Kerala

The Kerala government on Saturday ordered constitution of a five-member expert panel to enquire into the reasons for the landslide at the Wayanad tunnel project site. The panel will enquire whether the contractor has violated the contract conditions and will also look into the environment and forest clearances given to the project by the state and the Centre. The panel comprises Dr C P Rajendran (geologist), Dr Vishnudas (ecologist), Dr P Pugazhendi (Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala), Secretary of Public Works Department (PWD) and Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department who will also be the convenor, the order said. It said that the convenor may co-opt experts as members if deemed necessary. The terms of reference of the panel are to identify the causes of the accident, examine whether the contractor has violated the contract conditions and look into the environment and forest clearances given by the state and the Centre and to submit a report within a month, the .

NDRF and Fire and Rescue teams have intensified search ops along the Meenachipuzha river as efforts entered fifth day to trace Vikram Rana, the lone person still missing after the Wayanad landslide

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the usual date for the monsoon to cover the entire country is July 8 and, therefore, this year it has been delayed by a day

One more body was recovered from the Wayanad landslide site bringing the total number of persons killed in the disaster to four, Kerala Minister A P Anilkumar said. The minister told reporters here that the body was recovered from zone 1 of the search area in the morning. "Searches will be carried out in zone 1 and 2 of the area. Will be focusing search operations near the river also," he said. A landslide had occurred on July 7 at the site of the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project for connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode districts. Now four persons remain missing. Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday had said that search operations will be given priority. He had also said that of the 10 persons injured in the incident, three were discharged, four were still hospitalised but stable and three others were in the ICU of whom two were critical.

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The landslide occurred after a large quantity of excavated earth, removed as part of the tunnel construction project, collapsed onto the site

CPI MLA K Rajan on Saturday said the party continues to stand by its demand for the post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly. The CPI, the second-largest constituent of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), has been pressing for the post since the new Assembly session commenced following the recent elections. Speaking to reporters, the former minister said the party's stand on the issue remains unchanged. "You may not have heard my name being discussed for the post. But the party has raised the demand for the post. The party secretary has stated our position and we continue to stick to that stand," Rajan said. Asked about the delay in convening an LDF meeting after the alliance's electoral defeat, Rajan said it was for the LDF convener to convene the meeting. "It had been decided that the LDF meeting would be held in mid-June after discussions with the constituent parties. There could have been other engagements, including the Assembly session. The LDF

The rail system may require about 1,000 MWh a day, which is equivalent to Rs 31.50 lakh worth of electricity being saved every day

Kerala is attempting to tackle the fallout of a very southern trend: A growing elderly population. Others may want to take note

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday said Adani Ports cannot transfer its shares in the Vizhinjam International Seaport here without the prior approval of the state government. Replying to a question in the Assembly, he said there have been media reports regarding the proposed stake transfer, but the company has not approached the government seeking approval. "As per the agreement, they cannot transfer these shares without the government's approval. The approval of the State Government is mandatory, and in certain matters, the approval of the Central Government is also required," Satheesan said. He said no request seeking such approval has been received by the government so far. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) on Tuesday said Switzerland-based MSC, the world's largest shipping transport and logistics conglomerate, will acquire a 49 per cent stake in its Vizhinjam port in Kerala for about USD 1.4 billion. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will make the

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New governments in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have released white papers on state finances, but economists say debt figures alone do not capture the full fiscal picture

The revised Kerala Budget for 2026-27 presented in the Assembly by Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday gave a major push to the sports and cultural sectors, announcing projects, including an international-standard football stadium in Malabar, a film city in Kochi and a cultural park in Kozhikode. In a move likely to enthuse football fans, especially in north Kerala, Satheesan announced the construction of a world-class football stadium in the Malabar region and allocated Rs 50 crore for the project. Referring to the state's passion for football, he said a world-class stadium was essential to systematically identify and train football talent and host prestigious international matches. "Recognising the immense passion and profound love for the game among football fans in Kerala, an international standard football stadium equipped with ultra-modern facilities will be constructed in the Malabar region. An amount of Rs 50 crore is allocated for this project," he said. In the first ..

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday announced a series of tax relief measures, amnesty schemes and revisions to vehicle taxes while presenting the revised state Budget in the Assembly, saying the steps are aimed at easing the burden on taxpayers, supporting businesses and improving revenue mobilisation. The revised Budget estimates for 2026-27 project revenue receipts of Rs 1,69,646.37 crore against revenue expenditure of Rs 2,05,001.67 crore, resulting in a revenue deficit of Rs 35,355.30 crore. The Budget estimates capital expenditure (Net) at Rs 19,651.41 crore, public debt (Net) at Rs 52,364.13 crore, and an overall deficit of Rs 41.23 crore. The government has also announced additional expenditure of Rs 1,080.95 crore, taking the cumulative deficit at the end of the year to Rs 1,504.63 crore. One of the key tax relief announcements was the Flood Cess Arrears Settlement Scheme, 2026. The chief minister, who holds finance portfolio, noted that although the one per cent

As part of the policy, a robust land management framework will be established, supported by necessary legislation, to create a land bank utilising surplus and unused land parcels

Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Tuesday said that since January this year, 146 cases of Shigella were reported in the state and of those 70 were in June. Speaking to reporters here after chairing a review meeting, Muraleedharan said that of the five Shigella deaths, one was in March and the remaining four were in June. The highest number of cases -- 74 -- of the bacterial infection from January to June were reported from Kozhikode, followed by Malappuram -- 25, including two deaths -- and then Thiruvananthapuram -- also 25 cases of infection, according to the figures given by the minister. No Shigella cases were reported from Pathanamthitta, Palakkad and Kasaragod districts of the state till now this year, he said. Shigella is a bacterial infection that causes diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps. It spreads mainly through contaminated food or water and through contact with infected persons.

For thousands of women who travel daily for work, education, and household needs, travel expenses will no longer be a concern from Monday as Kerala launches 'Priyadarshini', a free travel scheme in ordinary KSRTC buses for women and transgender persons. The scheme, which forms part of the Congress-led government's five 'Indira Guarantees' announced during the Assembly election campaign, will initially be available on all ordinary KSRTC services across the state from June 15. As part of the first phase, women of all ages and transgender persons will be eligible for free travel irrespective of income, social status or any other criteria. No prior registration, documentation or application process will be required, official sources said. Passengers will only need to obtain a zero-value 'Priyadarshini' ticket from conductors through the Electronic Ticket Machine (ETM) while travelling. The ticketing system will digitally record every journey, enabling transparent accounting and ...

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Kerala is on high alert after the preliminary test of a 43-year-old man for Nipah virus infection at the Government Medical College here returned positive, officials said on Thursday. Officials said samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for confirmation, and the results are expected shortly. The Health Department has initiated measures to trace and isolate those who came into contact with the patient, a businessman from Feroke. According to health officials, the man, who was initially admitted to a private hospital, was shifted to the Government Medical College on Wednesday and is on ventilator support. Nipah virus is spread by fruit bats, and Kerala has reported multiple outbreaks since 2018. Health Minister K Muraleedharan told reporters late on Wednesday night that directions had been issued to health officials in Kozhikode to remain vigilant. "The NIV result is awaited for final confirmation. Based on the symptoms and preliminary test, it