The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Athithan's condition still critical

CHENNAI: The condition of Congress MP from Tirunelveli Dhanushkodi Athithan, admitted to Apollo Hospitals here after a road accident earlier this month, continues to be critical, according to the hospital.

A press release from the Director of Medical Services of the Hospital, N. Sathyabhama, said: "He [Mr. Athithan] is on ventilatory support through tracheostomy." Noting that his bleeding parameters show derangement, the release said they were being corrected by "transfusion of blood components. Antibiotics are being continued for severe infection."

Mr. Athithan was injured in a road accident at Vagaikulam near Tuticorin on August 5, in which his wife died on the spot. Initially he was treated at a local hospital and flown to Chennai for specialised treatment on Wednesday. — Staff Reporter

Awards presented

Chennai: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi presented the Best District Disabled Rehabilitation Officer (DDRO) Award went to R. Shyamala, DDRO, Thanjavur district on the 60th Independence Day. R. Chinnadurai of Chennai received the Best Doctor Award for his service to the physically challenged.

Chennai-based light music troupe Komaganin Raga Priya bagged the Best Private Employer Award and the Indian Association for Blind, Madurai, the Best Institution Award. A. Pitchai, managing trustee, Chellapandian Educational Trust, received the Best Social Worker Award for his outstanding work for the disabled. The Best Social Worker Award for outstanding work done for women was conferred on K. Meena, principal, Srimathi Indira Gandhi Women's College, Tiruchi. The Best Institution Award for serving women was given to the Tamil Nadu Makkal Nala Sangam in Nilakottai, Dindigul district.

"Killing of children in Sri Lanka inhuman"

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday described as an inhuman act, the killing of 60 children in an attack in Sri Lanka, and sought an end to such incidents. P. Nedumaran, convenor of the coordination committee of supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, condemned the incident and said silent processions would be taken out for a week from August 18 all over the State.

Governor hosts tea party

CHENNAI: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala hosted tea at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of the 60th Independence Day.

Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, his Cabinet colleagues and dignitaries attended. Cultural programmes highlighting the importance of national integration and communal harmony were presented by the artists of the South Zone Cultural Centre. — Special Correspondent

Sri Lankan Navy arrests 8 fishermen

Ramanathapuram: Sri Lankan Navy on Monday arrested eight fishermen and two trawlers of Rameswaram on the charge of boarding Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. According to information reaching here, the Sri Lankan Navy took the crew and all refugees on the board to their base and later handed over to the Talaimannar police. Meanwhile, 89 more refugees reached Dhanushkodi on Tuesday. — Staff Reporter

Air surveillance stepped up

PONDICHERRY: The Coast Guard has intensified reconnaissance and air surveillance on the Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry coasts during the last two days following a threat to the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research at Kalpakkam. — Staff Reporter

Old man killed in road accident

Tiruchi: Jayadevan, 68, was fatally knocked down by a car at Elurpatti near Kattuputhur on Tuesday. According to police sources, Jayadevan was riding a two-wheeler when a car bound for Namakkal from Tiruchi knocked the vehicle from behind.

Mettur level

Tiruchi: The water level at the Mettur dam stood at 110.84 feet against its full level of 120 feet on Tuesday. The inflow was 60,811cusecs and the outflow 20,000 cusecs. — Staff Reporter

More checkposts set up

Nagercoil : The Department of Forest has set up 10 additional check posts in different parts of Kanyakumari district to prevent poaching, according to the District Forest Officer, Sundararajan. Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, he said there were 47 tribal settlements within the forest area. Adequate funds had already been allotted by the Government for their uplift in terms of protection of crops from wildlife, establishing solar fencing and provision of new improved agricultural input and assistance.

Two killed

MADURAI : A 28-year-old woman, Aarthi Sankar, and her 18-month-old daughter, Aadhira, were killed and three others injured in a road accident near Tirupparankundram in the midnight of Monday.

The police said the car in which the victims were travelling hit a crane-mounted truck on the Madurai-Virudhunagar highway. They were coming to Madurai from Rameswaram.

Among the injured were Ganapathy Sankar, his son, and his mother. The car driver, Radhakrishan (55), sustained serious injuries on his leg. Tiruparankundram police have registered a case.

MLA visits hospital

Ramanathapuram : K. Hassan Ali, MLA, has deplored the condition of the Rameswaram Government Hospital. When he visited the hospital on Tuesday, no doctors except a nurse were present. The environment of the hospital was bad.

Mr. Ali said he was there in the hospital for nearly two hours. Nobody responded to the request of the patients. He would lodge complaint to the authorities concerned about the sorry state of affairs.

Cash, jewels stolen

MADURAI : Ten sovereigns of gold, Rs. 40,000 and a video compact disc player were stolen from a house on Mannar Mettu Street at Tirupparankundram on Monday.

The police said that the inmates of the house of S. Ayyavu (58) had left the house leaving the key near the door, which helped the suspect.

Water level

MADURAI : The water level in the Periyar dam stood at 118.90 feet (full level 136 feet) with an inflow of 869 cusecs and a discharge of 870 cusecs.

The level in the Vaigai dam was 42.16 feet (full level 71 feet) with an inflow of 595 cusecs and a discharge of 41 cusecs. — Staff Reporter

30 detained

ERODE: The Chitode police on Tuesday arrested 30 persons of Nature Living Rights Movement for attempting to prevent supply of water to Tirupur from the Cauvery River. Every day, 30 crore litre of water from the river is sent to Tirupur and wayside villages. Opposing this, the president of the movement M.K. Podaran and 29 others went to the pumping station near Bhavani to prevent the pumping. They said the supply benefited only industries, and they let off effluents causing health hazard to public. They were released in the evening. - Staff Reporter

Water released

ERODE: Water will be allowed for one full crop in the Lower Bhavani canal for paddy to be raised in LBP ayacut, said the Handloom and Textiles Minister N.K.K.P. Raja, who switched the button on for release from the Lower Bhavani Project Reservoir into the canal.

The Collector said water would be allowed till December 15 for the wet crop. Initially 500 cusecs was discharged, and will be increased to 2,200 cusecs. MLAs O. Subramaniam of Bhavanisagar and L.P. Dharmalingam of Sathyamangalam, and C. Nallasamy, president, LBP Ryots Association were present. - Staff Reporter

Protest

ERODE: Residents of Vendipalayam near here, blocked four share autos on Tuesday, complaining that they carried a lot of passengers, causing accidents. Last month, the Handloom and Textiles Minister N.K.K.P. Raja inaugurated two mini bus services in Vendipalayam. But the Democratic Youth Federation of India demanded more bus service and share autos. They even resorted to a `cry demonstration'.

On this, four new share autos started plying on Tuesday. But the residents raised objection. The police intervened, and one more mini bus was provided to Vendipalayam. - Staff Reporter

Man kills father

ERODE: A 40-year-old man killed his father on Monday, following a quarrel. According to the police, Thirupathi Venkatachalam (60) of Andharamedu, Kanjikoil, a widower had been quarrelling with his son Chinnappan for some years now. During a disagreement, Chinnappan hacked his father to death using a sickle. On Tuesday, Chinnappan surrendered before the police. - Staff Reporter

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