retrieve their daughter, the sources said.

Tamil actress Bhuvaneshwari's son arrested for stalking

<p>A stalker in Chennai allegedly set on fire a woman, her mother, and sister.</p>

<p>Akash, 23 years old, who has been detained by the police for setting ablaze the three was stalking the woman for over a month.</p>

<p>The woman in the incident succumbed to her injuries, while the mother and sister are being examined in a hospital.</p>

<p>Induja, the victim was an engineering student.</p>

<p>She was being pursued by Akash against her will.</p>

<p>The incident occurred on Monday night in South Chennai&#39;s Velachery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Akash went to her house and threatened the woman for setting himself on fire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, he threw the petrol on the woman, her mother, and sister&nbsp;when they came out of their house.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He later ignited them with a cigarette</p>

<p>Akash took a yellow plastic can along with him, the police said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Induja died before reaching the hospital.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The other two are being treated at the Kilpauk Medical College hospital.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mother has sustained 49 per cent burn injuries, while her daughter has 23 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mother has 49% burns, daughter has 23% burns. They are very critical &amp; are in ICU. If they need ventilator support, it is ready. We are providing them all medical facilities. We will be able to predict their survival only after 48 hours: Dean of the hospital <a href="https://t.co/uZsvoJdRXp">pic.twitter.com/uZsvoJdRXp</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/930370878621097984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Induja&#39;s father is working in the Canada.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Akash, 23 years old, has been detained by the police for setting ablaze a girl, her mother and sister

A stalker in Chennai allegedly set on fire a woman, her mother, and sister. Akash, 23 years old, who has been detained by the police for setting ablaze the three was stalking the woman for over a month. The woman in the incident succumbed to her injuries, while the mother and sister are being examined in a hospital. Induja, the victim was an engineering student. She was being pursued by Akash against her will. The incident occurred on Monday night in South Chennai's Velachery. Akash went to her house and threatened the woman for setting himself on fire. However, he threw the petrol on the woman, her mother, and sister when they came out of their house. He later ignited them with a cigarette Akash took a yellow plastic can along with him, the police said. Induja died before reaching the hospital. The other two are being treated at the Kilpauk Medical College hospital. The mother has sustained 49 per cent burn injuries, while her daughter has 23 per cent. Mother has 49% burns, daughter has 23% burns. They are very critical & are in ICU. If they need ventilator support, it is ready. We are providing them all medical facilities. We will be able to predict their survival only after 48 hours: Dean of the hospital pic.twitter.com/uZsvoJdRXp — ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2017 × Induja's father is working in the Canada.

Stalker sets Chennai woman, mother & sister on fire; woman dies

<p>Income tax raids were conducted Thursday morning at the Jaya TV office in Chennai.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a>: Income Tax department conducts raid at Jaya TV and Dr Namadhu MGR (Tamil newspaper) premises in Chennai, in a case of alleged tax evasion <a href="https://t.co/LkQSVz4NWN">pic.twitter.com/LkQSVz4NWN</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/928445122055888896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The Times of India reported that a team of 10 Income Tax officials entered the Jaya TV office at around 6 am.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jaya TV, a prominent&nbsp;TV channel in Tamil Nadu, was started by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa.</p>

<p>The channel is now controlled by VK Sasikala&#39;s family members, led by her nephew Vivek Jayaraman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The channel had been critical of the current Tamil Nadu government, the TOI reported.</p>

<p>Current chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam had earlier been at loggerheads.</p>

<p>A search was also conducted at Jayaraman&#39;s residence in the city and at Jazz Cinemas owned by Sasikala&#39;s family members.</p>

<p>The searches were conducted after the department received information about the concealment of income and tax evasion, TOI reported.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">People are watching everything, they understand what is going on. If the Centre thinks they can destroy us by conducting such raids, they are day-dreaming: TTV Dhinakaran <a href="https://t.co/oALm1R4PBq">pic.twitter.com/oALm1R4PBq</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/928498129007030272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&quot;People are watching everything, they understand what is going on,&quot; Sasikala&#39;s nephew TTV Dinakaran said of the raids.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;If the Centre thinks they can destroy us by conducting such raids, they are day-dreaming,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ANI reported that raids were also conducted on the Tamil newspaper Dr Namadhu MGR in Chennai and Karnataka AIADMK in-charge&nbsp;Pugazhendi&#39;s house in Bengaluru.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="et">AIADMK Karnataka in-charge, Pugazhendi&#39;s house being raided by Income Tax department in Bengaluru&#39;s Domlur <a href="https://t.co/0d67gjIEgK">pic.twitter.com/0d67gjIEgK</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/928472560903139328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Jaya TV was started by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, but is currently controlled by members of VK Sasikala's family

Income tax raids were conducted Thursday morning at the Jaya TV office in Chennai. #TamilNadu: Income Tax department conducts raid at Jaya TV and Dr Namadhu MGR (Tamil newspaper) premises in Chennai, in a case of alleged tax evasion pic.twitter.com/LkQSVz4NWN — ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017 × The Times of India reported that a team of 10 Income Tax officials entered the Jaya TV office at around 6 am. Jaya TV, a prominent TV channel in Tamil Nadu, was started by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. The channel is now controlled by VK Sasikala's family members, led by her nephew Vivek Jayaraman. The channel had been critical of the current Tamil Nadu government, the TOI reported. Current chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam had earlier been at loggerheads. A search was also conducted at Jayaraman's residence in the city and at Jazz Cinemas owned by Sasikala's family members. The searches were conducted after the department received information about the concealment of income and tax evasion, TOI reported. People are watching everything, they understand what is going on. If the Centre thinks they can destroy us by conducting such raids, they are day-dreaming: TTV Dhinakaran pic.twitter.com/oALm1R4PBq — ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017 × "People are watching everything, they understand what is going on," Sasikala's nephew TTV Dinakaran said of the raids. "If the Centre thinks they can destroy us by conducting such raids, they are day-dreaming," he added. ANI reported that raids were also conducted on the Tamil newspaper Dr Namadhu MGR in Chennai and Karnataka AIADMK in-charge Pugazhendi's house in Bengaluru. AIADMK Karnataka in-charge, Pugazhendi's house being raided by Income Tax department in Bengaluru's Domlur pic.twitter.com/0d67gjIEgK — ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017 ×

Jaya TV raids: The people understand what is going on, says TTV Dinakaran

<p>Chennai has been experiencing heavy rain since the past one week. Chief minister K Palaniswami has stated that the city recorded a rainfall of 56.6 cm in five days. The rain in the city has disrupted the normal lives of the people. Many of them living in the low lying areas have shifted to safer places, fearing 2015 like flood situation.</p>

<p>The schools in the city are closed, several university exams have been postponed, people are facing regular power cuts, waterlogging and traffic jams. The continuous downpour in the city is the result of low pressure developed over Southwest Bay of Bengal between the Sri Lankan and the Tamil Nadu coast and the cyclonic circulation rising up to 3.1 km above mean sea level.</p>

<p>The Tamil Nadu government has been constantly assuring that they are taking up required measures to drain the water out of the city.&nbsp;The chief minister claimed that the current government has handled the situation better than Bengaluru and Mumbai.</p>

<p>SP Velumani, minister of municipal administration and rural development said that the state government has done more work than several developed nations to deal with the rains.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The man-made disaster is the result of the diminishing water bodies in the city.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The man-made disaster is the result of the diminishing water bodies in the city." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>D Jayakumar, minister of finance and fishing, went a step further and claimed to have solved 98 per cent of rain-related issues in the city. However, the undeniable fact remains that it is only because of the years of improper planning that has worsened the ecological balance of the city.</p>

<p>Chennai suffered from severe water shortage in 2016-17.&nbsp;The city was hard hit by the 60 per cent deficit in the northeastern monsoon.&nbsp;The city has already experienced one of the most devastating floods in 2015. Such natural disaster continues to hit Chennai almost every year.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/untitled%20design%20(46)-20171106111838.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Pallavaram Lake (Others)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The man-made disaster is the result of the diminishing water bodies in the city. Chennai once had around 650 lakes and rivers which were a source of their freshwater. Besides this, they were also responsible for recharging the groundwater level thus preventing drought. During heavy rainfall, these rivers regulated the flow of water to human settlements by draining the excess water.</p>

<p>However, with the rapid growth of urbanisation and industrialisation, most of these water bodies have lost their existence. Ever increasing population in the city has led to the increasing demands for housing societies, institutions, and industries. Most of this construction has taken place over these water bodies. Also, the direct discharge of industrial and municipal waste has worsened the remaining waterways.</p>

<p>Konnur Lake once occupied over 250 acres of land. Due to the residential and industrial construction, it has now been reduced to 20 acres. Over 4000 houses have been built over it and it also supports the Sidco Industries. While the remaining 20 acres has also been allotted for institutional construction. Sidco Nagar was one of the worst affected areas during the 2015 floods. The construction over the lake restricted the free flow of water into the lake which had a devastating effect over the nearby slum dwellers.</p>

<p>The urban planning authorities do not take into consideration the ecological balance of the city while devising any architectural plan. This way they affect the natural penetration process which further leads to floods during heavy rainfall while drought in case of less rainfall. Besides this, the lakes and rivers which are not considered fit for drinking or irrigation are declared as wasteland permitting construction over it. This further disrupts the ecological balance of the city.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/untitled%20design%20(47)-20171106112044.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Pallavaram Lake (Others)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Pallavaram Lake which once spread over 200 acres is now left with just 50 acres. The lake was bifurcated after the construction of Thoraipakkam road for connecting Chennai Airport and Rajiv Gandhi Salai. One side of the lake still remains, however, the other side has choked to death due to encroachment and dumping of effluents from the nearby leather factory, industries, and sewage waste. This part of the lake has become a dump yard due to the consistent dumping of garbage for the past few decades. This dumping has contaminated the groundwater of that area.</p>

<p>Residents around the Pallavaram Lake had filed a petition in the HC for removing the illegal encroachment over the water body. According to them the settlements over the water have come up in connivance with the Pallavaram municipality. Besides letting the growth of encroachment in the lake the municipality itself planned to construct a methanation plant on the land.</p>

<p>An activist working for the restoration of water bodies in Chennai states &quot;it is only because of the municipal that the illegal settlements have survived well. had they not provided the basic amenities the temporary shanties would not have turned into permanent residents&rdquo;.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>One of the major causes for diminishing waterways in Chennai is that a lot of construction is being done on it.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=One of the major causes for diminishing waterways in Chennai is that a lot of construction is being done on it." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>The illegal encroachment over the water bodies is not restricted to this lake. In fact, one of the major causes for diminishing waterways in Chennai is that a lot of construction is being done on it. No government official is ready to take the responsibility of the ever-growing illegal encroachment.</p>

<p>The depleting water bodies because of the encroachment over them is severely affecting the ecology of the city. The consequent result of this is that Chennai faces drought during less rainfall whereas waterlogging and floods during heavy rains.</p>


The illegal encroachment over the water bodies is one of the major causes for diminishing waterways in Chennai that leads to flooding like situation

Chennai has been experiencing heavy rain since the past one week. Chief minister K Palaniswami has stated that the city recorded a rainfall of 56.6 cm in five days. The rain in the city has disrupted the normal lives of the people. Many of them living in the low lying areas have shifted to safer places, fearing 2015 like flood situation. The schools in the city are closed, several university exams have been postponed, people are facing regular power cuts, waterlogging and traffic jams. The continuous downpour in the city is the result of low pressure developed over Southwest Bay of Bengal between the Sri Lankan and the Tamil Nadu coast and the cyclonic circulation rising up to 3.1 km above mean sea level. The Tamil Nadu government has been constantly assuring that they are taking up required measures to drain the water out of the city. The chief minister claimed that the current government has handled the situation better than Bengaluru and Mumbai. SP Velumani, minister of municipal administration and rural development said that the state government has done more work than several developed nations to deal with the rains. The man-made disaster is the result of the diminishing water bodies in the city. × D Jayakumar, minister of finance and fishing, went a step further and claimed to have solved 98 per cent of rain-related issues in the city. However, the undeniable fact remains that it is only because of the years of improper planning that has worsened the ecological balance of the city. Chennai suffered from severe water shortage in 2016-17. The city was hard hit by the 60 per cent deficit in the northeastern monsoon. The city has already experienced one of the most devastating floods in 2015. Such natural disaster continues to hit Chennai almost every year. Pallavaram Lake (Others) × The man-made disaster is the result of the diminishing water bodies in the city. Chennai once had around 650 lakes and rivers which were a source of their freshwater. Besides this, they were also responsible for recharging the groundwater level thus preventing drought. During heavy rainfall, these rivers regulated the flow of water to human settlements by draining the excess water. However, with the rapid growth of urbanisation and industrialisation, most of these water bodies have lost their existence. Ever increasing population in the city has led to the increasing demands for housing societies, institutions, and industries. Most of this construction has taken place over these water bodies. Also, the direct discharge of industrial and municipal waste has worsened the remaining waterways. Konnur Lake once occupied over 250 acres of land. Due to the residential and industrial construction, it has now been reduced to 20 acres. Over 4000 houses have been built over it and it also supports the Sidco Industries. While the remaining 20 acres has also been allotted for institutional construction. Sidco Nagar was one of the worst affected areas during the 2015 floods. The construction over the lake restricted the free flow of water into the lake which had a devastating effect over the nearby slum dwellers. The urban planning authorities do not take into consideration the ecological balance of the city while devising any architectural plan. This way they affect the natural penetration process which further leads to floods during heavy rainfall while drought in case of less rainfall. Besides this, the lakes and rivers which are not considered fit for drinking or irrigation are declared as wasteland permitting construction over it. This further disrupts the ecological balance of the city. Pallavaram Lake (Others) × Pallavaram Lake which once spread over 200 acres is now left with just 50 acres. The lake was bifurcated after the construction of Thoraipakkam road for connecting Chennai Airport and Rajiv Gandhi Salai. One side of the lake still remains, however, the other side has choked to death due to encroachment and dumping of effluents from the nearby leather factory, industries, and sewage waste. This part of the lake has become a dump yard due to the consistent dumping of garbage for the past few decades. This dumping has contaminated the groundwater of that area. Residents around the Pallavaram Lake had filed a petition in the HC for removing the illegal encroachment over the water body. According to them the settlements over the water have come up in connivance with the Pallavaram municipality. Besides letting the growth of encroachment in the lake the municipality itself planned to construct a methanation plant on the land. An activist working for the restoration of water bodies in Chennai states "it is only because of the municipal that the illegal settlements have survived well. had they not provided the basic amenities the temporary shanties would not have turned into permanent residents”. One of the major causes for diminishing waterways in Chennai is that a lot of construction is being done on it. × The illegal encroachment over the water bodies is not restricted to this lake. In fact, one of the major causes for diminishing waterways in Chennai is that a lot of construction is being done on it. No government official is ready to take the responsibility of the ever-growing illegal encroachment. The depleting water bodies because of the encroachment over them is severely affecting the ecology of the city. The consequent result of this is that Chennai faces drought during less rainfall whereas waterlogging and floods during heavy rains.

The man-made disaster in Chennai

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met DMK supremo M Karunanidhi at the latter&#39;s Gopalapuram residence here.</p>

<p>The meeting between the two leaders lasted about 20 minutes. Modi sat next to Karunanidhi and held his hands.</p>

<p>Earlier, DMK Working President and Karunanidhi&#39;s son, M K Stalin, welcomed the Prime Minister at the gate and honoured him with a red shawl.</p>

<p>Modi was accompanied by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan and state BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan.</p>

<p>DMK leaders including Kanimozhi, who is the daughter of Karunanidhi, were also present.</p>

<p>Later, the wheelchair-bound Karunanidhi made a brief appearance outside and waved at his supporters who cheered him.</p>

<p>Karunanidhi, who was taken ill in October 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy, was twice admitted to a private hospital in December last.</p>

<p>Karunanidhi has been since confined to his house, but made one rare appearance on October 19 this year when he visited an exhibition here held to showcase the 75-year journey of DMK&#39;s mouthpiece, &#39;Murasoli&#39;.</p>

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had called on the nonagenarian DMK patriarch at his residence in December, 2016.</p>


The meeting between the two leaders lasted about 20 minutes. Modi sat next to Karunanidhi and held his hands

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met DMK supremo M Karunanidhi at the latter's Gopalapuram residence here. The meeting between the two leaders lasted about 20 minutes. Modi sat next to Karunanidhi and held his hands. Earlier, DMK Working President and Karunanidhi's son, M K Stalin, welcomed the Prime Minister at the gate and honoured him with a red shawl. Modi was accompanied by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan and state BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan. DMK leaders including Kanimozhi, who is the daughter of Karunanidhi, were also present. Later, the wheelchair-bound Karunanidhi made a brief appearance outside and waved at his supporters who cheered him. Karunanidhi, who was taken ill in October 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy, was twice admitted to a private hospital in December last. Karunanidhi has been since confined to his house, but made one rare appearance on October 19 this year when he visited an exhibition here held to showcase the 75-year journey of DMK's mouthpiece, 'Murasoli'. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had called on the nonagenarian DMK patriarch at his residence in December, 2016.

PM Modi meets DMK patriarch Karunanidhi

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a meet in Chennai, talked about the importance of vernacular newspapers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that the role of newspapers published in regional languages remains as important as it was during the British Raj.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-visit-chennai-today-will-meet-karunanidhi-23571" target="_blank">PM Modi is on a one-day visit to Chennai</a>, Tamil Nadu.</p>

<p>In Chennai, Modi talked about utilising editorial freedom for the public interest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, &quot;Editorial freedom should be used wisely in public interest.&quot;</p>

<p>He further said that freedom to write does not include the freedom to be factually incorrect.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi was attending the attend&nbsp;platinum jubilee celebrations of a vernacular daily.</p>

<p>Modi called the media &quot;a&nbsp;means of transforming society&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that newspapers today are not just restricted to providing news. They have the capability to mould&nbsp;our thinking and open a window to the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said media is a means of transforming society and is therefore referred to as the fourth pillar of democracy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also said that the British government was fearful of the Indian vernacular press because of which they enacted the Vernacular Press Act, 1878 to put restrictions on it.</p>

<p>Calling for a competition among media organisations, Modi said that media must make an extra effort to maintain credibility.</p>

<p>&quot;Healthy competition among media organisations&nbsp;is healthy for our democracy.&quot;</p>

<p>Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said &quot;The press is called the Fourth Estate. It is definitely&nbsp;a power, but, to misuse that power is criminal.&quot;</p>

<p>PM Modi said &#39;India is more than just us politicians&quot; indicating that media should just not write about politics.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A lot of media discourse today revolves around politics. However, India is more than just us politicians: PM Modi in Chennai <a href="https://t.co/I8p3Bw9INI">pic.twitter.com/I8p3Bw9INI</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/927415031716651008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>He asked media to focus more on their stories and achievements.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It&#39;s the 125 cr Indians, which make India what it is. I would be happy to see media focus a lot more, on their stories&amp;achievements: PM Modi <a href="https://t.co/IplJb50VtX">pic.twitter.com/IplJb50VtX</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/927415152051236864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;He concluded by asking media to take a lead in battle against climate change.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Natural calamities seem to be occurring with increasing frequency across world. Can media take a lead in battle against climate change?: PM</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/927415777405181952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p><em>(With inputs from ANI)</em></p>


Modi was speaking in Chennai where he was attending the platinum jubilee celebrations of a vernacular daily

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a meet in Chennai, talked about the importance of vernacular newspapers. He said that the role of newspapers published in regional languages remains as important as it was during the British Raj. PM Modi is on a one-day visit to Chennai, Tamil Nadu. In Chennai, Modi talked about utilising editorial freedom for the public interest. He said, "Editorial freedom should be used wisely in public interest." He further said that freedom to write does not include the freedom to be factually incorrect. Modi was attending the attend platinum jubilee celebrations of a vernacular daily. Modi called the media "a means of transforming society". He said that newspapers today are not just restricted to providing news. They have the capability to mould our thinking and open a window to the world. He said media is a means of transforming society and is therefore referred to as the fourth pillar of democracy. He also said that the British government was fearful of the Indian vernacular press because of which they enacted the Vernacular Press Act, 1878 to put restrictions on it. Calling for a competition among media organisations, Modi said that media must make an extra effort to maintain credibility. "Healthy competition among media organisations is healthy for our democracy." Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said "The press is called the Fourth Estate. It is definitely a power, but, to misuse that power is criminal." PM Modi said 'India is more than just us politicians" indicating that media should just not write about politics. A lot of media discourse today revolves around politics. However, India is more than just us politicians: PM Modi in Chennai pic.twitter.com/I8p3Bw9INI — ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2017 × He asked media to focus more on their stories and achievements. It's the 125 cr Indians, which make India what it is. I would be happy to see media focus a lot more, on their stories&achievements: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/IplJb50VtX — ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2017 × He concluded by asking media to take a lead in battle against climate change. Natural calamities seem to be occurring with increasing frequency across world. Can media take a lead in battle against climate change?: PM — ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2017 × (With inputs from ANI)

Modi on media: Freedom to write does not include freedom to be factually incorrect

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting DMK President M Karunanidhi here today, both the BJP and the DMK said.</p>

<p>Modi will visit the city today to attend the platinum jubilee function of a vernacular daily.</p>

<p>&quot;During his visit to Tamil Nadu today, PM Sh Narendra Modiji will visit senior-most leader from the state and former CM M Karunanidhi,&quot; BJP national general secretary P Mualidhar Rao said in a tweet.</p>

<p>DMK sources also confirmed the meet, saying the two leaders are scheduled to meet at 12.30 pm at Karunanidhi&#39;s Gopalapuram residence.</p>

<p>The prime minister will also attend the wedding of the daughter of Dr.TV Somanathan, a retired PMO official, at Raja Annamalaipuram.</p>

<p>Karunanidhi fell ill in October 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy. In December last, he was admitted to the Kauvery Hospital here twice.</p>

<p>The veteran leader was admitted to the hospital for &quot;optimisation of nutrition and hydration&quot; in the first week of December and later, due to a throat and lung infection.</p>

<p>He had undergone tracheostomy, a procedure to optimise breathing.</p>

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had called on the DMK patriarch at his residence in December 2016.</p>

<p>The nonagenarian leader had made his first public appearance on October 19 this year, the first since his illness, when he visited an exhibition here held to showcase the 75-year journey of DMK&#39;s mouthpiece, &#39;Murasoli&#39;.</p>


Modi will visit the city today to attend the platinum jubilee function of a vernacular daily.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting DMK President M Karunanidhi here today, both the BJP and the DMK said. Modi will visit the city today to attend the platinum jubilee function of a vernacular daily. "During his visit to Tamil Nadu today, PM Sh Narendra Modiji will visit senior-most leader from the state and former CM M Karunanidhi," BJP national general secretary P Mualidhar Rao said in a tweet. DMK sources also confirmed the meet, saying the two leaders are scheduled to meet at 12.30 pm at Karunanidhi's Gopalapuram residence. The prime minister will also attend the wedding of the daughter of Dr.TV Somanathan, a retired PMO official, at Raja Annamalaipuram. Karunanidhi fell ill in October 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy. In December last, he was admitted to the Kauvery Hospital here twice. The veteran leader was admitted to the hospital for "optimisation of nutrition and hydration" in the first week of December and later, due to a throat and lung infection. He had undergone tracheostomy, a procedure to optimise breathing. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had called on the DMK patriarch at his residence in December 2016. The nonagenarian leader had made his first public appearance on October 19 this year, the first since his illness, when he visited an exhibition here held to showcase the 75-year journey of DMK's mouthpiece, 'Murasoli'.

PM Modi to visit Chennai today, will meet Karunanidhi

<p>The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/14-dead-in-chennai-floods-23497" target="_blank">more rain in Chennai in the upcoming days</a>.</p>

<p>The low pressure created over the Bay of Bengal will continue to downpour moderate and heavy rain&nbsp;in the city.</p>

<p>A low pressure has developed over Southwest Bay of Bengal between the Sri Lankan and the Tamil Nadu coast and a cyclonic circulation rising up to 3.1 km above mean sea level resulting in the continuous downpour.</p>

<p>The city has been facing rains for a week now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts have been shut down since Tuesday and will continue to remain closed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Several university exams have also been postponed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/residents-of-indias-chennai-flee-flooded-homes-as-rains-continue-6522" target="_blank"> people are facing regular power cuts, waterlogging and traffic jams</a>.</p>

<p>Chief minister K Palaniswami and many other state ministers have been visiting waterlogged parts of the city.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts have been shut down since Tuesday and will continue to remain closed

The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted more rain in Chennai in the upcoming days. The low pressure created over the Bay of Bengal will continue to downpour moderate and heavy rain in the city. A low pressure has developed over Southwest Bay of Bengal between the Sri Lankan and the Tamil Nadu coast and a cyclonic circulation rising up to 3.1 km above mean sea level resulting in the continuous downpour. The city has been facing rains for a week now. The schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts have been shut down since Tuesday and will continue to remain closed. Several university exams have also been postponed. The people are facing regular power cuts, waterlogging and traffic jams. Chief minister K Palaniswami and many other state ministers have been visiting waterlogged parts of the city.

IMD predicts more rainfall in Chennai, schools to remain closed

<p>G Balakrishnan aged 36, a Chennai-based cartoonist was arrested on Sunday by the district crime branch (DCB) on occasion of offensive and inappropriate portrayal of Tirunelveli district collector, Sandeep Nanduri in a cartoon on the self-immolation of a family of four at the collect orate on October 23.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sources said the cartoonist was taken into custody by the team in Chennai and being brought to Tirunelveli.</p>

<p>Bala shared the picture onTwitter saying &quot;Aama... Intha Cartoon Aathirathin Uchathil Thaan Varanthien&quot; (Yes... I drew this cartoon at the height of my anger).</p>

<p>It soon went viral and&nbsp;got over 38,000 shares plus&nbsp;lakhs of views.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I am not against criticism. But the cartoonist has got the facts wrong. He has depicted the honorable (Tamil Nadu) chief minister (Edappadi K Palaniswami) and two government officials (collector and police commissioner) in very shameful way. This cartoon could give people an idea that we are not saying anything about such issues and willingly accepting bribes,&quot; Nanduri told reporters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to sources, the collector had only come across the cartoon about a week back, after which he filed a complaint with the DCB.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Superintendent of Police, P. Arun Sakthi Kumar said based on the Collector&rsquo;s complaint, a case under Sections 67 of IT Act and 501 of IPC was booked on November 1, sources informed.&nbsp;</p>


Sources said the cartoonist was detained by the team in Chennai and being brought to Tirunelveli.

G Balakrishnan aged 36, a Chennai-based cartoonist was arrested on Sunday by the district crime branch (DCB) on occasion of offensive and inappropriate portrayal of Tirunelveli district collector, Sandeep Nanduri in a cartoon on the self-immolation of a family of four at the collect orate on October 23. Sources said the cartoonist was taken into custody by the team in Chennai and being brought to Tirunelveli. Bala shared the picture onTwitter saying "Aama... Intha Cartoon Aathirathin Uchathil Thaan Varanthien" (Yes... I drew this cartoon at the height of my anger). It soon went viral and got over 38,000 shares plus lakhs of views. "I am not against criticism. But the cartoonist has got the facts wrong. He has depicted the honorable (Tamil Nadu) chief minister (Edappadi K Palaniswami) and two government officials (collector and police commissioner) in very shameful way. This cartoon could give people an idea that we are not saying anything about such issues and willingly accepting bribes," Nanduri told reporters. According to sources, the collector had only come across the cartoon about a week back, after which he filed a complaint with the DCB. Superintendent of Police, P. Arun Sakthi Kumar said based on the Collector’s complaint, a case under Sections 67 of IT Act and 501 of IPC was booked on November 1, sources informed.

Cartoonist arrested for offensive portrayal of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: Sources

<p>The Indian <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/heavy-chennai-rain-brings-city-to-a-halt-schools-and-colleges-shut-on-tuesday-one-dead-in-thanjavur-23174">Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy</a> rains in Tamil Nadu in the next 24 hours.</p>

<p>Chennai has been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/torrential-overnight-chennai-rains-bring-city-suburbs-to-grinding-halt-23430">hit by continuous downpour since&nbsp;Thursday</a> evening with the city completely waterlogged.</p>

<p>State minister KP Anbalagan said: &quot;Rain has come all of a sudden. This is nature&#39;s fury, you must understand. We are working on a war footing to clear the water. &quot;</p>

<p>He also assured that the state government has&nbsp;worked out a Rs 600 crore <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-well-prepared-to-tackle-rains-like-foreign-countries-say-ministers-23216" target="_blank">master plan to drain out the water</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chief minister Edappadi K Palanisamy visited RK Nagar which has been badly hit, along with other state&nbsp;ministers.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rain has come all of a sudden. This is nature&#39;s fury, you must understand. We&#39;re working on a war footing to clear water:KP Anbalagan,TN Min <a href="https://t.co/4YLpIIQo3l">pic.twitter.com/4YLpIIQo3l</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/926378367233884161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Now we have worked out Rs 600 crore master plan which will work in various ways to drain out the water: K P Anbalagan,<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> Minister</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/926378603197198336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy visited RK Nagar along with state Ministers, interacted with people affected <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiRains?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiRains</a> <a href="https://t.co/BSK3JfTzPN">pic.twitter.com/BSK3JfTzPN</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/926405217561612289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A state minister assured that they have worked out Rs 600 crore master plan to drain out the water?

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rains in Tamil Nadu in the next 24 hours. Chennai has been hit by continuous downpour since Thursday evening with the city completely waterlogged. State minister KP Anbalagan said: "Rain has come all of a sudden. This is nature's fury, you must understand. We are working on a war footing to clear the water. " He also assured that the state government has worked out a Rs 600 crore master plan to drain out the water. Chief minister Edappadi K Palanisamy visited RK Nagar which has been badly hit, along with other state ministers. Rain has come all of a sudden. This is nature's fury, you must understand. We're working on a war footing to clear water:KP Anbalagan,TN Min pic.twitter.com/4YLpIIQo3l — ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2017 × Now we have worked out Rs 600 crore master plan which will work in various ways to drain out the water: K P Anbalagan,#TamilNadu Minister — ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2017 × Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy visited RK Nagar along with state Ministers, interacted with people affected #ChennaiRains pic.twitter.com/BSK3JfTzPN — ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2017 ×

Watch: Indian Meteorological Department forecasts heavy rains in Chennai in next 24 hours

<p>The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/torrential-overnight-chennai-rains-bring-city-suburbs-to-grinding-halt-23430" target="_blank">heavy downpour that struck Chennai</a> on Friday evening made the situation worse for low lying areas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fourteen people have died in the rainfall which began last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fearing a 2015 flood-like situation, residents of many low lying areas have shifted to&nbsp;safer places.</p>

<p>The water from the overflowing filthy lakes has increased the miseries of the nearby locality.</p>

<p>The downpour has also destroyed paddy crops.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The heavy rain is the result of low pressure that has developed over Southwest Bay of Bengal between the Sri Lankan and the Tamil Nadu coast and the cyclonic circulation rising up to 3.1 km above mean sea level.</p>

<p>The meteorological department has predicted heavy rains for the next two-three days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, schools and colleges have remained closed.</p>

<p>Chennai corporation commissioner D Karthikeyan has assured that the civic body is prepared to face the monsoon and everything is in place to tackle the rain.</p>

<p>The chief minister, on the other hand, has claimed that the current government has handled the situation better than Bengaluru and Mumbai.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier a state minister said that the government has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-well-prepared-to-tackle-rains-like-foreign-countries-say-ministers-23216" target="_blank">solved 98 </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-well-prepared-to-tackle-rains-like-foreign-countries-say-ministers-23216" target="_blank">per cent</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-well-prepared-to-tackle-rains-like-foreign-countries-say-ministers-23216" target="_blank"> of the&nbsp;situation and they have the&nbsp;capacity to&nbsp;solve the situation&nbsp;like foreign</a>&nbsp;countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The meteorological department has predicted heavy rainfall for 2-3 days

The heavy downpour that struck Chennai on Friday evening made the situation worse for low lying areas. Fourteen people have died in the rainfall which began last week. Fearing a 2015 flood-like situation, residents of many low lying areas have shifted to safer places. The water from the overflowing filthy lakes has increased the miseries of the nearby locality. The downpour has also destroyed paddy crops. The heavy rain is the result of low pressure that has developed over Southwest Bay of Bengal between the Sri Lankan and the Tamil Nadu coast and the cyclonic circulation rising up to 3.1 km above mean sea level. The meteorological department has predicted heavy rains for the next two-three days. Meanwhile, schools and colleges have remained closed. Chennai corporation commissioner D Karthikeyan has assured that the civic body is prepared to face the monsoon and everything is in place to tackle the rain. The chief minister, on the other hand, has claimed that the current government has handled the situation better than Bengaluru and Mumbai. Earlier a state minister said that the government has solved 98 per cent of the situation and they have the capacity to solve the situation like foreign countries.

Chennai rain: Death toll at 14

<p>After instructing schools to shut an hour earlier on Monday, the government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Tuesday as the met office forecast heavy to very heavy rains in some areas of coastal districts, including the capital city and its neighbourhood, in the next 24 hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many parts of Tamil Nadu received heavy rainfall yesterday, disrupting normal life.</p>

<p>One person was killed in Thanjavur district in a rain-related incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rains&nbsp;caused traffic snarls and waterlogging in many parts of Chennai. Traffic in arterial GST Road and Anna Salai came to a grinding halt but there was also cheer as several parts of Chennai are hit by water scarcity.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tamil Nadu: Water-logged areas being cleared &amp; uprooted trees being removed in Chennai after heavy rain <a href="https://t.co/QSU43oHkta">pic.twitter.com/QSU43oHkta</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/925212856869519360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Reports attributed the rainfall to the cyclonic circulation that is currently persisting over Southwest Bay of Bengal, off the Sri Lanka coast and the adjoining Tamil Nadu coast.</p>

<p>The other regions which are expected to receive very heavy rainfall are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.</p>


One person was killed in Thanjavur district in a rain-related incident.?

After instructing schools to shut an hour earlier on Monday, the government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Tuesday as the met office forecast heavy to very heavy rains in some areas of coastal districts, including the capital city and its neighbourhood, in the next 24 hours. Many parts of Tamil Nadu received heavy rainfall yesterday, disrupting normal life. One person was killed in Thanjavur district in a rain-related incident. The rains caused traffic snarls and waterlogging in many parts of Chennai. Traffic in arterial GST Road and Anna Salai came to a grinding halt but there was also cheer as several parts of Chennai are hit by water scarcity. Tamil Nadu: Water-logged areas being cleared & uprooted trees being removed in Chennai after heavy rain pic.twitter.com/QSU43oHkta — ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2017 × Reports attributed the rainfall to the cyclonic circulation that is currently persisting over Southwest Bay of Bengal, off the Sri Lanka coast and the adjoining Tamil Nadu coast. The other regions which are expected to receive very heavy rainfall are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

Met office forecast heavy rains in Chennai; schools, colleges to remain shut today

<p>Rattled by the recent spate of train derailments in the country, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday, assured the people about the ambitious project and said that that the bullet train has not seen a single accident in Japan.</p>

<p>&quot;It has been a zero-accident train in Japan and I am sure the track record will remain the same in India,&quot; Piyush Goyal said.</p>

<p>Ahead of Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the bullet train project, Goyal said that the country`s rail network will be transformed and revolutionised with the initiative.</p>

<p>&quot;Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given directions for a holistic development of the Indian Railways,&quot; Goyal said, adding, India`s transport sector is all set to change and &quot;it is indeed a matter of celebration.&quot; Goyal further said that the new initiative will help boost the employment in the country. &quot;The coming of bullet trains to India will not only boost employment , but also will help India to export it,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe will also be visiting India to attend the `Bhoomi Poojan` and foundation stone laying ceremony of the Rs. 97,636-crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail link, using Japanese bullet-train technology. During the visit, Prime Minister Abe will also hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and is expected to serve as the &quot;top salesman&quot; for the adoption of the Shinkansen technology by other Indian railway systems, with China also aiming to win orders for the projects, the<em> Japan Times</em> had reported, earlier in August.</p>

<p>The 500-km railway will link Mumbai and Ahmedabad in western India, with services planned to commence in 2023. This train is based on Japanese high-speed technology called Shinkansen, known for its safety and comfort. India has pledged to build high-speed railways, focused on the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.</p>

<p>When Prime Minister Modi went to Japan last November, he travelled by Shinkansen with his Japanese counterpart from Tokyo to Kobe to visit a bullet-train plant of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., a maker of Shinkansen cars.</p>


'It has been a zero-accident train in Japan and I am sure the track record will remain the same in India,' the new railway miniser said

Rattled by the recent spate of train derailments in the country, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday, assured the people about the ambitious project and said that that the bullet train has not seen a single accident in Japan. "It has been a zero-accident train in Japan and I am sure the track record will remain the same in India," Piyush Goyal said. Ahead of Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the bullet train project, Goyal said that the country`s rail network will be transformed and revolutionised with the initiative. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given directions for a holistic development of the Indian Railways," Goyal said, adding, India`s transport sector is all set to change and "it is indeed a matter of celebration." Goyal further said that the new initiative will help boost the employment in the country. "The coming of bullet trains to India will not only boost employment , but also will help India to export it," he said. Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe will also be visiting India to attend the `Bhoomi Poojan` and foundation stone laying ceremony of the Rs. 97,636-crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail link, using Japanese bullet-train technology. During the visit, Prime Minister Abe will also hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and is expected to serve as the "top salesman" for the adoption of the Shinkansen technology by other Indian railway systems, with China also aiming to win orders for the projects, the Japan Times had reported, earlier in August. The 500-km railway will link Mumbai and Ahmedabad in western India, with services planned to commence in 2023. This train is based on Japanese high-speed technology called Shinkansen, known for its safety and comfort. India has pledged to build high-speed railways, focused on the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. When Prime Minister Modi went to Japan last November, he travelled by Shinkansen with his Japanese counterpart from Tokyo to Kobe to visit a bullet-train plant of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., a maker of Shinkansen cars.

Piyush Goyal assures people Indian bullet train will be safe

<p>Protests over the suicide of the Dalit girl who had moved the Supreme Court against the NEET exam broke out across Tamil Nadu on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News reports said hundreds of slogan-shouting protesters blocked roads and staged rallies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Chennai, the Hindustan Times reported, protesters blocked an arterial road leading to Anna Salai, the city&#39;s main road.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chennai: Protest by Revolutionary Students and Youth Front (RSYF) members over the death <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Anithaa?src=hash">#Anithaa</a>; Protesters detained by Police. <a href="https://t.co/JKwA3vtrmn">pic.twitter.com/JKwA3vtrmn</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/903867260426522624">September 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The reports said the protesters blamed the central government for Anitha S&#39;s suicide.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Centre must think of it&amp; cancel NEET in Tamil Nadu students&#39; interest or at least have it as per +2 syllabus: TTV Dhinakaran <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Anithasuicide?src=hash">#Anithasuicide</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fb2kjFqhnm">pic.twitter.com/Fb2kjFqhnm</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/903973407909322757">September 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Anitha had moved the SC, saying admissions to medical colleges should not be given only on the basis of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anitha had said the common exam worked against applicants from rural areas, the Hindustan Times reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court had turned down her petition a few months ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News reports said Anitha had been depressed ever since.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Friday, she was found hanging in her home in&nbsp;Ariyalur district.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RipAnitha?src=hash">#RipAnitha</a> <a href="https://t.co/p5t507dLaQ">pic.twitter.com/p5t507dLaQ</a></p>
&mdash; Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) <a href="https://twitter.com/superstarrajini/status/903597665782382592">September 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Anitha had scored 1,176 marks out of 1,200 in her class XII boards but did not get into a medical college because she did not do well on the NEET exam.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-girl-who-moved-sc-against-neet-commits-suicide-19782" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Tamil Nadu girl who moved SC against NEET commits suicide</a></p>

<p>She was however offered a seat, to study aeronautical engineering, at the Madras Institute of Technology.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Opposition DMK had on Friday blamed the state government for Anitha&#39;s suicide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Saturday, the Indian Express reported the DMK&#39;s Stalin as calling the government inept.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tamil Nadu chief minister had on Friday ordered an&nbsp;ex-gratia payment of Rs 7 lakh to Anitha&#39;s family and a job to one member of the family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>HT reported that Anitha&#39;s father is a daily wage worker; she lost her mother early.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And that none of her four brothers had a steady job.&nbsp;</p>


Anitha S was found hanging in her home in Ariyalur district on Friday

Protests over the suicide of the Dalit girl who had moved the Supreme Court against the NEET exam broke out across Tamil Nadu on Saturday. News reports said hundreds of slogan-shouting protesters blocked roads and staged rallies. In Chennai, the Hindustan Times reported, protesters blocked an arterial road leading to Anna Salai, the city's main road. Chennai: Protest by Revolutionary Students and Youth Front (RSYF) members over the death #Anithaa; Protesters detained by Police. pic.twitter.com/JKwA3vtrmn — ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2017 × The reports said the protesters blamed the central government for Anitha S's suicide. Centre must think of it& cancel NEET in Tamil Nadu students' interest or at least have it as per +2 syllabus: TTV Dhinakaran #Anithasuicide pic.twitter.com/Fb2kjFqhnm — ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2017 × Anitha had moved the SC, saying admissions to medical colleges should not be given only on the basis of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. Anitha had said the common exam worked against applicants from rural areas, the Hindustan Times reported. The court had turned down her petition a few months ago. News reports said Anitha had been depressed ever since. On Friday, she was found hanging in her home in Ariyalur district. #RipAnitha pic.twitter.com/p5t507dLaQ — Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) September 1, 2017 × Anitha had scored 1,176 marks out of 1,200 in her class XII boards but did not get into a medical college because she did not do well on the NEET exam. Also read: Tamil Nadu girl who moved SC against NEET commits suicide She was however offered a seat, to study aeronautical engineering, at the Madras Institute of Technology. The Opposition DMK had on Friday blamed the state government for Anitha's suicide. On Saturday, the Indian Express reported the DMK's Stalin as calling the government inept. Tamil Nadu chief minister had on Friday ordered an ex-gratia payment of Rs 7 lakh to Anitha's family and a job to one member of the family. HT reported that Anitha's father is a daily wage worker; she lost her mother early. And that none of her four brothers had a steady job.

Protests break out across Tamil Nadu over suicide of Anitha who moved SC against NEET exam

<p>The Chennai police have come under fire after a video purportedly showing some police personnel setting an auto rickshaw ablaze went viral on on Twitter last evening. On Monday, the Jallikattu protests turned violent, demanding a permanent solution and not an interim stay on the ban.</p>

<p>The video, which was aired by a news channel, was also shared by several well-known personalties, including Kamal Haasan. Sharing a video clip on Twitter, Kamal Haasan asked, &quot;What is this. Please explain some one&quot;.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What is this. Please explain some one <a href="https://t.co/MMpFXHSOVk">pic.twitter.com/MMpFXHSOVk</a></p>
&mdash; Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ikamalhaasan/status/823517213218877441">January 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>According to the reports, the incident took place at Mylapore area, which is only a short distance away from the Marina Beach, the epicentre of the agitation which was vacated by late evening.</p>

<p>City Police Commissioner S George said the matter would be probed.</p>

<p>The Chennai Police said anti-social elements had &quot;crept&quot; into the pro-Jallikattu protests here, which turned violent and also asserted that it will not allow such persons to exploit the situation.</p>

<p>The Police used force only after stones were pelted at them, he claimed, adding that his police personnel had no intention to attack or harm the people.</p>

<p>As many as 94 cops sustained injuries while 51 police vehicles were damaged in violence.</p>

<p>(This report first appeared on DNA)</p>


'What is this. Please explain some one,' Hassan asked

The Chennai police have come under fire after a video purportedly showing some police personnel setting an auto rickshaw ablaze went viral on on Twitter last evening. On Monday, the Jallikattu protests turned violent, demanding a permanent solution and not an interim stay on the ban. The video, which was aired by a news channel, was also shared by several well-known personalties, including Kamal Haasan. Sharing a video clip on Twitter, Kamal Haasan asked, "What is this. Please explain some one". What is this. Please explain some one pic.twitter.com/MMpFXHSOVk — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) January 23, 2017 × According to the reports, the incident took place at Mylapore area, which is only a short distance away from the Marina Beach, the epicentre of the agitation which was vacated by late evening. City Police Commissioner S George said the matter would be probed. The Chennai Police said anti-social elements had "crept" into the pro-Jallikattu protests here, which turned violent and also asserted that it will not allow such persons to exploit the situation. The Police used force only after stones were pelted at them, he claimed, adding that his police personnel had no intention to attack or harm the people. As many as 94 cops sustained injuries while 51 police vehicles were damaged in violence. (This report first appeared on DNA)

Chennai police under fire after Kamal Haasan, others tweet video of cop setting auto ablaze

<p>A&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;barrelled into the south-east coast of India on Monday, killing at least ten people and bringing down trees and power lines as authorities moved tens of thousands of people from low-lying areas.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QuickFacts?src=hash">#QuickFacts</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cyclonevardah?src=hash">#cyclonevardah</a><br />
<br />
Human loss 10(4 in Chennai, 2 in Kancheepuram, 2 in Tiruvallur, 1 in Villupuram and 1 in Nagapattinam).</p>
&mdash; NDMA India (@ndmaindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ndmaindia/status/808388625591320576">December 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Cyclone&nbsp;Vardah moved west over the Bay of Bengal before hitting Chennai, the&nbsp;capital of Tamil Nadu, as well as neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the Indian Meteorological Department said, describing it as a &quot;very severe storm&quot;.</p>

<p>Strong winds of up to 140 kph (87 mph) battered the densely populated coast, uprooting trees and bringing down electricity pylons.</p>

<p>Flights at Chennai airport were cancelled, railway services in the area suspended and schools and colleges were closed.</p>

<p>Chennai is home to Indian operations of major auto firms such as Ford Motor Daimler Hyundai and Nissan.</p>

<p>Vardah is forecast to pass over Chennai over the next few hours, drenching the city in heavy rain before easing in intensity, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.</p>

<p>&quot;Winds to pick up after current lull period. Everyone to not venture out,&quot; the NDMA said on Twitter, adding that two people had been killed and 24 homes damaged.</p>

<p>&quot;Expect very heavy rainfall after few hours. To become better once system crosses completely.&quot;</p>

<p>A &quot;storm surge&quot; will be about one metre (three feet) high.</p>

<p>More than 23,000 people in Tamil Nadu have been moved to relief centres, with plans for tens of thousands more to be evacuated if needed, a senior state official, K. Satyagopal, told Reuters.</p>

<p>More than 10,000 people from two districts in Andhra Pradesh had also been moved, its disaster management commissioner, M.V. Seshagiri Babu, said.</p>

<p>The NDMA warned fishermen not to venture out to sea for the next 36 hours, and urged residents to stay in safe places.</p>

<p>Navy ships and aircraft, as well as 30 diving teams, were on standby to help move people and deliver aid if needed, a navy spokesman said.</p>

<p>India&#39;s&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;season usually runs from April to December, with storms often causing dozens of deaths, evacuations of tens of thousands of people and widespread damage to crops and property.</p>

<p>Wind speeds topped 300 km per hour (186 mph) in an Indian &quot;super-cyclone&quot; that killed 10,000 people in 1999, while a&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;packing speeds of more than 200 kph (124 mph) lashed the east coast in 2013.</p>

<p>The Tamil Nadu government had declared a&nbsp;holiday for educational institutions in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, besides coastal taluks of Villupuram.</p>

<p>Rail and flight services here have been affected, officials said.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sullurpeta (Andhra Pradesh): Crude oil tanker overturns due to strong winds &amp; storm <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cyclonevardah?src=hash">#cyclonevardah</a> <a href="https://t.co/PIxwhzTVn6">pic.twitter.com/PIxwhzTVn6</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/808232753753792514">December 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Around 25 incoming flights, including those from international destinations, were diverted to the nearby Hyderabad and Bangalore airports due to strong winds and poor visibility, airport officials said.</p>

<p>Nearly 25 outbound flights were delayed, officials said, adding that there was no inundation of the runway.</p>

<p>Sri Lankan Airlines said all its Chennai-bound flights were cancelled till Tuesday&nbsp;morning.</p>

<p>The Southern Railways, meanwhile, announced suspension of services on the Chennai Beach and Velacherry MRTS route.</p>

<p>Similarly, suburban rail services on the MMC-Gummidipoondi line were also suspended until further notice. Some passenger trains coming to Chennai and leaving the city were also diverted.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


Flights at Chennai airport were cancelled, railway services in the area suspended and schools and colleges were closed

A cyclone barrelled into the south-east coast of India on Monday, killing at least ten people and bringing down trees and power lines as authorities moved tens of thousands of people from low-lying areas. #QuickFacts #cyclonevardah Human loss 10(4 in Chennai, 2 in Kancheepuram, 2 in Tiruvallur, 1 in Villupuram and 1 in Nagapattinam). — NDMA India (@ndmaindia) December 12, 2016 × Cyclone Vardah moved west over the Bay of Bengal before hitting Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, as well as neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the Indian Meteorological Department said, describing it as a "very severe storm". Strong winds of up to 140 kph (87 mph) battered the densely populated coast, uprooting trees and bringing down electricity pylons. Flights at Chennai airport were cancelled, railway services in the area suspended and schools and colleges were closed. Chennai is home to Indian operations of major auto firms such as Ford Motor Daimler Hyundai and Nissan. Vardah is forecast to pass over Chennai over the next few hours, drenching the city in heavy rain before easing in intensity, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. "Winds to pick up after current lull period. Everyone to not venture out," the NDMA said on Twitter, adding that two people had been killed and 24 homes damaged. "Expect very heavy rainfall after few hours. To become better once system crosses completely." A "storm surge" will be about one metre (three feet) high. More than 23,000 people in Tamil Nadu have been moved to relief centres, with plans for tens of thousands more to be evacuated if needed, a senior state official, K. Satyagopal, told Reuters. More than 10,000 people from two districts in Andhra Pradesh had also been moved, its disaster management commissioner, M.V. Seshagiri Babu, said. The NDMA warned fishermen not to venture out to sea for the next 36 hours, and urged residents to stay in safe places. Navy ships and aircraft, as well as 30 diving teams, were on standby to help move people and deliver aid if needed, a navy spokesman said. India's cyclone season usually runs from April to December, with storms often causing dozens of deaths, evacuations of tens of thousands of people and widespread damage to crops and property. Wind speeds topped 300 km per hour (186 mph) in an Indian "super-cyclone" that killed 10,000 people in 1999, while a cyclone packing speeds of more than 200 kph (124 mph) lashed the east coast in 2013. The Tamil Nadu government had declared a holiday for educational institutions in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, besides coastal taluks of Villupuram. Rail and flight services here have been affected, officials said. Sullurpeta (Andhra Pradesh): Crude oil tanker overturns due to strong winds & storm #cyclonevardah pic.twitter.com/PIxwhzTVn6 — ANI (@ANI_news) December 12, 2016 × Around 25 incoming flights, including those from international destinations, were diverted to the nearby Hyderabad and Bangalore airports due to strong winds and poor visibility, airport officials said. Nearly 25 outbound flights were delayed, officials said, adding that there was no inundation of the runway. Sri Lankan Airlines said all its Chennai-bound flights were cancelled till Tuesday morning. The Southern Railways, meanwhile, announced suspension of services on the Chennai Beach and Velacherry MRTS route. Similarly, suburban rail services on the MMC-Gummidipoondi line were also suspended until further notice. Some passenger trains coming to Chennai and leaving the city were also diverted. (PTI)

India: Ten dead as Cyclone Vardah lashes southern states

A gang of robbers cut a hole in the roof of a train travelling through southern India and stole more than $750,000 in cash, police said on today.<br />
<br />
The daring heist occurred somewhere along the more than 300-kilometre long journey, but the missing loot was only discovered hours after the express train arrived in the city of Chennai.<br />
<br />
The train&#39;s mail carriage was carrying $51 million belonging to India&#39;s central bank and was being escorted by armed police seated in the next compartment.<br />
<br />
Police suspect about six to eight robbers made a four-foot square hole in the carriage roof using a cutting torch before escaping undetected with some of the cash.<br />
<br />
&quot;We are inquiring with the train guard and the police personnel if they heard any unusual noises on the roof,&quot; said police superintendent P Vijayakumar.<br />
<br />
Police said the robbers may have jumped off the train roof and were combing the tracks along the route in search of any of the missing notes.<br />
<br />
&quot;They created a manhole and then they sneaked one after the other and lifted the bundles to the roof before taking them away,&quot; inspector general of police M. Ramasubramani, who is heading the investigation, told AFP.<br />
<br />
Another police officer was quoted in the Hindu newspaper as saying the gang might have hidden themselves in the carriage before it was locked for the journey on Monday night, before escaping through the roof.<br />
<br />
Reserve Bank of India officials discovered the theft yesterday morning when they came to collect the cash from the carriage for disposal. The cash, although still usable, was soiled and was transported from the city of Salem to Chennai for destruction.<br />
<br />
The audacious crime has echoes of the &quot;Great Train Robbery&quot; of 1963 when a gang of criminals in Britain stopped a night mail train and made off with 2.6 million pounds.<br />
<br />
(AFP)

Police said the robbers may have jumped off the train roof. The mail carriage was carrying $51 million belonging to India's central bank

A gang of robbers cut a hole in the roof of a train travelling through southern India and stole more than $750,000 in cash, police said on today. The daring heist occurred somewhere along the more than 300-kilometre long journey, but the missing loot was only discovered hours after the express train arrived in the city of Chennai. The train's mail carriage was carrying $51 million belonging to India's central bank and was being escorted by armed police seated in the next compartment. Police suspect about six to eight robbers made a four-foot square hole in the carriage roof using a cutting torch before escaping undetected with some of the cash. "We are inquiring with the train guard and the police personnel if they heard any unusual noises on the roof," said police superintendent P Vijayakumar. Police said the robbers may have jumped off the train roof and were combing the tracks along the route in search of any of the missing notes. "They created a manhole and then they sneaked one after the other and lifted the bundles to the roof before taking them away," inspector general of police M. Ramasubramani, who is heading the investigation, told AFP. Another police officer was quoted in the Hindu newspaper as saying the gang might have hidden themselves in the carriage before it was locked for the journey on Monday night, before escaping through the roof. Reserve Bank of India officials discovered the theft yesterday morning when they came to collect the cash from the carriage for disposal. The cash, although still usable, was soiled and was transported from the city of Salem to Chennai for destruction. The audacious crime has echoes of the "Great Train Robbery" of 1963 when a gang of criminals in Britain stopped a night mail train and made off with 2.6 million pounds. (AFP)

Indian robbers cut hole in train roof in $750,000 heist

Two Dubai-bound Emirates Airlines flights from here have been delayed by at least nine hours following the closure of the airport there in view of the crash landing of a flight from Thiruvananthapuram today.<br />
<br />
Both the flights originates from Dubai and in the return direction scheduled to take off from here at 8.40 pm tonight and 3.20 AM tomorrow, officials said.<br />
<br />
However, in view of the mishap involving the Emirates Airlines flight from Thiruvananthapuram and subsequent closure of the airport in Dubai, the two flights to Chennai have been delayed, they said.<br />
<br />
More than 300 passengers booked on the flights are staying in hotels and elsewhere and had been informed that their journey had been delayed by at least nine hours. The estimated time of departure would be intimated once the flights take off from Dubai, officials said.<br />
<br />
Three hundred people, mostly Indians, had a miraculous escape today when a packed Emirates flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai crash-landed and exploded on the runway there, shutting down one of the world&#39;s busiest airports.<br />
<br />
(PTI)

An Emirates flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai crash-landed and exploded on the runway, shutting down the world's busiest airports

Two Dubai-bound Emirates Airlines flights from here have been delayed by at least nine hours following the closure of the airport there in view of the crash landing of a flight from Thiruvananthapuram today. Both the flights originates from Dubai and in the return direction scheduled to take off from here at 8.40 pm tonight and 3.20 AM tomorrow, officials said. However, in view of the mishap involving the Emirates Airlines flight from Thiruvananthapuram and subsequent closure of the airport in Dubai, the two flights to Chennai have been delayed, they said. More than 300 passengers booked on the flights are staying in hotels and elsewhere and had been informed that their journey had been delayed by at least nine hours. The estimated time of departure would be intimated once the flights take off from Dubai, officials said. Three hundred people, mostly Indians, had a miraculous escape today when a packed Emirates flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai crash-landed and exploded on the runway there, shutting down one of the world's busiest airports. (PTI)

2 Dubai-bound Emirates flights from Chennai delayed post aircraft mishap

A girl from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu who has gone to Turkey to participate in the world school games meet there has sent a Whatsapp video stating that all of them are safe and sought government help to ensure that the entire contingent comes back without any harm.<br />
<br />
&quot;We are safe here. There is no problem here in Trabzon (northeastern Turkey),&quot; Tamizhselvi, one of more than 10 athletes from Tamil Nadu in the contingent said in a Whatsapp video.<br />
<br />
They are part of a larger contingent of 148 Indian athletes participating in the World School Games amid a failed military coup in that country that claimed more than 250 lives as per news wires. Turkish government figures still stood at 161 at the time this report was filed.<br />
<br />
She said they came to know of the coup attempt only after a parent who had watched the news on TV called them on phone this morning.<br />
<br />
Tamizhselvi said the athletes had no idea if the rest of the games would be held as scheduled and said that as per their itinerary, they were scheduled to start back home from Trabzon on July 18 and reach Istanbul via Ankara.<br />
<br />
Since these cities had seen violence over the attempted coup, she urged the Centre should take steps to ensure that the athletes reached home safe.<br />
<br />
Her father Venkatesan too appealed to the government to ensure the safety of the children.<br />
<br />
India&#39;s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had tweeted that &quot;there are 148 Indian children and 38 officials in Trapzon #Turkey. They are all safe. The games are on. They will start returning in batches from 18th July.&quot;<br />
<br />
Earlier in the day, union sports minister Vijay Goel said that all the Indian athletes participating in the World School Games at Trabzon in Turkey are safe.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(PTI)

148 Indian athletes are participating in the World School Games in Trabzon in northeastern Turkey

A girl from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu who has gone to Turkey to participate in the world school games meet there has sent a Whatsapp video stating that all of them are safe and sought government help to ensure that the entire contingent comes back without any harm. "We are safe here. There is no problem here in Trabzon (northeastern Turkey)," Tamizhselvi, one of more than 10 athletes from Tamil Nadu in the contingent said in a Whatsapp video. They are part of a larger contingent of 148 Indian athletes participating in the World School Games amid a failed military coup in that country that claimed more than 250 lives as per news wires. Turkish government figures still stood at 161 at the time this report was filed. She said they came to know of the coup attempt only after a parent who had watched the news on TV called them on phone this morning. Tamizhselvi said the athletes had no idea if the rest of the games would be held as scheduled and said that as per their itinerary, they were scheduled to start back home from Trabzon on July 18 and reach Istanbul via Ankara. Since these cities had seen violence over the attempted coup, she urged the Centre should take steps to ensure that the athletes reached home safe. Her father Venkatesan too appealed to the government to ensure the safety of the children. India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had tweeted that "there are 148 Indian children and 38 officials in Trapzon #Turkey. They are all safe. The games are on. They will start returning in batches from 18th July." Earlier in the day, union sports minister Vijay Goel said that all the Indian athletes participating in the World School Games at Trabzon in Turkey are safe. (PTI)

Tamil Nadu athlete posts Whatsapp video, says all safe in Turkey

chennai

Chennai, News on Chennai, stories on Chennai, articles on Chennai, Chennai stories at Wion, Chennai news, Chennai latest news