Page 4 - Kerala Govt

300 people shifted out of Kerala village after 'explosion-like' sounds

Nearly 300 people were moved to safety after "explosion-like" sounds accompanied by tremors were heard by them in the Anakkallu area here, police said on Wednesday. The first sound was reportedly heard at 9.15 pm on Tuesday, followed by two more at 10.15 pm and 10.45 pm along with mild tremors. The sounds were reportedly heard within a two-km radius, causing panic among the local residents, police said. As many as 287 people belonging to 85 families were shifted to a school late Tuesday night, police added. Local residents said they heard alarming sounds similar to those heard from granite quarries at their place repeatedly accompanied by continuing tremors. Cracks were also found to have developed in some houses in the area, they said. "We are scared of going back to our homes. We heard explosion-like sounds repeatedly. We all suddenly ran out of the house as sounds started repeating," a woman said. An elderly man said similar sounds have been heard in the area for the past 10 .

ADM suicide case: Kerala government, police action correct, says CPI(M)

Kerala's ruling CPI(M) on Wednesday threw its support behind the government's handling of the Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu suicide case, just a day after the arrest and judicial remand of its leader, P P Divya. CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said that the steps taken by the state government and the police in the case were "correct" and not a drama as claimed by the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan. On being asked by reporters as to what action the party would take against Divya, Govindan said that it was an internal matter of the CPI(M) which does not need to be communicated to the media. He said that any action to be taken in such matters is first discussed by the party's state and district committee. "The Kannur district committee will take a decision on what action has to be taken," he added. A similar view was expressed by K P Udayabhanu, secretary of the CPI(M)'s Pathanamthitta District Committee, who said that the district committee in .

Visa fraud: Kerala govt forms task force to check illegal recruitment

In 2023 alone, the Kerala state police registered 795 cases related to visa fraud, revealing the extent of the problem

News Highlights: Faima calls for shutdown of elective services in hospitals from Monday

Catch all the latest news updates from around the world here

Kerala govt officers need CM's approval for official visits: Raj Bhavan

This clarification followed Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's recent statement regarding officers visiting the Raj Bhavan without prior authorisation from the CM

Left govt 'defensive' on harassment incidents in Hema Committee report: UDF

The Congress-led UDF opposition on Friday claimed the Left government in Kerala was on the "defensive" about the incidents of sexual harassment and abuse mentioned in the Justice K Hema Committee report and that is why it was not being discussed in the state Assembly. The opposition allegation came after Speaker A N Shamseer denied permission to a notice moved by the UDF MLAs to adjourn the House and discuss the issue of alleged lack of further probe in connection with findings in the report. Shamseer said that permission was being denied as the issue was under the active consideration of the Kerala High Court. Raising strong protest against the Speaker's decision, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, claimed the notice was moved as Shamseer himself had said the issue should not be raised as a question in the House and to move a submission or something else. "It is an insult to the House if we do not discuss this issue which concerns women. We are strongly protestin

EY employee death: Kerala CM Vijayan highlights need to follow labour laws

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday stressed on the need to ensure that labour laws are strictly adhered to in all sectors of the country. Employees are subjected to restless work, threats of dismissal and denial of labour rights in some sectors including the IT sector in the country, he told the state Assembly. The Chief Minister was replying to a Calling Attention motion moved in the House regarding the recent death of Anna Sebastian, a 26-year-old chartered accountant who allegedly died due to work-related stress four months after joining Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune. It is necessary to ensure that labour laws are strictly followed in all sectors of the country. Vijayan stated that the lease agreement signed with the companies operating in the IT parks in the state stipulates that all labour laws in the state must be followed. "If these conditions are not complied with, employees can seek action according to the existing legal provisions," he pointed out. Although .

Kerala's rebranding push for private investment: Businesses wait and watch

The Communist bastion is looking to reinvent itself as a friendly destination for private investment. But its economic and business indicators aren't flattering

3-level probe ordered by cabinet into Thrissur Pooram disruption: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the state cabinet has ordered a three-level probe into the disruption of the Thrissur Pooram festivities in April this year. One of the investigations would be by the state police chief against any alleged failures on the part of ADGP (Law and Order) M R Ajithkumar with regard to the Pooram disruption, Vijayan said at a press conference held here after the cabinet meeting. The CM said the decision for a three-level probe was taken as a report given by ADGP Ajithkumar regarding the Pooram disruption "was not found to be comprehensive" and the state police chief had said there were failures on the part of Ajithkumar in connection with the festival. The other two probes would include a Crime Branch investigation into the various illegalities or crimes committed in connection with the Thrissur Pooram disruption and an inquiry by the Intelligence ADGP into any failures on the part of the various officials deputed to ensure the iconi

Kerala CM's remarks on gold smuggling to please Sangh Parivar leaders: Cong

The opposition Congress on Tuesday intensified its attack against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over his recent statements on gold smuggling through an international airport in Malappuram district and alleged that his remarks were to please the Sangh Parivar leaders in New Delhi. The grand old party sought to know based on which information the CM had made such a revelation. It also made it clear that the CM has an obligation to say what action the state government and the police have taken against the accused if they received money for anti-national activities through gold smuggling. Leader of Opposition, V D Satheesan, lashed out at CM Vijayan, alleging that his statements to a national media outlet in New Delhi contradicted his previous claims made in the Assembly and elsewhere. "The chief minister's remarks that the money reached Malappuram through gold smuggling is used for anti-national activities is meant to please the Sangh Parivar leaders in New Delhi," he said.

SC grants interim protection from arrest to actor Siddique in rape case

The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to Malayalam film actor Siddique in a rape case. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice to the Kerala government and the victim in the case during the hearing of a plea by Siddique challenging a Kerala High Court order which denied him anticipatory bail. At the outset, the top court asked senior advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the victim, about the reason for the delay in registering the complaint against the actor. The lawyer told the bench that the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed the shocking harassment and sexual exploitation faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, has to be understood in the larger context. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Siddique, submitted that a complaint was lodged in 2024 after a lapse of eight years. On September 24, the high court had rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Siddique in the rape case, saying that in

Relief from Centre: Kerala should see if ok to inflate figures, says Cong

The opposition Congress in Kerala on Tuesday said that the ruling Left government in the state needs to examine whether it was right to show allegedly inflated figures to get more funds from the Centre for disaster relief work in landslides-hit Wayanad district. Senior Congress leader and former Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala urged the Left government to disclose the true facts, including what was stated in its affidavit submitted in the Kerala High Court regarding the Wayanad relief efforts. His remarks come a day after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rubbished the charges of the BJP and UDF constituent, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), accusing the Left administration of corruption in amounts spent in connection with relief measures. Vijayan had also termed as 'baseless' the media reports claiming that an exorbitant amount was spent as part of relief measures. Media reports had made the claim referring to a Kerala High Court order in connection wi

Kerala to develop local early warning systems for disasters: CM Vijayan

The Kerala government has decided to focus on scientific use of land and deployment of localised early warning systems as part of its efforts to tackle Wayanad-like landslides and other disasters in the future, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. He said the landslide forecasting systems were in the "infancy" stage and his government now wants to "strengthen" Kerala's institutes and departments meant for studying climate change by providing them enhanced manpower and modern equipments. More than 230 people lost their lives even as an equal number of body parts were found from under the debris and from the Chaliyar river after the worst-ever disaster of the state destroyed large tracts of three Wayanad villages-- Punchirimattom, Chooralmala and Mundakkai apart from some in Attamala when the disaster struck on July 30. Speaking to PTI during an interview over the weekend, Vijayan said, "In an era of climate change, fragility is a matter that needs to be balanced with respect to

No power group, but 'strong alliances' in film industry: FEFKA gen secy

B Unnikrishnan, general secretary of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), on Sunday said there were "strong alliances" in the cinema industry, but he was not aware of any "power group" as mentioned in the Justice K Hema Committee report. Unnikrishnan, speaking to a TV channel, said that it was an "undeniable fact" that there were "strong alliances" of some production houses with certain directors, writers and actors to make big films. "They often work together on several projects back-to-back and naturally, everyone would try to align themselves with them to get opportunities. However, such alliances are based on commercial interests," he said. He also said that such alliances were not confined to Malayalam cinema alone and were present in film industries everywhere. At the same time, he said that there cannot be a secret lobby of different cinema-related organisations which meet periodically to decide who should be isolated from films. "The industry will not be able t

Expect Wayanad relief; Gadgil, Kasturirangan reports impractical: Vijayan

The Kerala government has sought a Rs 2,000 crore relief package from the Centre for the unprecedented devastation that occurred in Wayanad recently and is hopeful of getting "good assistance", Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here. He also dismissed as "not pragmatic" the recommendations made by the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan committees on ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats, saying the panels did not consider the societal expectations and ground realities in his state. Speaking to PTI this weekend during an interview on the Wayanad landslides, the chief minister said the state government has decided to construct new townships for the families of the victims and the survivors of the unprecedented devastation "within a year" and these dwellings would be "climate-resilient and sustainable". Vijayan said the state sought a disaster relief package of about Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre when he recently met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. The PM was

KITE introduces AMC for 185K hi-tech devices in Kerala schools

The Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), the technology arm of the state General Education Department, has introduced a comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for 1,85,114 high-tech devices in government and aided schools across Kerala. This move ensures the smooth functioning of these devices, which are essential for effective digital education. The AMC, which commenced Sunday, covers 79,571 high-tech devices installed in 11,226 primary and upper primary schools under the High-Tech Lab project implemented in 2019, an official statement said here. Similarly, 62,677 laptops and 42,866 projectors in government and aided high schools, higher secondary and vocational higher secondary schools, installed during the 2018-19 period, have been under AMC since April 2023, it said. K Anvar Sadath, CEO, KITE said that school principals should register any hardware-related complaints on the new portal - www.kite.kerala.gov.in/support. Vendors will be penalised i

Wayanad landslide: CM hails recue op by police in Kerala's biggest disaster

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday appreciated the valiant efforts of the police and the fire force in the wake of the recent devastating landslides that rocked Wayanad district and said it was the biggest disaster in the history of the state. Addressing the passing out parade of the Kerala police here, Vijayan said the state was yet to recover from the catastrophic incident in Wayanad. Hailing the police and the fire force, Vijayan said the daring rescue efforts have shown glimpses of humanity, which is the hallmark of the force. "The landslide in Wayanad is the biggest disaster in the history of Kerala. It is also one of the major national-level disasters. The people of Chooralmala and Mundakkai are still reeling from the loss of an entire region in the natural disaster," Vijayan said. He also said that the tragedy faced by those who were displaced from their homes and their lives has brought tears to the eyes of people all over the world. "In the face of this trag

Kerala landslides: Rescue continues on 5th day, over 1,300 rescuers at work

Search operations started early Saturday with more than 1,300 rescuers, heavy machinery and sophisticated equipment being deployed to look for survivors from the ravages of the landslides that have killed more than 200 people. Private companies specialising in the field of search and rescue, and volunteers have also joined the operations led by the army, police and emergency service units. However, huge boulders and logs brought by landslides and deposited in the residential areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala are posing a significant challenge to rescue efforts to locate people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. As many as 210 people have died and 273 were injured in the massive landslides that hit Wayanad district in the wee hours of July 30. Around 300 people are suspected to be missing and rescue operators are battling adverse conditions, including waterlogged soil, as they search through destroyed homes and buildings. The district administration had on Friday divided t

Wayanad landslides: State govt issues guidelines for burial of remains

As more and more bodies and body parts are recovered from the landslide-hit areas of this north Kerala district with many remaining unidentified or unclaimed, the state government has issued guidelines, including collection of DNA and dental samples, for burial of the remains. According to the guidelines issued by the Disaster Management Department, an identification number shall be assigned to each body or body part and the same shall be clearly mentioned in all the samples, photographs or videos of the remains and the record of material objects associated with the body. It further said that police shall make all possible efforts to identify the bodies or body parts and if identification was not possible, they shall release the body to the district administration for further action after 72 hours from the time of inquest. "The district administration shall inform Meppadi panchayat and the panchayat or municipality in which the burial site is located. In cases where the doctor ...

Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden extend condolences over Wayanad landslides

As per the officials, 210 bodies and 134 body parts have been recovered till now which includes 96 males, 85 females and 29 children