Union Home Minister Amit Shah is chairing the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council, bringing together leaders from the five southern states to discuss interstate disputes, Centre-state relations and regional cooperation.

Ahead of the meeting, Amit Shah met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in Chennai. The meeting comes amid several contentious issues between southern states, including the Cauvery water-sharing dispute and the proposed Mekedatu dam project involving Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The Southern Zonal Council includes Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

Amit Shah Meets Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Ahead Of Southern Zonal Council Meet

In a horrific case that has stunned investigators, a 13-year-old girl in Kerala's Alappuzha district allegedly plotted and masterminded the murder of her 65-year-old grandfather, Sivankutty Chettiyar. According to Alappuzha police, the Class 8 student enlisted her boyfriend and two other teenage friends from Kollam to execute the killing at a rented house in Karuvatta.  


Kerala murder: Minor gets grandfather killed by boyfriend & 2 others

A deadly chemical leak at a manufacturing unit in Karnataka's Kadechur-Badal Industrial Area has claimed the lives of at least three workers, while two others were injured. Authorities said the victims died after inhaling sulfur oxide, and FIRs have been registered against the factory owners.

Meanwhile, the Telangana High Court has issued notices in a petition challenging the Yadagirigutta Temple Board of Trustees. The court has also directed the state government to place all relevant records and explanations on the long-pending minimum wages revision before the next hearing on August 20.

Karnataka Chemical Leak Kills 3 | Telangana HC Issues Notices | Kerala PSC Protest Turns Tense

The Kerala government has formally closed the long-running vigilance case against Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, bringing an investigation launched by the previous LDF government to an end. The case was linked to the Punarjani flood rehabilitation project, which aimed to support victims of the devastating 2018 Kerala floods. Authorities said there was no legal or factual basis to continue the investigation, describing the case as politically motivated. However, the opposition CPIM-led LDF has strongly criticized the decision, alleging that the UDF government granted Satheesan a clean chit despite evidence. The move has sparked a fresh political confrontation in Kerala, with both sides accusing each other of using investigations for political purposes.


Kerala Government Closes Vigilance Case Against CM V.D. Satheesan | LDF Slams UDF

Kerala is facing a growing environmental crisis as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reports a sharp decline in river water quality across the state. According to the latest assessment, Kerala has 32 polluted river stretches, the second-highest number in India, highlighting the increasing impact of rapid urbanization and untreated sewage on the state's freshwater ecosystems.

The report, based on water quality data collected between 2020 and 2023, found that untreated sewage discharge and inadequate sanitation infrastructure have significantly degraded river health. Nearly half of the water samples tested were found to be contaminated with harmful bacteria, raising serious concerns about public health and environmental sustainability.

Kerala's Rivers Among India's Most Polluted, CPCB Report Raises Alarm

A new cyber scam is being probed in Kerala, in which Congress politicians from the south Indian state were contacted with offers of ministerial berths in exchange for payments of up to ₹3 crore (30 million rupees). The Kerala Cyber Police are investigating this online impersonation scam, according to reports in Mathrubhumi, SouthFirst and other media outlets.<h2>Cyber scam for Cabinet berths: What really happened in Kerala?</h2>Earlier this month, Vidya Balakrishnan, the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Elathur constituency, received a WhatsApp call from a person posing as DS Rajkumar, the private secretary to Congress leader and Member of Parliament Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Reports said the caller claimed that a Kerala Cabinet reshuffle was going to happen soon and offered Balakrishnan a ministerial position in exchange for money. The caller, who spoke in English, said that an MP from Kozhikode district had shared her contact details. Balakrishnan played along briefly before verifying the claim with Priyanka Gandhi. The reports said, Priyanka Gandhi sent a voice note of the real DS Rajkumar for comparison, which did not match the voice of the caller. Balakrishnan then filed a formal complaint with the Kozhikode City Police Commissioner.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nabs-5-800-fraud-suspects-1783680156183/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nabs-5-800-fraud-suspects-1783680156183/embed</a><h2>Same fraudsters targeted other politicians</h2>Police said that calls from the same number, 9540575524, were also made to Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil and Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose with similar offers. Kuriakose ended the call after becoming suspicious. On July 15, the Cyber Police in Wayanad registered a First Information Report (FIR) based on a complaint by Rajkumar, Priyanka Gandhi's private secretary, alleging that someone had impersonated him in an attempt to cheat elected representatives.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/how-to-spot-a-digital-arrest-scam-before-you-lose-money-red-flags-you-cannot-miss-wion-decodes-1782465781683">How to spot a digital arrest scam before you lose money, 5 red flags you cannot miss | WION Decodes</a><h2>Police action and investigation</h2>Both Wayanad and Kozhikode police are probing the case. A special police team travelled to New Delhi after tracing the SIM card's registered address and location there. The case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections relating to cheating and personation, as well as Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, on cheating by personation using computer resources.<h2>Mule SIM and spoofing: Police suspect an organised fraud</h2>The call may have been made using a mule SIM, a mobile number registered in another person's name but controlled by fraudsters. Mule SIMs are commonly used to conceal the identity of the real perpetrator. Police said the SIM card was procured in Delhi. Police are trying to determine whether the case is part of a larger organised fraud network.In the past, similar impersonation scams have been reported in so-called "digital arrest" frauds, in which criminals pose as law enforcement or government officials and use spoofed calls to appear as though they originate from genuine government agencies or official phone numbers. Spoofing technique falsifies the caller ID or other identifying information to make the call appear to come from a trusted source.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/former-pm-s-son-an-ex-rajya-sabha-mp-duped-of-rs-7-80-crore-in-cyber-fraud-1781784940388">Former PM’s son, an ex-Rajya Sabha MP, duped of Rs 7.80 crore in cyber fraud</a><h2>Money-for-posts allegations are not new in India</h2>The scam attempt should be viewed in the context of past allegations involving money in exchange for key posts in Indian politics. However, at the time of writing, there is no evidence of any involvement by any political party or government in the Kerala impersonation case. The cyber impersonation appears to be an attempt to exploit political ambitions and trusted contacts through WhatsApp-based fraud, rather than evidence of any genuine political appointment process.

A caller impersonating Priyanka Gandhi's personal secretary contacted several Kerala politicians, offering cabinet berths in exchange for money. Police are investigating the cyber fraud 



A new cyber scam is being probed in Kerala, in which Congress politicians from the south Indian state were contacted with offers of ministerial berths in exchange for payments of up to ₹3 crore (30 million rupees). The Kerala Cyber Police are investigating this online impersonation scam, according to reports in Mathrubhumi, SouthFirst and other media outlets. Cyber scam for Cabinet berths: What really happened in Kerala? Earlier this month, Vidya Balakrishnan, the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Elathur constituency, received a WhatsApp call from a person posing as DS Rajkumar, the private secretary to Congress leader and Member of Parliament Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Reports said the caller claimed that a Kerala Cabinet reshuffle was going to happen soon and offered Balakrishnan a ministerial position in exchange for money. The caller, who spoke in English, said that an MP from Kozhikode district had shared her contact details. Balakrishnan played along briefly before verifying the claim with Priyanka Gandhi. The reports said, Priyanka Gandhi sent a voice note of the real DS Rajkumar for comparison, which did not match the voice of the caller. Balakrishnan then filed a formal complaint with the Kozhikode City Police Commissioner. https://www.wionews.com/videos/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nabs-5-800-fraud-suspects-1783680156183/embed Same fraudsters targeted other politicians Police said that calls from the same number, 9540575524, were also made to Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil and Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose with similar offers. Kuriakose ended the call after becoming suspicious. On July 15, the Cyber Police in Wayanad registered a First Information Report (FIR) based on a complaint by Rajkumar, Priyanka Gandhi's private secretary, alleging that someone had impersonated him in an attempt to cheat elected representatives. Also read: How to spot a digital arrest scam before you lose money, 5 red flags you cannot miss | WION Decodes Police action and investigation Both Wayanad and Kozhikode police are probing the case. A special police team travelled to New Delhi after tracing the SIM card's registered address and location there. The case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections relating to cheating and personation, as well as Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, on cheating by personation using computer resources. Mule SIM and spoofing: Police suspect an organised fraud The call may have been made using a mule SIM, a mobile number registered in another person's name but controlled by fraudsters. Mule SIMs are commonly used to conceal the identity of the real perpetrator. Police said the SIM card was procured in Delhi. Police are trying to determine whether the case is part of a larger organised fraud network. In the past, similar impersonation scams have been reported in so-called "digital arrest" frauds, in which criminals pose as law enforcement or government officials and use spoofed calls to appear as though they originate from genuine government agencies or official phone numbers. Spoofing technique falsifies the caller ID or other identifying information to make the call appear to come from a trusted source. Also read: Former PM’s son, an ex-Rajya Sabha MP, duped of Rs 7.80 crore in cyber fraud Money-for-posts allegations are not new in India The scam attempt should be viewed in the context of past allegations involving money in exchange for key posts in Indian politics. However, at the time of writing, there is no evidence of any involvement by any political party or government in the Kerala impersonation case. The cyber impersonation appears to be an attempt to exploit political ambitions and trusted contacts through WhatsApp-based fraud, rather than evidence of any genuine political appointment process.

A caller impersonating Priyanka Gandhi's personal secretary contacted several Kerala politicians, offering cabinet berths in exchange for money. Police are investigating the cyber fraud&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ministerial berths for money: Kerala Police probe cyber fraud impersonating Priyanka Gandhi's private secretary

A 21-year-old medical student from Kerala was killed in Uzbekistan allegedly by her classmate, who is also from the state. The victim’s family has alleged in a police complaint filed in Kerala that she was being forced into religious conversion.&nbsp;The victim, identified as Sawariya Basanth, 21, a native of Harippad in Alappuzha district, was a first-year medical student at Bukhara State Medical Institute in Uzbekistan.&nbsp;The accused, Sadarul Anam, 22, hails from Pulamanthol in Malappuram district. He was arrested following the incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Body flown to Kerala, second postmortem conducted</h2>&nbsp;Sawariya’s body was flown to Kerala, where a second postmortem was conducted on Thursday following a complaint from her family. The Harippad Police also registered a murder case based on a complaint filed by Sawariya’s father, Basanth, who is employed in Kuwait.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/11-killed-mostly-foreigners-19-missing-in-spain-s-devastating-wildfire-toll-may-go-up-1783684567807">Foreigners among 12 killed, 23 missing in Spain’s devastating wildfire; toll may go up</a>&nbsp;Harippad SHO V Vishnu said, “We have registered a case under section 103 (murder) of BNS. We are yet to get official details of the crime from law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan. The postmortem conducted in Alappuzha medical college has prima facie indications of physical assault. We will examine the legal standing of the case registered in Kerala for the crime recorded in Uzbekistan.”&nbsp;<h2>Sadarul had been forcing Sawariya to convert, says uncle&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Basanth’s relative Janeesh told mediapersons that the accused Sadarul had been “forcing Sawariya to convert”.“Her classmates had informed us that she was physically assaulted many times. He had been forcing her to get converted, but she resisted it. Her friends are privy to these incidents,” Janeesh said.&nbsp;Sawariya died after Sadarul allegedly assaulted her and struck her on the head during a heated argument in Uzbekistan, causing her death. Her family has alleged that the attack was far more brutal than initially reported.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-death-to-come-on-my-own-soil-sheikh-hasina-party-leaders-to-return-surrender-in-december-1783679799431">‘Want death to come on my own soil’: Sheikh Hasina says will return, surrender in December</a>&nbsp;He said the investigating officer also told him that some students had informed investigators that the accused had allegedly been pressuring Savariya to convert before the incident.&nbsp;“She [Investigating officer] also said that in her investigation, some of the students told her that the accused pressured her for religious conversion, and some students even saw that. But Savariya did not agree... This was also communicated to the embassy officer who came there,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>‘There were injury marks from head to toe on her body’</h2>Janeesh, Savariya’s uncle, said an investigating officer in Uzbekistan told him that the victim had injuries all over her body, suggesting she had been subjected to a prolonged assault.“There were injury marks from head to toe on her body. It was not like he killed her in one minute with a laptop. The investigating officer told me it was done brutally,” Janeesh said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-hiv-outbreak-health-minister-mustafa-kamal-blames-night-party-goers-for-child-infections-1783677297132">Pakistan HIV outbreak: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal blames 'night party goers' for infections</a>&nbsp;Police registered a murder case based on the family’s complaint. A second post-mortem examination was conducted at the local hospital.&nbsp;The family is demanding that the investigation be carried out in Kerala and that the accused be extradited from Uzbekistan to face legal proceedings in India.

Sawariya died after Sadarul allegedly struck her on the head during an argument in Uzbekistan. Her family has alleged that the attack was far more brutal than reported. Savariya’s uncle Janeesh said an investigating officer in Uzbekistan told him that she had injuries all over her body.

A 21-year-old medical student from Kerala was killed in Uzbekistan allegedly by her classmate, who is also from the state. The victim’s family has alleged in a police complaint filed in Kerala that she was being forced into religious conversion. The victim, identified as Sawariya Basanth, 21, a native of Harippad in Alappuzha district, was a first-year medical student at Bukhara State Medical Institute in Uzbekistan. The accused, Sadarul Anam, 22, hails from Pulamanthol in Malappuram district. He was arrested following the incident. Body flown to Kerala, second postmortem conducted Sawariya’s body was flown to Kerala, where a second postmortem was conducted on Thursday following a complaint from her family. The Harippad Police also registered a murder case based on a complaint filed by Sawariya’s father, Basanth, who is employed in Kuwait. Also Read: Foreigners among 12 killed, 23 missing in Spain’s devastating wildfire; toll may go up Harippad SHO V Vishnu said, “We have registered a case under section 103 (murder) of BNS. We are yet to get official details of the crime from law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan. The postmortem conducted in Alappuzha medical college has prima facie indications of physical assault. We will examine the legal standing of the case registered in Kerala for the crime recorded in Uzbekistan.” Sadarul had been forcing Sawariya to convert, says uncle Basanth’s relative Janeesh told mediapersons that the accused Sadarul had been “forcing Sawariya to convert”. “Her classmates had informed us that she was physically assaulted many times. He had been forcing her to get converted, but she resisted it. Her friends are privy to these incidents,” Janeesh said. Sawariya died after Sadarul allegedly assaulted her and struck her on the head during a heated argument in Uzbekistan, causing her death. Her family has alleged that the attack was far more brutal than initially reported. Also Read: ‘Want death to come on my own soil’: Sheikh Hasina says will return, surrender in December He said the investigating officer also told him that some students had informed investigators that the accused had allegedly been pressuring Savariya to convert before the incident. “She [Investigating officer] also said that in her investigation, some of the students told her that the accused pressured her for religious conversion, and some students even saw that. But Savariya did not agree... This was also communicated to the embassy officer who came there,” he said. ‘There were injury marks from head to toe on her body’ Janeesh, Savariya’s uncle, said an investigating officer in Uzbekistan told him that the victim had injuries all over her body, suggesting she had been subjected to a prolonged assault. “There were injury marks from head to toe on her body. It was not like he killed her in one minute with a laptop. The investigating officer told me it was done brutally,” Janeesh said. Also Read: Pakistan HIV outbreak: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal blames 'night party goers' for infections Police registered a murder case based on the family’s complaint. A second post-mortem examination was conducted at the local hospital. The family is demanding that the investigation be carried out in Kerala and that the accused be extradited from Uzbekistan to face legal proceedings in India.

Sawariya died after Sadarul allegedly struck her on the head during an argument in Uzbekistan. Her family has alleged that the attack was far more brutal than reported. Savariya’s uncle Janeesh said an investigating officer in Uzbekistan told him that she had injuries all over her body.

Medical student from Kerala killed in Uzbekistan; family alleges forced conversion bid

A 61-year old Kerala man was shocked after receiving the appointment letter for the PSC examination, as it reached him 18 years after the allotted rank list from which he was selected expired. The individual identified as Abdul Majeed, a resident of Kalikavu in the Malappuram district of Kerala, finally received an advice memo from the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) for the post of part-time junior Arabic teacher, more than twenty years after applying.&nbsp;According to reports, Majeed had appeared in the PSC examination back in 2005. The official rank list that included his name actually expired in 2008. Reflecting on the unexpected letter, Majeed shared that landing a government job had once been a major life goal. After securing a spot on the rank list, he waited years for an official appointment. However, as decades passed without a single update or letter from the department, he eventually gave up all hope and stopped expecting the job altogether by the time he turned 60. “The vacancy remained unfilled for 18 years. The prolonged delay cost me my opportunity for employment. Now that I have crossed the age limit, there is no possibility of securing the job,” Mathrubhumi English quoted Majeed, 61, as saying. The recommendation was reportedly made against a vacancy that remained vacant even after several rounds of notifications and recruitment attempts that failed to find any suitable candidates.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 A Kerala man applied for a government job in 2005 and has received an appointment letter as a part-time junior Arabic teacher in 2026. 20 years later. 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/fgaDLCuS8r">pic.twitter.com/fgaDLCuS8r</a>&mdash; Indian Tech &amp; Infra (@IndianTechGuide) <a href="https://x.com/IndianTechGuide/status/2060935817254547767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Netizens react</h3>After the news was shared on social media, several social media users flooded with their different opinions on X. A user said, "Bro probably forgot he even applied… then 20 years later: 'Congratulations, you’re selected.”&nbsp;Another user said, "Never lose hope. By the time your appointment letter arrives, your children might be eligible to apply for the same post." The next said,"The Indian government system's speed is unmatched. Bro applied in his youth and got the job just in time for his retirement plan"

A Kerala man received a PSC appointment letter for a teaching post 18 years after his rank list expired and 20+ years after applying. Now past the age limit, he can't take the job. Netizens mocked the system's extreme delay on social media.

A 61-year old Kerala man was shocked after receiving the appointment letter for the PSC examination, as it reached him 18 years after the allotted rank list from which he was selected expired. The individual identified as Abdul Majeed, a resident of Kalikavu in the Malappuram district of Kerala, finally received an advice memo from the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) for the post of part-time junior Arabic teacher, more than twenty years after applying. According to reports, Majeed had appeared in the PSC examination back in 2005. The official rank list that included his name actually expired in 2008. Reflecting on the unexpected letter, Majeed shared that landing a government job had once been a major life goal. After securing a spot on the rank list, he waited years for an official appointment. However, as decades passed without a single update or letter from the department, he eventually gave up all hope and stopped expecting the job altogether by the time he turned 60. “The vacancy remained unfilled for 18 years. The prolonged delay cost me my opportunity for employment. Now that I have crossed the age limit, there is no possibility of securing the job,” Mathrubhumi English quoted Majeed, 61, as saying. The recommendation was reportedly made against a vacancy that remained vacant even after several rounds of notifications and recruitment attempts that failed to find any suitable candidates.

A Kerala man received a PSC appointment letter for a teaching post 18 years after his rank list expired and 20+ years after applying. Now past the age limit, he can't take the job. Netizens mocked the system's extreme delay on social media.

Applied in 2005, got letter in 2026: Kerala man receives govt job offer 18 years after rank list expired

Kerala Election Results 2026: After 10 years in opposition, Congress-led UDF has stormed back to power with a decisive mandate, crushing the Left and reshaping the state’s political map in one of its clearest electoral resets in years. Scroll down.

Kerala has delivered a decisive political reset. ON Monday (May 4)After a decade out of power, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) swept back into government, comfortably crossing the majority mark in the 140-member Assembly and handing the Left Democratic Front one of its clearest defeats in recent years. The numbers now leave little room for ambiguity. The Indian National Congress has won 63 seats, emerging as the single largest party in Kerala. Its key ally, the Indian Union Muslim League, has secured 22 seats, giving the UDF a commanding combined majority. Final Kerala tally snapshot Congress: 63 IUML: 22 CPI(M): 26 CPI: 8 BJP: 3 Also read | BIG WINNERS Kerala, Assam, W Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry: Who won, who lost LDF trailing as anti-incumbency bites The ruling Left Democratic Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has been pushed well behind. CPI(M) finished with 26 seats, while the Communist Party of India managed 8. For Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s alliance, this result signals that anti-incumbency, governance fatigue and constituency-level dissatisfaction appear to have outweighed the Left’s organisational strength. Wayanad emerges as Congress fortress One of the sharpest symbolic victories came from Wayanad, where the UDF swept all seven Assembly seats, reinforcing the Congress alliance’s grip on one of Kerala’s most politically watched districts. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called it a “resounding mandate,” framing the victory as both statewide trust and regional reaffirmation. Also read | Midnight terror in Bihar: Part of Vikramshila Setu plunges into Ganges | Watch Key battlegrounds These 20 constituencies are Kerala’s real pressure points, where leadership battles, BJP expansion attempts, Congress resurgence hopes, and the Left’s governance test collided at once. Constituency Region Type Main Faces Why It Matters Vattiyoorkavu Urban, Thiruvananthapuram VK Prasanth (LDF) vs K Muraleedharan (UDF) vs R Sreelekha (BJP) Congress prestige battle, BJP urban push, infrastructure-heavy seat Kazhakkoottam IT corridor, Urban Kadakampally Surendran (LDF) vs S Suresh Kumar (UDF) vs V Muraleedharan (BJP) Technopark belt, middle-class swing, BJP national face Nemom Suburban battleground V Sivankutty (LDF) vs KS Sabarinadhan (UDF) vs Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP) One of Kerala’s biggest prestige fights, BJP’s high-stakes test Paravur Coastal + Suburban VD Satheesan (UDF) vs ET Tyson (LDF) Opposition leader’s home turf, leadership barometer Aranmula Temple + Agrarian Veena George (LDF) vs K Sivadasan Nair (UDF) vs Kummanam Rajasekharan (BJP) Ministerial prestige, BJP symbolic challenge Puthuppally Legacy Congress seat Chandy Oommen (UDF) vs Jaick C Thomas (LDF) Oommen Chandy legacy, emotional Congress stronghold Konni Plantation + Forest KU Jenish Kumar (LDF) vs Satheesh Kochuparambil (UDF) Sabarimala pressure, rural volatility Alappuzha Coastal Backwater PP Chitharanjan (LDF) vs AA Shukoor (UDF) Fishing economy, tourism and coastal distress Haripad Rural-Coastal Ramesh Chennithala (UDF) vs TT Jismon (LDF) Senior Congress face, prestige contest Tanur Coastal Malappuram PK Navas (IUML-UDF) vs Muhammed Sameer (LDF) Narrow margins, Muslim League influence Muvattupuzha Semi-urban Mathew Kuzhalnadan (UDF) vs N Arun (LDF) Anti-govt campaign face, middle Kerala pulse Thripunithura Urban Heritage Deepak Joy (UDF) vs Unnikrishnan KN (LDF) Kochi suburban swing, close-fight history Thrissur Cultural capital Rajan J Pallan (UDF) vs Alankode Leelakrishnan (LDF) vs Padmaja Venugopal (BJP) BJP growth test after Lok Sabha gains Irinjalakuda Rural-Urban Mix R Bindu (LDF) vs Thomas Unniyadan (UDF) Ministerial seat, education + agrarian balance Chalakudy Fragmented battleground Saneeshkumar Joseph (UDF) vs Biju S Chirayath (LDF) Tight margins, multi-cornered pressure Palakkad Urban swing Ramesh Pisharody (UDF) vs Sobha Surendran (BJP) vs NMR Razaq (LDF-backed) Three-way war, BJP expansion zone Perinthalmanna Malappuram urban Najeeb Kanthapuram (IUML-UDF) vs KP Mujeeb (LDF) IUML stronghold under pressure Kozhikode North Urban Triangle Thottathil Raveendran (LDF) vs K Jayanth (UDF) vs Navya Haridas (BJP) BJP rise in North Kerala Manjeshwaram Border seat AKM Ashraf (IUML-UDF) vs K Surendran (BJP) Razor-thin margins, communal and linguistic sensitivity Dharmadom CM’s seat Pinarayi Vijayan (LDF) vs VP Abdul Rasheed (UDF) Chief Minister’s political legitimacy test Kerala Election Results 2026: Full List of constituency-wise winners Constituency No. Leading Candidate Leading Party Trailing Candidate Trailing Party Margin ADOOR 115 ADV. C V SANTHAKUMAR INC PRIJI KANNAN CPI 10332 ALAPPUZHA 104 A.D THOMAS INC P.P.CHITHARANJAN CPI(M) 21015 ALATHUR 60 T M SASI CPI(M) K M FEBIN INC 8553 ALUVA 76 ANWAR SADATH INC ADV. A.M.ARIFF CPI(M) 29143 AMBALAPPUZHA 105 G.SUDHAKARAN IND H. SALAM CPI(M) 27935 ANGAMALY 75 ROJI M JOHN INC SAJU PAUL CPI(M) 37008 ARANMULA 113 ABIN VARKEY KODIYATTU INC VEENA GEORGE CPI(M) 18985 AROOR 102 ADV. SHANIMOL OSMAN INC DALEEMA CPI(M) 9324 ARUVIKKARA 136 ADV. G. STEEPHEN CPI(M) V. S. SIVAKUMAR INC 2843 ATTINGAL 128 O.S AMBIKA CPI(M) ADV. P SUDHEER BJP 13375 AZHIKODE 10 K. V. SUMESH CPI(M) ADV. KAREEM CHELERI IUML 349 BALUSSERI 25 V.T. SOORAJ INC ADV. K.M. SACHINDEV CPI(M) 16980 BEYPORE 29 P.A MOHAMED RIYAS CPI(M) P V ANVAR IND 7487 CHADAYAMANGALAM 122 M. M. NASEER INC J. CHINCHURANI CPI 7486 CHALAKUDY 72 SANEESHKUMAR JOSEPH INC ADV. BIJU S CHIRAYATH KC(M) 23156 CHANGANASSERY 99 VINU JOB KUZHIMANNIL KC ADV. JOB MAICHIL KC(M) 8368 CHATHANNOOR 126 B.B.GOPAKUMAR BJP ADV.R.RAJENDRAN CPI 4398 CHAVARA 117 SHIBU BABY JOHN RSP DR.SUJITH VIJAYANPILLAI IND 18573 CHELAKKARA 61 U R PRADEEP CPI(M) SIVADASAN IND 29386 CHENGANNUR 110 SAJI CHERIAN CPI(M) ADV. ABI KURIAKOSE INC 10292 CHERTHALA 103 P. PRASAD CPI K.R. RAJENDRA PRASAD INC 14489 CHIRAYINKEEZHU 129 RAMYA HARIDAS INC MANOJ EDAMANA CPI 1422 CHITTUR 58 ADV. SUMESH ACHUTHAN INC ADV. V. MURUGADAS ISJD 6510 DEVIKULAM 88 F. RAJA INC ADV. A. RAJA CPI(M) 5233 DHARMADAM 12 PINARAYI VIJAYAN CPI(M) ADV. V.P ABDUL RASHEED INC 19247 ELATHUR 26 ADV.VIDYA BALAKRISHNAN INC A.K.SASEENDRAN NCP-SP 12162 ERANAKULAM 82 T.J VINOD INC SABU GEORGE IND 36163 ERAVIPURAM 125 ADV.VISHNU MOHAN RSP M.NOUSHAD CPI(M) 8803 ERNAD 34 P.K.BASHEER IUML ADV.SHAFEER KIZHISSERI CPI 41289 ETTUMANOOR 96 NATTAKOM SURESH INC V. N. VASAVAN CPI(M) 19752 GURUVAYOOR 63 N. K. AKBAR CPI(M) C. H. RASHEED IUML 1998 HARIPAD 107 RAMESH CHENNITHALA INC T.T.JISMON CPI 23377 IDUKKI 91 ROY K PAULOSE INC ROSHY AUGUSTINE KC(M) 23822 IRIKKUR 9 ADV. SAJEEV JOSEPH INC ADV. MATHEW KUNNAPPALLY KC(M) 42426 IRINJALAKUDA 70 ADV. THOMAS UNNIYADAN KC DR.R.BINDU CPI(M) 10212 KADUTHURUTHY 94 ADV.MONS JOSEPH KC NIRMALA JIMMY KC(M) 31300 KAIPAMANGALAM 69 K.K. VALSARAJ CPI T.M. NAZAR INC 9944 KALAMASSERY 77 ADV. V E ABDUL GAFOOR IUML P RAJEEVE CPI(M) 16312 KALLIASSERI 7 M.VIJIN CPI(M) ADV. RAJEEVAN KAPPACHERI INC 18433 KALPETTA 19 ADV. T SIDDIQUE INC P K ANIL KUMAR RJD 45031 KANHANGAD 4 ADV. GOVINDAN CPI SHAIJI OTTAPALLI KC 15316 KANJIRAPPALLY 100 RONY K BABY INC DR. N. JAYARAJ KC(M) 5772 KANNUR 11 ADV.T.O. MOHANAN INC RAMACHANDRAN K. C(S) 18551 KARUNAGAPPALLY 116 C.R. MAHESH INC ADV.M.S. THARA CPI 26618 KASARAGOD 2 KALLATRA MAHIN IUML ASHWINI M L BJP 22698 KATTAKKADA 138 M. R. BAIJU INC ADV. I. B. SATHEESH CPI(M) 7136 KAYAMKULAM 108 ADV.M.LIJU INC ADV.U.PRATHIBHA CPI(M) 15572 KAZHAKOOTTAM 132 V. MURALEEDHARAN BJP KADAKAMPALLY SURENDRAN CPI(M) 428 KOCHI 80 MOHAMMED SHIYAS INC K.J. MAXY CPI(M) 8188 KODUNGALLUR 73 ADV. O J JANEESH INC ADV. V R SUNIL KUMAR CPI 8308 KODUVALLY 31 P K FIROS IUML SALEEM MADAVOOR IND 36682 KOLLAM 124 ADV. BINDHU KRISHNA INC S. JAYAMOHAN CPI(M) 16830 KONDOTTY 33 T.P. ASHRAFALI IUML DR. P. JIJI CPI(M) 56017 KONGAD 53 THULASI TEACHER INC ADV. K.SANTHAKUMARI CPI(M) 3706 KONNI 114 ADV K U JENISH KUMAR CPI(M) PROF SATHEESH INC 1838 KOTHAMANGALAM 87 SHIBU THECKUMPURAM KC ANTONY JOHN CPI(M) 16859 KOTTAKKAL 46 PROF. ABID HUSSAIN IUML PREETHI KONCHATH CPI(M) 62638 KOTTARAKKARA 119 K.N. BALAGOPAL CPI(M) ADV.P. AISHA POTTY INC 1012 KOTTAYAM 97 THIRUVANCHOOR R. INC ADV.K. ANILKUMAR CPI(M) 35986 KOVALAM 139 ADV. M.VINCENT INC BHAGATH RUFUS IND 32709 KOZHIKODE N. 27 ADV.K JAYANTH INC THOTTATHIL RAVINDRAN CPI(M) 1483 KOZHIKODE S. 28 ADV. FYZAL BABU IUML AHAMMAD DEVARKOVIL INL 10795 KUNDARA 123 P. C. VISHNUNADH INC S. L. SAJIKUMAR CPI(M) 32564 KUNNAMANGALAM 30 M.A. RAZAK MASTER IUML ADV. P T A RAHIM IND 13313 KUNNAMKULAM 62 A C MOIDEEN CPI(M) P T AJAY MOHAN INC 4563 KUNNATHUNAD 84 V. P. SAJEENDRAN INC ADV. P. V. SREENIJIN CPI(M) 21283 KUNNATHUR 118 ULLAS KOVUR RSP KOVOOR KUNJUMON KRSP(L) 25314 KUTHUPARAMBA 14 P K PRAVEEN RJD JAYANTHI RAJAN IUML 1286 KUTTANAD 106 REJI CHERIYAN KC THOMAS K. THOMAS NCP-SP 20600 KUTTIADI 21 PARAKKAL ABDULLA IUML K. P. KUNHAMMEDKUTTY CPI(M) 10922 MALAMPUZHA 55 A PRABHAKARAN CPI(M) C KRISHNAKUMAR BJP 19721 MALAPPURAM 40 P.K KUNHALIKUTTY IUML K.T. MUJEEB RAHMAN NCP-SP 85327 MANALUR 64 PROF C RAVINDRANATH CPI(M) T N PRATHAPAN INC 126 MANANTHAVADY 17 USHA VIJAYAN INC O R KELU CPI(M) 10543 MANJERI 37 ADV. M. RAHMATHULLA IUML V.M. MUSTHAFA IND 57887 MANJESHWAR 1 A K M ASHRAF IUML K SURENDRAN BJP 29252 MANKADA 39 MANJALAMKUZHI ALI IUML KUNNATH MOHAMED IND 45609 MANNARKKAD 54 ADV. N. SAMSUDHEEN IUML MANZIL ABOOBACKER CPI 25903 MATTANNUR 15 V K SANOJ CPI(M) CHANDRAN THILLANKERI INC 14168 MAVELIKKARA 109 M.S. ARUN KUMAR CPI(M) ADV. MUTHARA RAJ INC 15736 MUVATTUPUZHA 86 DR. MATHEW K. INC N ARUN CPI 42829 NADAPURAM 22 K.M. ABHIJITH INC ADV.P. VASANTHAM CPI 23600 NATTIKA 68 GEETHAGOPI CPI ADV. SUNIL LALOOR INC 7093 NEDUMANGAD 130 G R ANIL CPI MEENANKAL KUMAR INC 21583 NEMMARA 59 K PREMAN CPI(M) A. THANKAPPAN INC 3305 NEMOM 135 RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR BJP V SIVANKUTTY CPI(M) 4978 NEYYATTINKARA 140 N. SHAKTHAN INC K. ANSALAN CPI(M) 6966 NILAMBUR 35 ARYADAN SHOUKATH INC U SHARAFALI IND 54851 OLLUR 66 K RAJAN CPI ADV. SHAJI J K. INC 8884 OTTAPPALAM 52 ADV. K. PREMKUMAR CPI(M) P.K SASI IND 26777 PALA 93 MANI C KAPPEN IND JOSE K MANI KC(M) 2991 PALAKKAD 56 RAMESH PISHARODY INC SOBHA SURENDRAN BJP 13147 PARASSALA 137 C K HAREENDRAN CPI(M) NEYYATTINKARA SANAL INC 15013 PARAVUR 78 ADV.V.D.SATHEESAN INC E.T.TAISON MASTER CPI 20600 PATHANAPURAM 120 JYOTHI KUMAR C. INC K B GANESH KUMAR KC(B) 8310 PATTAMBI 50 MUHAMMED MUHASSIN CPI T. P. SHAJI INC 9442 PAYYANNUR 6 V. KUNHIKRISHNAN IND T. I. MADHUSOODANAN CPI(M) 7487 PEERUMADE 92 ADV.CYRIAC THOMAS INC K SALIMKUMAR CPI 27634 PERAMBRA 24 ADV. FATHIMA T. IUML T. P. RAMAKRISHNAN CPI(M) 5087 PERAVOOR 16 ADV. SUNNY JOSEPH INC K K SHAILAJA CPI(M) 14453 PERINTHALMANNA 38 NAJEEB KANTHAPURAM IUML V.P MOHAMMED HANEEFA CPI(M) 32431 PERUMBAVOOR 74 MANOJ MOOTHEDAN INC BASIL PAUL KC(M) 28434 PIRAVOM 85 ANOOP JACOB KC(J) SABU K JACOB KC(M) 44681 PONNANI 48 K.P NOUSHAD ALI INC ADV.M.K SAKKEER CPI(M) 13267 POONJAR 101 ADV.SEBASTIAN M.J INC ADV. SEBASTIAN K. KC(M) 6693 PUDUKKAD 71 K K RAMACHANDRAN CPI(M) K M BABURAJAN INC 2853 PUNALUR 121 C. AJAYAPRASAD CPI NOUSHAD YOUNUS IUML 21529 PUTHUPPALLY 98 ADV. CHANDY OOMMEN INC K. M. RADHAKRISHNAN CPI(M) 52907 QUILANDY 23 ADV. K. PRAVEEN K. INC K. DASAN CPI(M) 12070 RANNI 112 ADV. PAZHAKULAM M. INC ADV. PRAMOD NARAYAN KC(M) 4344 SHORNUR 51 P.MAMMIKUTTY CPI(M) P.HARIGOVINDAN INC 16517 SULTHANBATHERY 18 I C BALAKRISHNAN INC M S VISWANATHAN CPI(M) 16597 TALIPARAMBA 8 T K GOVINDAN IND P K SHYAMALA CPI(M) 12551 TANUR 44 P K NAVAS IUML MOHAMED SAMEER IND 27131 TARUR 57 SUMOD CPI(M) SUBRAMANIAN K C INC 11910 THALASSERY 13 KARAYI RAJAN CPI(M) SAJU K P INC 20523 THAVANUR 47 ADV. V S JOY INC DR. K T JALEEL IND 14647 THIRUVALLA 111 ADV.VARGHESE MAMMEN KC ANOOP ANTONY BJP 10146 THIRUVAMBADI 32 C K KASIM IUML LINTO JOSEPH CPI(M) 6741 THIRUVANAN. 134 C P JOHN CMP SUDHIR KARAMANA IND 9863 THODUPUZHA 90 APU JOHN JOSEPH KC CYRIAC CHAZHIKADAN KC(M) 44291 THRIKKAKARA 83 UMA THOMAS INC ADV. PUSHPA DAS CPI(M) 50211 THRIPUNITHURA 81 DEEPAK JOY INC K N UNNIKRISHNAN CPI(M) 18468 THRISSUR 67 RAJAN. J. PALLAN INC ALANKODE LEELA. CPI 26803 THRITHALA 49 V T BALRAM INC M B RAJESH CPI(M) 8385 TIRUR 45 KURUKKOLI MOIDEEN IUML V.ABDURAHIMAN CPI(M) 24137 TIRURANGADI 43 P M A SAMEER IUML AJITH KOLADI CPI 63387 TRIKARIPUR 5 SANDEEP VARIER INC DR. V P P MUSTAFA CPI(M) 4431 UDMA 3 NEELAKANDAN INC C H KUNHAMBU CPI(M) 4847 UDUMBANCHOLA 89 ADV. SENAPATHY VENU INC K.K. JAYACHANDRAN CPI(M) 20021 VADAKARA 20 K K REMA RMPI M K BHASKARAN RJD 14862 VAIKOM 95 K BINIMON INC P PRADEEP CPI 1360 VALLIKUNNU 42 T V IBRAHIM IUML ADV. MUSTHAFA IND 51289 VAMANAPURAM 131 MUHAMMED SUDHEER. INC MURALEEDHARAN NAIR CPI(M) 12185 VARKALA 127 ADV.V JOY CPI(M) VARKALA KAHAR INC 2050 VATTIYOORKAVU 133 K. MURALEEDHARAN INC ADV. V.K PRASANTH CPI(M) 5425 VENGARA 41 K.M. SHAJI IUML SABAH KUNDUPUZHAKKAL IND 30325 VYPEN 79 TONY CHAMMANY INC ADV. M. B. SHYNI CPI(M) 15648 WADAKKANCHERY 65 XAVIER CHITTILAPPILLY CPI(M) P.N. VAISAKH INC 5690 WANDOOR 36 A.P ANILKUMAR INC DR.K.K DAMODARAN CPI(M) 47939

Kerala Election Results 2026: After 10 years in opposition, Congress-led UDF has stormed back to power with a decisive mandate, crushing the Left and reshaping the state’s political map in one of its clearest electoral resets in years. Scroll down.

Kerala Election Results 2026: Full List of constituency-wise winners; Congress-led UDF storms back to power after 10 years!

An elephant killed one person and injured another after it went on a rampage in Kerala on May 1. The incident took place after the captive elephant, brought to a temple at Kidangoor in Angamaly near Kochi, turned violent. The video of the elephant, which went viral on social media, shows it flipping a car and uprooting a tree, also damaging two-wheelers and other property. A police officer from Angamaly Police Station said the incident claimed the life of the lorry driver transporting the elephant and left its primary mahout seriously injured. The elephant, Mayyanad Parthasarathy, had been brought from Kollam to a temple in Angamaly on Friday. On reaching Kidangoor Mahavishnu Temple, it broke free and went on a rampage, according to media reports.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A 40-year-old man was killed and another injured after an elephant ‘Mayyanad Parthasarathy’ ran amok during a festival-related movement near the Kidangoor Mahavishnu Temple in Angamaly. The deceased has been identified as Vishnu, a native of Kollam. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a> <a href="https://t.co/bmPyCF9pjf">pic.twitter.com/bmPyCF9pjf</a>&mdash; Ashish (@KP_Aashish) <a href="https://twitter.com/KP_Aashish/status/2050111684002631762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Horifying scene</h3>Video circulating on social media shows the elephant lifting a Maruti Swift car and smashing it onto the ground repeatedly, completely destroying the vehicle. It was also seen dragging an uprooted tree. The elephant attacked several parked cars and two-wheelers near the temple. The chaos resulted in the death of a driver who tried to control the animal. The victim, identified as Vishnu from Kollam, died on the spot, officials said. The mahout, identified as Pradeep, was also rushed to a hospital for treatment, where he is reportedly recovering. It took more than an hour to neutralise and capture the elephant. Personnel from the Elephant Squad of the Forest Department attempted to capture the jumbo before it attempted to move out from the temple areas towards populated areas. Later, at around noon, more than two hours after the elephant turned aggressive, a veterinarian tranquilised it. However, shortly after being darted, the animal became briefly more agitated and overturned another vehicle within the temple premises. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-judge-found-dead-inside-bathroom-at-green-park-residence-1777740591183">Delhi judge found dead inside bathroom at Green Park residence</a>

The elephant attacked several parked cars and two-wheelers near the temple. The deceased, identified as Vishnu from Kollam, died on the spot while trying to control the animal.

An elephant killed one person and injured another after it went on a rampage in Kerala on May 1. The incident took place after the captive elephant, brought to a temple at Kidangoor in Angamaly near Kochi, turned violent. The video of the elephant, which went viral on social media, shows it flipping a car and uprooting a tree, also damaging two-wheelers and other property. A police officer from Angamaly Police Station said the incident claimed the life of the lorry driver transporting the elephant and left its primary mahout seriously injured. The elephant, Mayyanad Parthasarathy, had been brought from Kollam to a temple in Angamaly on Friday. On reaching Kidangoor Mahavishnu Temple, it broke free and went on a rampage, according to media reports.

The elephant attacked several parked cars and two-wheelers near the temple. The deceased, identified as Vishnu from Kollam, died on the spot while trying to control the animal.

Kerala shocker: Captive elephant goes on rampage, flips cars like toy, leaves one dead - VIDEO

In a viral video from Thursday (23rd April), an Indian Coast Guard Chetak helicopter was seen flying meters above the high-security Sabarimala hilltop temple in Kerala. The helicopter flying at such a low altitude had sparked concerns. Nestled within the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district, the major pilgrimage site is at an altitude of around 500meters. Known for its strict traditions, this temple attracts millions of devotees every year. The incident took place around 11 am on Thursday.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">An Indian coast Guard Chetak Helicopter is seen flying meters above the Sabarimala hilltop temple in Kerala. Chopper is seen slowly overlying the temple, following which it speeds away. Incident has sparked concerns. Coast Guard says &quot;chopper deviated due to adverse weather&quot; <a href="https://t.co/NGQzSZgX0Q">pic.twitter.com/NGQzSZgX0Q</a>&mdash; Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/2047553940867449314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

For a few seconds, the video showed the helicopter flying at an extremely slow pace, exactly above the Hindu temple of Lord Ayyappa, following which it sped away. The helicopter was seen meters above the Sabarimala temple's 'Kodimaram', (also known as Dhwajasthambam), which is a sacred, tall flagpole installed in front of Hindu temples. Following the incident, authorities in Kerala are said to have launched a probe."On 23 April 2026, during a routine training sortie from Kochi, one of our aircraft encountered adverse weather conditions. As a precaution, the crew briefly deviated from the planned track while seeking clearer skies. The aircraft returned safely to Kochi without incident. Training operations continue as scheduled," the Indian Coast Guard said in a statement, without elaborating further.

The helicopter was seen meters above the Sabarimala temple's 'Kodimaram', (also known as Dhwajasthambam), which is a sacred, tall flagpole installed in front of Hindu temples.

In a viral video from Thursday (23rd April), an Indian Coast Guard Chetak helicopter was seen flying meters above the high-security Sabarimala hilltop temple in Kerala. The helicopter flying at such a low altitude had sparked concerns. Nestled within the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district, the major pilgrimage site is at an altitude of around 500meters. Known for its strict traditions, this temple attracts millions of devotees every year. The incident took place around 11 am on Thursday.

The helicopter was seen meters above the Sabarimala temple's 'Kodimaram', (also known as Dhwajasthambam), which is a sacred, tall flagpole installed in front of Hindu temples.

India: Coast Guard helicopter flies meters above Sabarimala temple; ICG blames weather

At least eight people lost their lives, and several others were injured in an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit at Mundathicode in central Thrissur district on Tuesday (April 21, 2026), officials said. Nearly 40 people were expected to have been present in the shed during the blast, out of them multiple sustained burn injuries, and several were reported to be in critical condition. During the incident, eight people were confirmed dead. Among them, five bodies were recovered, while the remains of three others were found at the site, and the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, according to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA).<h3>CM expresses condolences</h3>Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan directed authorities to provide all necessary medical care to the injured and ensure well-coordinated rescue and relief efforts. He spoke with the chief secretary and said that, if needed, expert doctors from outside the state should be brought in to treat those with serious burn injuries, according to a CMO statement. The statement added that multiple departments, including police, fire and rescue, health, revenue, and disaster management, have been mobilised for the operation, with a special system set up to monitor the situation. The Chief Minister also expressed grief over the loss of lives. State Health Minister Veena George directed officials to ensure advanced medical care for the injured and make arrangements at Government Medical College, Thrissur, and Thrissur General Hospital, while nearby hospitals have been put on alert.&nbsp;In addition, State Health Minister Veena George also ordered officials to ensure advanced medical support for the injured and make all posible arrangements at Government Medical College, Thrissur, and Thrissur General Hospital, putting all nearby hospitals on alert. She also instructed to deploy extra ambulances, including under the Kaniv 108 service, for emergency response and patient transport. Residents confirmed that the explosion occurred at nearly 3.30 pm, with continous blast hampering rescue operations. An official at the site said arrangements had reportedly been made for meals for about 40 workers, suggesting that at least that number may have been present when the incident took place. He added that some workers likely managed to escape with minor injuries. Rescue operations are being led by fire and rescue teams along with the police, though ongoing explosions are making the efforts more difficult. The Thrissur district collector has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, assigning the sub-collector to carry out a detailed investigation into the cause of the blast and its aftermath, according to an official statement. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mass-food-poisoning-at-gujarat-wedding-400-affected-pattern-of-negligence-emerges-1776753186975">Mass food poisoning at Gujarat wedding: 400 affected, pattern of negligence emerges</a>

Nearly 40 people were expected to have been present in the shed during the blast, out of them multiple sustained burn injuries, and several were reported to be in critical condition.

At least eight people lost their lives, and several others were injured in an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit at Mundathicode in central Thrissur district on Tuesday (April 21, 2026), officials said. Nearly 40 people were expected to have been present in the shed during the blast, out of them multiple sustained burn injuries, and several were reported to be in critical condition. During the incident, eight people were confirmed dead. Among them, five bodies were recovered, while the remains of three others were found at the site, and the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, according to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA). CM expresses condolences Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan directed authorities to provide all necessary medical care to the injured and ensure well-coordinated rescue and relief efforts. He spoke with the chief secretary and said that, if needed, expert doctors from outside the state should be brought in to treat those with serious burn injuries, according to a CMO statement. The statement added that multiple departments, including police, fire and rescue, health, revenue, and disaster management, have been mobilised for the operation, with a special system set up to monitor the situation. The Chief Minister also expressed grief over the loss of lives. State Health Minister Veena George directed officials to ensure advanced medical care for the injured and make arrangements at Government Medical College, Thrissur, and Thrissur General Hospital, while nearby hospitals have been put on alert. In addition, State Health Minister Veena George also ordered officials to ensure advanced medical support for the injured and make all posible arrangements at Government Medical College, Thrissur, and Thrissur General Hospital, putting all nearby hospitals on alert. She also instructed to deploy extra ambulances, including under the Kaniv 108 service, for emergency response and patient transport. Residents confirmed that the explosion occurred at nearly 3.30 pm, with continous blast hampering rescue operations. An official at the site said arrangements had reportedly been made for meals for about 40 workers, suggesting that at least that number may have been present when the incident took place. He added that some workers likely managed to escape with minor injuries. Rescue operations are being led by fire and rescue teams along with the police, though ongoing explosions are making the efforts more difficult. The Thrissur district collector has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, assigning the sub-collector to carry out a detailed investigation into the cause of the blast and its aftermath, according to an official statement. Also read: Mass food poisoning at Gujarat wedding: 400 affected, pattern of negligence emerges

Nearly 40 people were expected to have been present in the shed during the blast, out of them multiple sustained burn injuries, and several were reported to be in critical condition.

At least 8 killed, several injured after explosion in firecracker factory in Kerala's Thrissur

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday (Feb 24) approved the proposal to alter the name of the state of “Kerala” to “Keralam”. The decision comes after the Kerala government moved a resolution to change the state’s name under Article 3 of the Constitution of India. The development comes ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, the dates for which are yet to be decided.&nbsp;After the Union Cabinet’s approval, the President of India will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the Kerala State Legislative Assembly to seek its views under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India.&nbsp;Once the Assembly sends its opinion, the Government of India will take further steps. The President’s recommendation will then be obtained to introduce the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, in Parliament to change the state’s name from “Kerala” to “Keralam”.&nbsp;The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed resolutions for the name change twice, first in August 2023 and again on June 24, 2024. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who moved the resolution, stated that while the state is called "Keralam" in Malayalam, it was recorded as "Kerala" in the First Schedule of the Constitution during the 1956 linguistic reorganisation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-trump-trade-war-in-asia-ignites-as-china-imposes-restrictions-on-japan-over-remilitarisation-1771930000748">After Trump, trade war in Asia ignites as China imposes restrictions on Japan over ‘remilitarisation’</a>&nbsp;“The name of our State is ‘Keralam’ in the Malayalam Language. States were formed on the basis of language on the 1st day of November, 1956. The Kerala Piravi Day is also on the 1st day of November. Since the time of the National Independence Struggle, there has been a strong demand for the formation of United Kerala for the people speaking the Malayalam language. But in the First Schedule to the Constitution, the name of our State is recorded as “Kerala’. This Assembly unanimously appeals to the Central Government to take urgent steps as per Article 3 of the Constitution for modifying the name as ‘Keralam’,” the resolutions read.&nbsp;The decision comes in a series of recent name changes by governments, including Gurgaon to Gurugram, Allahabad to Prayagraj, and Faizabad to Ayodhya.

The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed resolutions for the name change twice, first in August 2023 and again on June 24, 2024.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday (Feb 24) approved the proposal to alter the name of the state of “Kerala” to “Keralam”. The decision comes after the Kerala government moved a resolution to change the state’s name under Article 3 of the Constitution of India. The development comes ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, the dates for which are yet to be decided. After the Union Cabinet’s approval, the President of India will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the Kerala State Legislative Assembly to seek its views under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India. Once the Assembly sends its opinion, the Government of India will take further steps. The President’s recommendation will then be obtained to introduce the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, in Parliament to change the state’s name from “Kerala” to “Keralam”. The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed resolutions for the name change twice, first in August 2023 and again on June 24, 2024. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who moved the resolution, stated that while the state is called "Keralam" in Malayalam, it was recorded as "Kerala" in the First Schedule of the Constitution during the 1956 linguistic reorganisation. Also Read: After Trump, trade war in Asia ignites as China imposes restrictions on Japan over ‘remilitarisation’ “The name of our State is ‘Keralam’ in the Malayalam Language. States were formed on the basis of language on the 1st day of November, 1956. The Kerala Piravi Day is also on the 1st day of November. Since the time of the National Independence Struggle, there has been a strong demand for the formation of United Kerala for the people speaking the Malayalam language. But in the First Schedule to the Constitution, the name of our State is recorded as “Kerala’. This Assembly unanimously appeals to the Central Government to take urgent steps as per Article 3 of the Constitution for modifying the name as ‘Keralam’,” the resolutions read. The decision comes in a series of recent name changes by governments, including Gurgaon to Gurugram, Allahabad to Prayagraj, and Faizabad to Ayodhya.

The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed resolutions for the name change twice, first in August 2023 and again on June 24, 2024.

God’s Own Country to officially become 'Keralam': Union Cabinet approves decision to rename Kerala

A surgical instrument known as artery forceps was discovered inside the abdomen of a Kerala woman, five years after she went under surgery at Alappuzha Medical College in Vandanam, relatives of the woman said on Friday. Following the discovery, the woman identified as Usha Joseph was shifted to a private hospital in Kochi on Friday to remove the surgical instrument.&nbsp;Joseph's son, Shibin, told the news agency PTI that she underwent surgery in May 2021 for the removal of her uterine fibroid at the medical college. After the surgery, she was continuously experiencing abdominal pain. "Though she approached doctors at the same hospital multiple times, the cause of the pain was not identified," he alleged. "Recently, Joseph consulted a doctor, suspecting that the pain was due to a kidney stone, who advised an X-ray examination," he added.&nbsp;Shibin confirmed that after the X-ray, an artery forceps was found inside her abdomen, prompting doctors at the medical college to remove it next week. “However, we do not want any further issues and moved to a private hospital. The doctors here will scan and locate the exact position and will perform the surgery soon,” Shibin said.&nbsp;He further stated that the family demanded the removal of the instrument from his mother's body as soon as possible, alleging that doctors at the medical college had said no compensation would be paid for mistakes. “The doctors at the medical college told us that we can lodge a complaint if we want to. We have now decided to file a complaint at the Ambalapuzha police station,” he said.<h3>Alappuzha Medical College responds</h3>In response to the allegation, Dr Lalithambika, a retired surgeon at Alappuzha Medical College, stated that she did not perform the surgery. “The surgery happened just before my retirement, when I was not attending any major cases. As the unit chief, my name was recorded. Also, the surgery happened during the COVID period, and I was engaged with it,” she said, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;She also refused to comment on the allegations of taking money from patients before surgery. “I did not take any money from patients for any surgery. You can ask any patient I attended,” she said, adding that not even a scissor but a mosquito forceps was witnessed in Joseph's body. “It is a magnified view in the X-ray. A mosquito is a small surgical tool used to clamp small blood vessels. No doubt that it should not happen,” she added.&nbsp;She blamed the lapse on systemic shortcomings in a government hospital, explaining that under normal circumstances, a floor nurse records the surgical instruments on a board and ensures they are counted after the operation. However, she noted that government hospitals do not have floor nurses, and this protocol is therefore not followed.&nbsp;Lalithambika added that Joseph had undergone a previous surgery, and it must be examined whether the instrument was left inside his body during that earlier procedure. “This instrument can remain in the body for as long as 20 to 30 years,” she said.&nbsp;Health Minister Veena George said that all officials involved in the surgery who are currently serving in government hospitals will be suspended as part of the investigation. She further stated that a preliminary inquiry has already been conducted and that the findings have been submitted to the Director of Medical Education (DME).&nbsp;&nbsp;“It is a painful incident that should not have happened. Based on the preliminary inquiry report, the DME has formed an expert committee comprising senior doctors to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident,” she said.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/five-months-after-love-marriage-couple-found-hanging-in-up-s-fatehpur-1771653206272">Five months after love marriage, couple found hanging in UP’s Fatehpur</a>

Joseph's son stated that she underwent surgery in May 2021 for the removal of her uterine fibroid at the medical college. After the surgery, she was continuously experiencing abdominal pain.

A surgical instrument known as artery forceps was discovered inside the abdomen of a Kerala woman, five years after she went under surgery at Alappuzha Medical College in Vandanam, relatives of the woman said on Friday. Following the discovery, the woman identified as Usha Joseph was shifted to a private hospital in Kochi on Friday to remove the surgical instrument. Joseph's son, Shibin, told the news agency PTI that she underwent surgery in May 2021 for the removal of her uterine fibroid at the medical college. After the surgery, she was continuously experiencing abdominal pain. "Though she approached doctors at the same hospital multiple times, the cause of the pain was not identified," he alleged. "Recently, Joseph consulted a doctor, suspecting that the pain was due to a kidney stone, who advised an X-ray examination," he added. Shibin confirmed that after the X-ray, an artery forceps was found inside her abdomen, prompting doctors at the medical college to remove it next week. “However, we do not want any further issues and moved to a private hospital. The doctors here will scan and locate the exact position and will perform the surgery soon,” Shibin said. He further stated that the family demanded the removal of the instrument from his mother's body as soon as possible, alleging that doctors at the medical college had said no compensation would be paid for mistakes. “The doctors at the medical college told us that we can lodge a complaint if we want to. We have now decided to file a complaint at the Ambalapuzha police station,” he said. Alappuzha Medical College responds In response to the allegation, Dr Lalithambika, a retired surgeon at Alappuzha Medical College, stated that she did not perform the surgery. “The surgery happened just before my retirement, when I was not attending any major cases. As the unit chief, my name was recorded. Also, the surgery happened during the COVID period, and I was engaged with it,” she said, news agency PTI reported. She also refused to comment on the allegations of taking money from patients before surgery. “I did not take any money from patients for any surgery. You can ask any patient I attended,” she said, adding that not even a scissor but a mosquito forceps was witnessed in Joseph's body. “It is a magnified view in the X-ray. A mosquito is a small surgical tool used to clamp small blood vessels. No doubt that it should not happen,” she added. She blamed the lapse on systemic shortcomings in a government hospital, explaining that under normal circumstances, a floor nurse records the surgical instruments on a board and ensures they are counted after the operation. However, she noted that government hospitals do not have floor nurses, and this protocol is therefore not followed. Lalithambika added that Joseph had undergone a previous surgery, and it must be examined whether the instrument was left inside his body during that earlier procedure. “This instrument can remain in the body for as long as 20 to 30 years,” she said. Health Minister Veena George said that all officials involved in the surgery who are currently serving in government hospitals will be suspended as part of the investigation. She further stated that a preliminary inquiry has already been conducted and that the findings have been submitted to the Director of Medical Education (DME). “It is a painful incident that should not have happened. Based on the preliminary inquiry report, the DME has formed an expert committee comprising senior doctors to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident,” she said. Also read: Five months after love marriage, couple found hanging in UP’s Fatehpur

Joseph's son stated that she underwent surgery in May 2021 for the removal of her uterine fibroid at the medical college. After the surgery, she was continuously experiencing abdominal pain.&nbsp;

Surgical instrument found inside Kerala woman 5 years after surgery, Health Minister react

A horrific incident of child abuse has come to light in India's Kerala state. According to the local police, a stepmother allegedly burnt her five-year-old stepdaughter's genital area with a heated steel spatula. The woman meted out the punishment to the child for wetting the bed. The girl suffered severe burns.&nbsp;The incident in Palakkad district of Kerala occurred last week but came to light after the child’s teacher noticed her struggling to sit in the classroom, reported PTI.&nbsp;When questioned the child revealed the torture done to her by her stepmother. Soon after authorities were informed after which police sprang into action and the woman, originally from Bihar was arrested.&nbsp;A local court then remanded the woman to judicial custody for the next 14 days for further investigation.&nbsp;A case under key sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Juvenile Justice Act that grants protection to minors has been registered against the woman.&nbsp;The child, whose father is from Nepal and works at a hotel has been placed under the protective supervision of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which is also taking care of the child &nbsp;and providing emotional support.&nbsp;

The incident in Palakkad district of Kerala occurred last week but came to light after the child’s teacher noticed her struggling to sit in the classroom.

A horrific incident of child abuse has come to light in India's Kerala state. According to the local police, a stepmother allegedly burnt her five-year-old stepdaughter's genital area with a heated steel spatula. The woman meted out the punishment to the child for wetting the bed. The girl suffered severe burns. The incident in Palakkad district of Kerala occurred last week but came to light after the child’s teacher noticed her struggling to sit in the classroom, reported PTI. When questioned the child revealed the torture done to her by her stepmother. Soon after authorities were informed after which police sprang into action and the woman, originally from Bihar was arrested. A local court then remanded the woman to judicial custody for the next 14 days for further investigation. A case under key sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Juvenile Justice Act that grants protection to minors has been registered against the woman. The child, whose father is from Nepal and works at a hotel has been placed under the protective supervision of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which is also taking care of the child and providing emotional support.

The incident in Palakkad district of Kerala occurred last week but came to light after the child’s teacher noticed her struggling to sit in the classroom.

Stepmother burns private parts of 5-year-old daughter for wetting bed

An individual lost his life after a landslide buried two houses near Adimali in the Idukki district of Kerala late Friday night, according to officials. The deceased has been identified as Biju, who was a resident of Laksham Veedu in the Idukki district. Kerala police confirmed that another individual was also seriously injured in the landslide.&nbsp;The deceased's wife, Sandhya, was rescued after over six hours of joint efforts by locals, police, and rescue teams. She was later moved to a private hospital in Kochi for specialised treatment. Officials confirmed that the landslide occurred around 10 p.m. along the national highway near Adimali, sweeping massive amounts of mud and debris over nearby residential areas, according to a report in news agency ANI.<h3>Families shifted to safe locations</h3>In addition, two houses were completely destroyed during the incident, while six others sustained partial damage. In response to a precautionary measure, 22 families were shifted to different locations for safety.&nbsp;The incident occurred when Biju and Sandhya had returned home to retrieve certificates and other belongings when the landslide hit and buried two houses. Following the tragic incident, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) began a rescue operation, and it continued through the night.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of "heavy rain to very heavy rain" in Kerala for the coming three days, till October 28. The Regional Meteorological (Met) Centre Thiruvananthapuram has also predicted heavy rain with Thunderstorm &amp; Lightning, Squall for today and October 28, followed by "very heavy rain" on October 27.

The incident occurred when the deceased, with his wife, returned home to retrieve certificates and other belongings when the landslide hit and buried two houses. Following the tragic incident, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) began a rescue operation, and it continued through the night.

An individual lost his life after a landslide buried two houses near Adimali in the Idukki district of Kerala late Friday night, according to officials. The deceased has been identified as Biju, who was a resident of Laksham Veedu in the Idukki district. Kerala police confirmed that another individual was also seriously injured in the landslide. The deceased's wife, Sandhya, was rescued after over six hours of joint efforts by locals, police, and rescue teams. She was later moved to a private hospital in Kochi for specialised treatment. Officials confirmed that the landslide occurred around 10 p.m. along the national highway near Adimali, sweeping massive amounts of mud and debris over nearby residential areas, according to a report in news agency ANI. Families shifted to safe locations In addition, two houses were completely destroyed during the incident, while six others sustained partial damage. In response to a precautionary measure, 22 families were shifted to different locations for safety. The incident occurred when Biju and Sandhya had returned home to retrieve certificates and other belongings when the landslide hit and buried two houses. Following the tragic incident, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) began a rescue operation, and it continued through the night. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of "heavy rain to very heavy rain" in Kerala for the coming three days, till October 28. The Regional Meteorological (Met) Centre Thiruvananthapuram has also predicted heavy rain with Thunderstorm & Lightning, Squall for today and October 28, followed by "very heavy rain" on October 27.

The incident occurred when the deceased, with his wife, returned home to retrieve certificates and other belongings when the landslide hit and buried two houses. Following the incident, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) began a rescue operation, and it continued through the night.

One dead after landslide triggered by rain buries two houses in Kerala’s Idukki

A helicopter carrying President Droupadi Murmu encountered a minor tragedy on Wednesday when part of the helipad tarmac at Pramadam Stadium in Kerala sank shortly after landing. The President is on an official four-day visit to the state and was scheduled to offer prayers at the Sabarimala temple.&nbsp;Quick action was taken by police and fire department personnel, who manually pushed the aircraft away from the sunken area to ensure safety after the helipad surface partially caved in moments after touchdown, according to news agency PTI.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Kerala: A portion of the helipad tarmac sank in after a chopper carrying President Droupdi Murmu landed at Pramadam Stadium. Police and fire department personnel deployed at the spot physically pushed the helicopter out of the sunken spot. <a href="https://t.co/QDmf28PqIb">pic.twitter.com/QDmf28PqIb</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1980848627162730593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Officials respond quickly</h3>According to news agency PTI, police and fire department personnel quickly responded and manually moved the helicopter away from the sunken section to ensure safety. The surface reportedly gave way just moments after the aircraft touched down.&nbsp;The Kerala visit of President Murmu began on October 21 and is set to conclude on October 24. She received a formal welcome from state officials after arriving at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on Tuesday.&nbsp;"Governor of Kerala Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry &amp; Dairying Shri George Kurian received President Droupadi Murmu on her arrival at Thiruvananthapuram," stated the President's official X account.&nbsp;"Warmly welcomed Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on her visit to Kerala. Her presence was a great honour for the State and our people," Kerala CM Vijayan posted on X.&nbsp;The President’s schedule includes visiting the Sabarimala Temple on October 22 to offer darshan and perform aarti. On October 23, she unveiled a bust of former President K.R. Narayanan at Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram.&nbsp;She also inaugurated the Mahasamadhi Centenary observance of Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala and later attended the valedictory ceremony of St. Thomas College’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Palai.

Police and fire department personnel quickly responded and manually moved the helicopter away from the sunken section to ensure safety. The surface reportedly gave way just moments after the aircraft touched down.

A helicopter carrying President Droupadi Murmu encountered a minor tragedy on Wednesday when part of the helipad tarmac at Pramadam Stadium in Kerala sank shortly after landing. The President is on an official four-day visit to the state and was scheduled to offer prayers at the Sabarimala temple. Quick action was taken by police and fire department personnel, who manually pushed the aircraft away from the sunken area to ensure safety after the helipad surface partially caved in moments after touchdown, according to news agency PTI.

Police and fire department personnel quickly responded and manually moved the helicopter away from the sunken section to ensure safety. The surface reportedly gave way just moments after the aircraft touched down.

WATCH: President Murmu’s helicopter wheels sink into newly concreted helipad in Kerala

#Gravitas Kerala is grappling with a sudden surge in cases of a deadly brain-eating amoeba, sending alarm through the southern state. In the past few weeks, health authorities have recorded at least 104 cases of amoebic encephalitis, commonly called brain fever, with 23 fatalities confirmed so far.  

Kerala on Alert: 23 Lives Lost to Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba

Following the financial crunch, Union Minister Suresh Gopi has expressed his deep desire to leave politics and return to his acting and film career. While addressing an event in Kannur, Kerala, the Thrissur MP and actor-turned-politician stated that his income has decreased ever since he took the role of minister.&nbsp;"I really want to continue acting. I need to earn more; my income has now stopped completely," he said, news agency ANI reported. Suresh Gopi said that he is the youngest member in his party. Meanwhile, he suggested appointing Rajya Sabha MP C. Sadanandan Master in his place as Union Minister.&nbsp;"I have never prayed to become a minister. A day before the elections, I told reporters that I do not want to become a minister, I want to continue with my cinema. I took membership of the party in October 2008 ... it was the first MP chosen by people and the party felt they needed to make me the minister," said the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Minister of Tourism.<h3>Suresh Gopi says his remarks were often twisted</h3>Earlier this year, President Droupadi Murmu nominated the BJP veteran Sadanandan Master from Kannur to the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, speaking at the event in Kannur, Suresh Gopi said that his remarks were often twisted and misinterpreted by people. He noted that his use of the term “praja” to describe the people of his Thrissur constituency had drawn criticism.&nbsp;Citing an example, Gopi said that just as manual scavengers are now respectfully called sanitation engineers, his use of words like “praja” and “prajatantra” had been deliberately misinterpreted by his critics. "What is wrong with using the word praja?" Gopi said.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/priyanka-gandhi-slams-horrific-rampant-sexual-abuse-in-rss-camps-demands-probe-into-kerala-techie-s-suicide-1760333264492">Priyanka Gandhi slams horrific 'rampant sexual abuse' in RSS camps, demands probe into Kerala techie's suicide</a>

While addressing an event in Kerala's Kannur, the Thrissur MP and actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi stated that his income has decreased ever since he took the role of minister.

Following the financial crunch, Union Minister Suresh Gopi has expressed his deep desire to leave politics and return to his acting and film career. While addressing an event in Kannur, Kerala, the Thrissur MP and actor-turned-politician stated that his income has decreased ever since he took the role of minister. "I really want to continue acting. I need to earn more; my income has now stopped completely," he said, news agency ANI reported. Suresh Gopi said that he is the youngest member in his party. Meanwhile, he suggested appointing Rajya Sabha MP C. Sadanandan Master in his place as Union Minister. "I have never prayed to become a minister. A day before the elections, I told reporters that I do not want to become a minister, I want to continue with my cinema. I took membership of the party in October 2008 ... it was the first MP chosen by people and the party felt they needed to make me the minister," said the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Minister of Tourism. Suresh Gopi says his remarks were often twisted Earlier this year, President Droupadi Murmu nominated the BJP veteran Sadanandan Master from Kannur to the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, speaking at the event in Kannur, Suresh Gopi said that his remarks were often twisted and misinterpreted by people. He noted that his use of the term “praja” to describe the people of his Thrissur constituency had drawn criticism. Citing an example, Gopi said that just as manual scavengers are now respectfully called sanitation engineers, his use of words like “praja” and “prajatantra” had been deliberately misinterpreted by his critics. "What is wrong with using the word praja?" Gopi said. Also read: Priyanka Gandhi slams horrific 'rampant sexual abuse' in RSS camps, demands probe into Kerala techie's suicide

While addressing an event in Kerala's Kannur, the Thrissur MP and actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi stated that his income has decreased ever since he took the role of minister.

'Income has stopped suddenly': THIS Union Minister says he wants to quit politics, return to acting career

The Kerala High Court has ruled that a Muslim man cannot justify multiple marriages if he lacks the financial means to support the wives. The High Court made the observation while hearing a plea from a woman seeking ₹10,000 monthly maintenance from her husband, who survives by begging. &nbsp;Justice PV Kunhikrishnan said that the man is blind and survives by begging, but he has been threatening the petitioner, the second wife, that he will marry for the third time. The court also observed that he was getting ₹25,000 from various sources.&nbsp;The 39-year-old woman from Perinthalmanna had sought a monthly maintenance of ₹10,000 from her 46-year-old husband, a blind man surviving primarily on alms.Earlier, a family court had dismissed her plea, stating that since her husband earns his livelihood by begging, he could not be directed to pay maintenance.&nbsp;<h2>‘Don’t put your hand into a begging bowl’</h2>&nbsp;In his order, Justice Kunhikrishnan mentioned a satirical Malayalam phrase—“Don’t put your hand into a begging bowl”—to stress the futility of expecting sustenance from someone dependent on alms. The judge noted that the husband, a beggar, was “not a saint” either. Despite his blindness, he was allegedly threatening his second wife that he intended to contract a third marriage.The court recorded that the respondent had a notional income of about ₹25,000 from various sources, including begging, while continuing to live with his first wife. The court also expressed disbelief at the wife’s claim that her blind husband regularly assaulted her.&nbsp;<h2>‘Muslim personal law itself did not justify such behaviour’</h2>&nbsp;The court stressed that Muslim personal law itself did not justify such behaviour. “A person who has no capacity to maintain a second or third wife cannot marry again, even as per the customary law of Muslims,” the judge noted.Citing verses from the Quran, the court said the holy text propagates monogamy, allowing polygamy only as an exception.“If a Muslim man can give justice to his first wife, second wife, third wife and fourth wife, then only marriage more than once is permissible,” it said, adding that most Muslims follow monogamy in keeping with the spirit of the Quran.&nbsp;WATCH: Israel alarmed by Egypt's military build-up<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-alarmed-by-egypt-s-military-build-up-1758390624475/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-alarmed-by-egypt-s-military-build-up-1758390624475/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The court further remarked that multiple marriages among the poor often result from lack of education and awareness.&nbsp;The court added that religious leaders and society must take responsibility to educate communities on the true principles of customary law.“It is the duty of the state to protect the destitute wives who are victims of polygamy in the Muslim community,” the court said.

The court stressed that Muslim personal law itself did not justify such behaviour. Citing verses from the Quran, the court said the holy text propagates monogamy, allowing polygamy only as an exception. 

The Kerala High Court has ruled that a Muslim man cannot justify multiple marriages if he lacks the financial means to support the wives. The High Court made the observation while hearing a plea from a woman seeking ₹10,000 monthly maintenance from her husband, who survives by begging. Justice PV Kunhikrishnan said that the man is blind and survives by begging, but he has been threatening the petitioner, the second wife, that he will marry for the third time. The court also observed that he was getting ₹25,000 from various sources. The 39-year-old woman from Perinthalmanna had sought a monthly maintenance of ₹10,000 from her 46-year-old husband, a blind man surviving primarily on alms. Earlier, a family court had dismissed her plea, stating that since her husband earns his livelihood by begging, he could not be directed to pay maintenance. ‘Don’t put your hand into a begging bowl’ In his order, Justice Kunhikrishnan mentioned a satirical Malayalam phrase—“Don’t put your hand into a begging bowl”—to stress the futility of expecting sustenance from someone dependent on alms. The judge noted that the husband, a beggar, was “not a saint” either. Despite his blindness, he was allegedly threatening his second wife that he intended to contract a third marriage. The court recorded that the respondent had a notional income of about ₹25,000 from various sources, including begging, while continuing to live with his first wife. The court also expressed disbelief at the wife’s claim that her blind husband regularly assaulted her. ‘Muslim personal law itself did not justify such behaviour’ The court stressed that Muslim personal law itself did not justify such behaviour. “A person who has no capacity to maintain a second or third wife cannot marry again, even as per the customary law of Muslims,” the judge noted. Citing verses from the Quran, the court said the holy text propagates monogamy, allowing polygamy only as an exception. “If a Muslim man can give justice to his first wife, second wife, third wife and fourth wife, then only marriage more than once is permissible,” it said, adding that most Muslims follow monogamy in keeping with the spirit of the Quran. WATCH: Israel alarmed by Egypt's military build-up https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-alarmed-by-egypt-s-military-build-up-1758390624475/embed The court further remarked that multiple marriages among the poor often result from lack of education and awareness. The court added that religious leaders and society must take responsibility to educate communities on the true principles of customary law. “It is the duty of the state to protect the destitute wives who are victims of polygamy in the Muslim community,” the court said.

The court stressed that Muslim personal law itself did not justify such behaviour. Citing verses from the Quran, the court said the holy text propagates monogamy, allowing polygamy only as an exception.&nbsp;

Muslim man can’t keep multiple wives if he cannot financially support them: Kerala HC

A 16-year-old boy in the Kasaragod district of Kerala was sexually assaulted by at least 15 people he met on a dating app, police said. In connection with the case, 9 people have been arrested, including an Assistant Educational Officer and a Railway Protection Force member.&nbsp;Police said that some accused are absconding, including 46-year-old local IUML leader Vadakkumbattu Siraj. According to Kasaragod district Superintendent of Police Vijay Bharath Reddy, the minor boy met the accused persons on a dating app.&nbsp;“He had met people who were above 18 years of age. A person who joins the app has to give a self-declaration that he is above the age of 18. The boy has his own mobile phone with an internet connection and downloaded the app. There seems to be no parental control in his mobile use. He made the self-declaration that he is above the age of 18, and he has been exploited for the last two years,” said the SP, India Express reported.&nbsp;The officer added that 14 cases have been registered by the cops in connection with the case. Out of those cases, six have been transferred to Kannur and Kozhikode districts for investigation. The eight other cases, which are being investigated in Kasaragod, have a total of 10 accused persons.&nbsp;Police said the matter came to light after the mother of the boy discovered behavioural changes in her son and began suspecting something unusual. Later, she informed the state’s child protection helpline, following which the minor boy was given psychological counselling.<h3>Minor has been assaulted for more than two years</h3>According to NDTV, police chief Vijaya Bharat Reddy also said that the boy is in Class 10 student and it appears he downloaded the two years ago. He added that the boy is being suspected to have being assaulted for more than two years by these men in Kasargod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Ernakulam.&nbsp;"The assaults allegedly took place at the boy's home and in various locations across the other districts. The case came to light after the boy's mother grew suspicious when she saw a man fleeing their home upon her arrival. When she questioned her son, he revealed what had been happening. The mother immediately contacted a child helpline, which then alerted the police," Reddy said.&nbsp;Based on the boy’s testimony, police have filed 14 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, against 16 people, aged between 25 and 51. Officials also confirmed that one of the accused works with the railways.&nbsp;Investigators are additionally examining the app involved, which included features for self-reporting and age verification, to determine whether regulatory lapses enabled the minor’s sexual exploitation.

Kasaragod district Superintendent of Police Vijay Bharath Reddy police filed 14 cases in connection with the case. Six have been transferred to Kannur and Kozhikode districts for investigation, and 8 other cases are being investigated in Kasaragod.

A 16-year-old boy in the Kasaragod district of Kerala was sexually assaulted by at least 15 people he met on a dating app, police said. In connection with the case, 9 people have been arrested, including an Assistant Educational Officer and a Railway Protection Force member. Police said that some accused are absconding, including 46-year-old local IUML leader Vadakkumbattu Siraj. According to Kasaragod district Superintendent of Police Vijay Bharath Reddy, the minor boy met the accused persons on a dating app. “He had met people who were above 18 years of age. A person who joins the app has to give a self-declaration that he is above the age of 18. The boy has his own mobile phone with an internet connection and downloaded the app. There seems to be no parental control in his mobile use. He made the self-declaration that he is above the age of 18, and he has been exploited for the last two years,” said the SP, India Express reported. The officer added that 14 cases have been registered by the cops in connection with the case. Out of those cases, six have been transferred to Kannur and Kozhikode districts for investigation. The eight other cases, which are being investigated in Kasaragod, have a total of 10 accused persons. Police said the matter came to light after the mother of the boy discovered behavioural changes in her son and began suspecting something unusual. Later, she informed the state’s child protection helpline, following which the minor boy was given psychological counselling. Minor has been assaulted for more than two years According to NDTV, police chief Vijaya Bharat Reddy also said that the boy is in Class 10 student and it appears he downloaded the two years ago. He added that the boy is being suspected to have being assaulted for more than two years by these men in Kasargod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Ernakulam. "The assaults allegedly took place at the boy's home and in various locations across the other districts. The case came to light after the boy's mother grew suspicious when she saw a man fleeing their home upon her arrival. When she questioned her son, he revealed what had been happening. The mother immediately contacted a child helpline, which then alerted the police," Reddy said. Based on the boy’s testimony, police have filed 14 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, against 16 people, aged between 25 and 51. Officials also confirmed that one of the accused works with the railways. Investigators are additionally examining the app involved, which included features for self-reporting and age verification, to determine whether regulatory lapses enabled the minor’s sexual exploitation.

Kasaragod district Superintendent of Police Vijay Bharath Reddy police filed 14 cases in connection with the case. Six have been transferred to Kannur and Kozhikode districts for investigation, and 8 other cases are being investigated in Kasaragod.

Kerala shocker: Politician among 14 accused of raping minor boy met on 'Gay Dating App'

India's Kerala on Monday (Sep 8) reported its fifth death this month due to the brain-eating amoeba. According to reports, the patient, a native of Malappuram was undergoing treatment for the brain-eating amoeba, aka primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The Naegleria fowleri, aka "the brain-eating amoeba", lives and thrives in water bodies with stagnant water, a feature made alarming by the fact that, to date, in Kerala, the traditional practice of pond bathing remains a common practice. In the Southern Indian state, "Kulams" and temple ponds often serve as traditional bathing and swimming spots.<h2>What we know about the deceased patient</h2>The patient has been identified as 56-year-old Sobhana, from Thiruvali near Wandoor in Malappuram district. She was admitted to the hospital last week and had been in a critical condition since then.&nbsp;This was the fifth fatality since August 14th. Earlier, on Saturday (Sep 6), a patient identified as 45-year-old Ratheesh, a native of Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district succumbed to the infection.&nbsp;According to reports, 11 people are currently undergoing treatment for the amoeba at Kozhikode MCH. The condition of at least one of the patients is reported to be serious. A total of 42 cases have been reported across Kerala this year.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/alert-sounded-kerala-girl-dies-of-brain-eating-amoeba-how-safe-are-you-explained-primary-amoebic-meningoencephalitis-naegleria-fowleri-1755492493924">Alert sounded after Kerala girl dies of 'brain-eating amoeba' — How safe are you? | WION Explains</a><h2>What is primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)?</h2>Amoebic meningoencephalitis or amoebic encephalitis is caused by Naegleria fowleri, aka "the brain-eating amoeba". It is a microscopic single-celled organism found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers and hot springs.&nbsp;The organism mainly thrives in warm water and heat and grows best in high temperatures up to 115°F (46°C) but can at times survive warmer temperatures.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-once-accused-of-marital-rape-dismisses-domestic-violence-as-little-fight-with-wife-1757387427951">Trump, once accused of marital rape, dismisses domestic violence as ‘little fight with wife’</a><h2>How does it infect people?</h2>Naegleria fowleri can enter the body via infected water. This can happen when people go swimming, diving, or dunk their heads in water contaminated by this amoeba. The amoeba, as per the United States Centres for Disease Control (CDC) travels up your nose and enters the brain cavity, where it slowly destroys brain tissue and causes a rare but usually fatal infection called Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).&nbsp;Even if people don't go swimming in the above-mentioned water bodies, they can still risk infection if they use Naegleria fowleri-contaminated water to cleanse their noses and clear sinuses. In rare instances, people have been infected by chlorine-free pool water, water parks, etc.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">56-year-old dies from brain fever in Kerala. 11 people undergoing treatment for disease.<a href="https://twitter.com/JyotsnaKumar13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JyotsnaKumar13</a> speaks to <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sdhrthmp</a> for more details. <a href="https://t.co/YdUpvxNygh">pic.twitter.com/YdUpvxNygh</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1965272873888538629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A 56-year-old woman in Kerala has died from primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), marking the state's fifth fatality from the "brain-eating amoeba" this month. All you need to know about the invisible killer in Kerala’s waters.

India's Kerala on Monday (Sep 8) reported its fifth death this month due to the brain-eating amoeba. According to reports, the patient, a native of Malappuram was undergoing treatment for the brain-eating amoeba, aka primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The Naegleria fowleri, aka "the brain-eating amoeba", lives and thrives in water bodies with stagnant water, a feature made alarming by the fact that, to date, in Kerala, the traditional practice of pond bathing remains a common practice. In the Southern Indian state, "Kulams" and temple ponds often serve as traditional bathing and swimming spots. What we know about the deceased patient The patient has been identified as 56-year-old Sobhana, from Thiruvali near Wandoor in Malappuram district. She was admitted to the hospital last week and had been in a critical condition since then. This was the fifth fatality since August 14th. Earlier, on Saturday (Sep 6), a patient identified as 45-year-old Ratheesh, a native of Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district succumbed to the infection. According to reports, 11 people are currently undergoing treatment for the amoeba at Kozhikode MCH. The condition of at least one of the patients is reported to be serious. A total of 42 cases have been reported across Kerala this year. Also read | Alert sounded after Kerala girl dies of 'brain-eating amoeba' — How safe are you? | WION Explains What is primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)? Amoebic meningoencephalitis or amoebic encephalitis is caused by Naegleria fowleri, aka "the brain-eating amoeba". It is a microscopic single-celled organism found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers and hot springs. The organism mainly thrives in warm water and heat and grows best in high temperatures up to 115°F (46°C) but can at times survive warmer temperatures. Also read | Trump, once accused of marital rape, dismisses domestic violence as ‘little fight with wife’ How does it infect people? Naegleria fowleri can enter the body via infected water. This can happen when people go swimming, diving, or dunk their heads in water contaminated by this amoeba. The amoeba, as per the United States Centres for Disease Control (CDC) travels up your nose and enters the brain cavity, where it slowly destroys brain tissue and causes a rare but usually fatal infection called Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Even if people don't go swimming in the above-mentioned water bodies, they can still risk infection if they use Naegleria fowleri-contaminated water to cleanse their noses and clear sinuses. In rare instances, people have been infected by chlorine-free pool water, water parks, etc.

A 56-year-old woman in Kerala has died from primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), marking the state's fifth fatality from the "brain-eating amoeba" this month. All you need to know about the invisible killer in Kerala’s waters.

The invisible killer in Kerala’s waters: ‘Brain-eating amoeba’ claims fifth life in less than a month

In India's Kerala, the local health department has sounded an alert in the Kozhikode district after a nine-year-old girl died of a rare brain-eating amoeba. As per reports, the region in recent days has seen three back-to-back cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The three cases included a three-month-old baby. What is primary amoebic meningoencephalitis? How can you protect your family and yourself from the rare brain-eating amoeba? Here's all you need to know.<h2>What happened to the nine-year-old Kerala girl?</h2>The unidentified nine-year-old child was admitted to the hospital with a fever on August 13. Her condition worsened quickly, and she was transferred to Kozhikode Medical College on August 14, where she died the same day. A post-mortem test revealed that the cause of death was PAM, also known as amoebic encephalitis, a free-living amoeba found in contaminated waters.&nbsp;The search for the water body from which the young girl might have caught the infectious organism is underway.<h2>What is primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)?</h2>Amoebic meningoencephalitis or amoebic encephalitis is caused by Naegleria fowleri, aka "the brain-eating amoeba". It is a microscopic single-celled organism found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers and hot springs.&nbsp;The organism mainly thrives in warm water and heat and grows best in high temperatures up to 115°F (46°C) but can at times survive warmer temperatures.<h2>How does it infect people?</h2>Naegleria fowleri can enter the body via infected water. This can happen when people go swimming, diving or dunk their heads in water contaminated by this amoeba. The amoeba, as per the United States Centres for Disease Control (CDC) travels up your nose and enters the brain cavity, where it slowly destroys brain tissue and causes a rare but usually fatal infection called Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).&nbsp;Even if people don't go swimming in the above-mentioned water bodies, they can still risk infection if they use Naegleria fowleri-contaminated water to cleanse their noses and clear sinuses. In rare instances, people have been infected by chlorine-free pool water, water parks, etc.<h2>Is it contagious? How can I keep my family safe from the brain-eating amoeba?</h2>No, it isn't. An infected person cannot pass the disease on to another. The sure way of protecting yourself from the rare brain-eating amoeba is to avoid swimming in infected waters. If you're unsure about how clean the water is and choose to swim, as per a Georgia Department of Public Health advisory from 2023, "you can reduce your risk of infection by limiting the amount of water that goes up the nose."<h2>What are the symptoms of brain amoeba?</h2>Common symptoms that typically start after about five days of infection include fever, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms that happen at a later stage of infection are a stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. Ultimately, it destroys brain tissue, causing swelling in the brain and finally death.&nbsp;The disease progresses rapidly, and generally, death happens between one and five days after the infection. In almost 97 per cent of cases, the infection turns fatal.<h2>What are the treatment options for Naegleria fowleri?</h2>Currently, no set treatment for the amoeba exists. This is mainly due to the rare nature of this infection. However, a number of drugs have been found to be beneficial in the treatment.

An alert was sounded after Kerala reported three cases of a rare brain-eating ameoba aka primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). It has already claimed the life of a 9-year-old girl in Kozhikode. What is it? How can you protect your family and yourself? Here's all you need to know.

In India's Kerala, the local health department has sounded an alert in the Kozhikode district after a nine-year-old girl died of a rare brain-eating amoeba. As per reports, the region in recent days has seen three back-to-back cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The three cases included a three-month-old baby. What is primary amoebic meningoencephalitis? How can you protect your family and yourself from the rare brain-eating amoeba? Here's all you need to know. What happened to the nine-year-old Kerala girl? The unidentified nine-year-old child was admitted to the hospital with a fever on August 13. Her condition worsened quickly, and she was transferred to Kozhikode Medical College on August 14, where she died the same day. A post-mortem test revealed that the cause of death was PAM, also known as amoebic encephalitis, a free-living amoeba found in contaminated waters. The search for the water body from which the young girl might have caught the infectious organism is underway. What is primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)? Amoebic meningoencephalitis or amoebic encephalitis is caused by Naegleria fowleri, aka "the brain-eating amoeba". It is a microscopic single-celled organism found in warm freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers and hot springs. The organism mainly thrives in warm water and heat and grows best in high temperatures up to 115°F (46°C) but can at times survive warmer temperatures. How does it infect people? Naegleria fowleri can enter the body via infected water. This can happen when people go swimming, diving or dunk their heads in water contaminated by this amoeba. The amoeba, as per the United States Centres for Disease Control (CDC) travels up your nose and enters the brain cavity, where it slowly destroys brain tissue and causes a rare but usually fatal infection called Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Even if people don't go swimming in the above-mentioned water bodies, they can still risk infection if they use Naegleria fowleri-contaminated water to cleanse their noses and clear sinuses. In rare instances, people have been infected by chlorine-free pool water, water parks, etc. Is it contagious? How can I keep my family safe from the brain-eating amoeba? No, it isn't. An infected person cannot pass the disease on to another. The sure way of protecting yourself from the rare brain-eating amoeba is to avoid swimming in infected waters. If you're unsure about how clean the water is and choose to swim, as per a Georgia Department of Public Health advisory from 2023, "you can reduce your risk of infection by limiting the amount of water that goes up the nose." What are the symptoms of brain amoeba? Common symptoms that typically start after about five days of infection include fever, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms that happen at a later stage of infection are a stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. Ultimately, it destroys brain tissue, causing swelling in the brain and finally death. The disease progresses rapidly, and generally, death happens between one and five days after the infection. In almost 97 per cent of cases, the infection turns fatal. What are the treatment options for Naegleria fowleri? Currently, no set treatment for the amoeba exists. This is mainly due to the rare nature of this infection. However, a number of drugs have been found to be beneficial in the treatment.

An alert was sounded after Kerala reported three cases of a rare brain-eating ameoba aka primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). It has already claimed the life of a 9-year-old girl in Kozhikode. What is it? How can you protect your family and yourself? Here's all you need to know.

Alert sounded after Kerala girl dies of 'brain-eating amoeba' — How safe are you?  | WION Explains

Kerala is poised to become the first fully digitally literate state of India, with the official declaration set for August 21. Under the local Self-Government Department (LSGD) ‘Digi Kerala’ program, around 21.87 lakh residents of the state have been trained in digital skills, according to a report by the Indian news agency ANI.&nbsp;Kerala Minister MB Rajesh told ANI, “On 21st August, Kerala is going to create history by becoming the first Indian state to achieve total digital literacy... The campaign was launched in September 2023, and within 18 months, we were able to achieve the target of total digital literacy... Initially, we targeted citizens up to 65 years old, but eventually, over 1,500 newly literate participants were above the age of 90.”<h3>What is the Complete Digital Literacy Program?</h3>The Complete Digital Literacy Program, ‘Digi Keralam,’ was launched in 2023 by the Kerala local self-government department in order to extend the benefits of the digital revolution to all, regardless of age, enabling people to access e-services with ease. It also bridges the gap of the digital divide across the rural and urban areas, which highlights the state's commitment to inclusive growth and digital transformation.&nbsp;As per the Kerala-based Malayalam-language newspaper Madhyamam, this initiative covered 1.5 crore people with a door-to-door survey of 83 lakh households to identify those without basic digital skills. The survey discovered 21 lakh digitally illiterate individuals, among them many over 90 years old, after it was conducted by 2.57 lakh trained volunteers, including MGNREGA supervisors, National Service Scheme members, the National Cadet Corps, and Nehru Yuva Kendra.&nbsp;Officials confirmed that 99.98 per cent of the identified individuals, including 15,223 people above 90, have now successfully completed the program. “We had motivated the aged persons to overcome their hesitancy to use a smartphone,” said project assistant director Sajina Sathar.&nbsp;“We told them they could make video calls (to their children and relatives), watch their favorite programs and TV serials and hear music. That’s how we had evoked an interest in them," Sajina added.

Under the ‘Digi Keralam,’ the Kerala local self-government department extends the benefits of the digital revolution to all, regardless of age, enabling people to access e-services with ease and bridging the gap of the digital divide across the rural and urban areas.

Kerala is poised to become the first fully digitally literate state of India, with the official declaration set for August 21. Under the local Self-Government Department (LSGD) ‘Digi Kerala’ program, around 21.87 lakh residents of the state have been trained in digital skills, according to a report by the Indian news agency ANI. Kerala Minister MB Rajesh told ANI, “On 21st August, Kerala is going to create history by becoming the first Indian state to achieve total digital literacy... The campaign was launched in September 2023, and within 18 months, we were able to achieve the target of total digital literacy... Initially, we targeted citizens up to 65 years old, but eventually, over 1,500 newly literate participants were above the age of 90.” What is the Complete Digital Literacy Program? The Complete Digital Literacy Program, ‘Digi Keralam,’ was launched in 2023 by the Kerala local self-government department in order to extend the benefits of the digital revolution to all, regardless of age, enabling people to access e-services with ease. It also bridges the gap of the digital divide across the rural and urban areas, which highlights the state's commitment to inclusive growth and digital transformation. As per the Kerala-based Malayalam-language newspaper Madhyamam, this initiative covered 1.5 crore people with a door-to-door survey of 83 lakh households to identify those without basic digital skills. The survey discovered 21 lakh digitally illiterate individuals, among them many over 90 years old, after it was conducted by 2.57 lakh trained volunteers, including MGNREGA supervisors, National Service Scheme members, the National Cadet Corps, and Nehru Yuva Kendra. Officials confirmed that 99.98 per cent of the identified individuals, including 15,223 people above 90, have now successfully completed the program. “We had motivated the aged persons to overcome their hesitancy to use a smartphone,” said project assistant director Sajina Sathar. “We told them they could make video calls (to their children and relatives), watch their favorite programs and TV serials and hear music. That’s how we had evoked an interest in them," Sajina added.

Under the ‘Digi Keralam,’ the Kerala local self-government department extends the benefits of the digital revolution to all, regardless of age, enabling people to access e-services with ease and bridging the gap of the digital divide across the rural and urban areas.

THIS Indian state will script history with 100% digital literacy declaration on Aug 21

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THIS state will script history with 100% digital literacy declaration on Aug 21