Page 8 - Chennai

Be prepared for unwarranted remarks in politics, says SC in defamation case

One should be ready to receive all sorts of unwarranted and unnecessary compliments upon entering politics, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday while hearing union minister L Murugan's plea in a defamation case. The apex court in September 2023 stayed the criminal defamation proceedings against Murugan on a complaint filed by Chennai-based Murasoli Trust for his alleged defamatory statements at a press conference in December, 2020. Murugan, union minister of state for Information and Broadcasting, moved the top court challenging the September 5, 2023 order of the Madras High Court, which refused to quash the defamation proceedings. When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday before a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan, it asked his counsel, "Are you willing to make a statement that you had no intention to defame?" The counsel appearing for the trust said that persons holding office had to be responsible. "Free speech issues, you have to have breathing space,"

TN CM announces cyclone relief fund of Rs 2,000 to rain-affected families

The families in Villupuram, Cuddalore and Kallakurichi districts which bore the brunt of damage caused by Cyclone Fengal would be provided a relief of Rs 2,000 each, Tamil Nadu Chief M K Stalin announced on Tuesday. Chairing a meeting at the Secretariat here to assess the damage due to rain in the state, the chief minister directed the officials to provide a relief sum of Rs 2,000 on the basis of family ration cards to families whose livelihood was affected due to a very heavy rain in Villupuram, Cuddalore and Kallakurichi districts. These districts witnessed unprecedented rain for more than two days. The meeting decided to extend relief assistance to the rain-hit people in Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Thiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts, and extend Rs 5 lakh as compensation each to the families who lost their kin due to cyclone or floods. The government has decided to provide Rs 10,000 as compensation for damaged huts, give priority to construct houses und

Rain hit TN districts battle with inundation woes, roads remain cut off

Several districts in Tamil Nadu adversely battered by torrential rain are battling with inundation woes, badly damaged roads and lack of access to essential commodities. In certain areas like Arasur in Villupuram district, people confronted with depleted essential commodities, resorted to a sudden agitation demanding the essentials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday to enquire about the flood situation in parts of the state and assured him of all possible support from the Centre. As per an estimate by the Tamil Nadu government, Cyclone Fengal caused unprecedented devastation in 14 districts, extensively damaging roads, electricity lines and caused heavy inundation. The sudden deluge not only inundated vast areas but also displaced the population and severely impacted the infrastructure. The "catastrophic event" resulted in the loss of 12 human lives, 2,416 huts, 721 houses and 963 cattle. Widespread damage was also caused to agriculture and

PM Modi dials CM Stalin over flood situation in TN, assures assistance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured all possible help and support to Tamil Nadu owing to the flooding caused by Cyclonic storm Fengal

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin declares Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for 7 killed in landslide

This comes after seven people including five children were trapped under the ground in a landslide in Thiruvannamalai district

Cyclone Fengal: Puducherry schools, colleges to remain shut today

Cyclone Fengal, which made landfall on the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Saturday, November 30, has caused widespread flooding in several areas, particularly in Cuddalore

Cyclone Fengal weakens, but heavy rainfall continues in TN, Puducherry

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday stated that the depression, a remnant of Cyclonic Storm Fengal over the north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, moved west-northwestward at a speed of 7 km/h during the past six hours and was centred at 11"The depression (remnant of Cyclonic Storm Fengal) over the north coastal Tamil Nadu & Puducherry moved west-northwestward at a speed of 7 km/h during the past six hours and was centered at 23:30 IST on December 1, 2024, near latitude 12.2°N and longitude 79.2°E, about 40 km northwest of Villupuram, 70 km west-northwest of Puducherry, about 80 km northwest of Cuddalore, and 140 km southwest of Chennai," the IMD posted on X."It is likely to continue moving west-northwestward and gradually weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area over north interior Tamil Nadu during the next six hours. The remnant low-pressure area is expected to emerge over the southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea off the north ...

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Cyclone Fengal kills 19 in India, Lanka; Puducherry sees record rainfall

According to IMD, Puducherry recorded 48.4cm rainfall in the last 24 hours (till 8.30 am Sunday), which is the highest 24-hours cumulative rainfall in the last 30 years

Chennai Airport resumes operations after cyclone Fengal crosses TN coast

According to IMD, Cyclone Fengal, which had been stationary over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, was classified as a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 65-70 km/hr

Chennai braces for Cyclone Fengal: Airport shut, flights disrupted

Chennai Airport has been temporarily closed, and multiple flights have been disrupted as Cyclone Fengal nears landfall in Tamil Nadu, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds

Cyclone Fengal: EMU trains in Chennai suburban to run less frequently

IndiGo issued a travel advisory and said that their flights in multiple cities, including Chennai, Tiruchirappali, Tuticorin, Madurai, and others were impacted

Chennai-based real estate firm DRA to expand footprint to Pune, Bengaluru

DRA is expecting its revenue to touch Rs 500 crore this financial year and has set a target of Rs 1,000 crore by 2026-27

Cyclone Fengal landfall today: Red alert for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

Cyclone Fengal update: Landfall expected near Puducherry on Saturday afternoon, red alert issued for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka

Cyclone Fengal intensifies: Puducherry, Tamil Nadu brace for the storm

Cyclone Fengal is gaining strength over the Bay of Bengal. Local administrations are finalising preparations in response to heavy rain warnings for Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh

House price index rises 4.3% in Q2 against 3.3% in previous quarter: RBI

The cities are Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai

SC stays revival of corruption case against former TN CM Panneerselvam

In a relief to former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed an order of the Madras High Court restoring a disproportionate assets (DA) case against him and his family members. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti issued notice to the Tamil Nadu police and others on a plea filed by Panneerselvam. "In the present matter concerned, the challenge is to the impugned order of single judge of the High Court judicature at Madras exercising powers of suo motu criminal revision, under Section 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. Issue notice," the bench directed. In the meantime, the operation of the judgment was stayed by the top court. The high court, on October 29, set aside a trial court order allowing the prosecution to withdraw the DA case against Panneerselvam and others while discharging the accused. The high court set aside the order of the chief judicial magistrate/special judge, Sivaganga, passed on December 3, .

High tides, gusty winds in Chennai as deep depression brews over BoB

The weather department has forecast that the system will weaken into a depression, with wind speeds of 45-55 km/h, gusting up to 65 km/h, as it makes landfall

Cyclone Fengal to hit Tamil Nadu: Rainfall disrupts flight, schools shut

Cyclone Fengal intensifies over Bay of Bengal, expected to bring heavy rain and winds to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry by November 30, affecting schools, flights, and maritime safety

Prime Minister Vishwakarma scheme will not be implemented in TN: CM Stalin

The CM said that moving forward, Tamil Nadu also constituted a committee to study that scheme in the wake of concerns that this initiative strengthens the system of 'caste-based vocation'