Page 7 - Kerala

Oppn walks out of Kerala Assembly after motion on Sabarimala gold denied

The Congress-led opposition staged a walkout from the Kerala assembly on Friday after Speaker A N Shamseer denied them permission to move an adjournment motion to discuss the alleged disappearance of over 4 kg of gold from Sabarimala. The Speaker denied permission to the motion, saying that according to the rules of procedure of the House, a matter or issue which is sub-judice -- pending before the court -- cannot be discussed in the assembly. Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan said that there was precedence of sub-judice issues being discussed in the House, to which the Speaker said, "Precedence cannot supersede rules, and someone has to bell the cat. I am belling the cat now." Satheesan further said that the issue raised by the opposition was a serious one, as the High Court has ordered a probe into the matter. He also said that Ayyappa devotees are disappointed over the issue of over 4 kgs of gold going missing from Sabarimala. "Since permission has be

Rare but ruthless: Deadly brain-eating amoeba claims 19 lives in Kerala

The mother of a nine-year-old girl who died after contracting the so-called "brain-eating amoeba" says she is still struggling to comprehend the loss. "I cannot believe my daughter is gone," a sobbing mother said, adding that there was no clear information from health authorities on how the child became infected. The girl, hailing from Kozhikode, is among those who have succumbed in recent months to Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, a rare but almost always fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri. Kerala has been grappling with a rare but deadly disease that has claimed the lives of 19 people in recent months. The culprit is a microscopic parasite known as Naegleria fowleri, more commonly called the "brain-eating amoeba", which causes a condition known as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, or PAM. The infection is almost always fatal, killing more than 98 per cent of those who contract it. Over 70 cases have been reported in the state this year. The amoeba is found

Kerala minister warns govt hospitals against charging poor for equipment

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday warned against the practice of government hospitals collecting money from poor patients belonging to free treatment categories for surgical equipment, saying it is a violation of the policy of the LDF government. She told the state Assembly that the government would view such instances with "utmost seriousness". The minister's remarks came following a raging political row over shocking disclosures made by a senior government doctor about the shortage of surgical equipment and delays in procedures at the state-run Medical College Hospital here. In a Facebook post, Dr Haris Chirakkal, the Head of the Urology Department, had said the shortage of essential medical equipment led to the postponement of surgeries. He alleged that repeated assurances from authorities had failed to resolve the issue, leaving patients in severe pain waiting for timely treatment. He had also said that due to the systematic procedural delays, they were forced to p

Deadly 'brain-eating amoeba' claims 18 lives, infects 67 in Kerala

According to Dr Girishkumar Soni of Lilavati Hospital, the amoeba infects a person when infected water enters the nostrils, commonly while swimming, diving, or nasally rinsing with unsterilised water

Kerala cabinet approves Bill easing rules on sandalwood cutting, sale

Cutting and selling sandalwood trees on private lands may soon be exempt from punishment in Kerala, thanks to a draft legislation cleared by the state cabinet. The cabinet on Saturday approved a draft bill that allows felling and sale of sandalwood trees on private property, subject to the permission of the Forest Department. A special cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, approved the draft of the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to amend the Kerala Forest Act, 1961 in this regard, a CMO statement said here. The Bill provides for granting permission to cut and sell sandalwood trees on private lands through the Forest Department, while ensuring that farmers receive the sale proceeds. Meanwhile, state Forest Minister A K Saseendran said sandalwood cultivation can be promoted in the state by ensuring the farmers receive the proceeds from the sale of sandalwood trees. The current market price of one kilo of sandalwood ranges between Rs 4,000 and Rs 7,000, depending

Kerala Election Commission to meet political parties on SIR of voter lists

Lauding 100 per cent digital literacy in the state, CEO Kelkar said that the exercise will be "easy" and will be conducted with the support of the stakeholders, including public, media, and parties

Lokah: Chapter 1- 'Chandra' box office collections day 15 enters 100 cr

Kalyani Priyadarshan's superhero film 'Lokah: Chapter 1- Chandra' has achieved remarkable success in Mollywood cinema since its release on Aug 28, entering the 100 cr club in just 15 days

No fresh affidavit filed on Sabarimala, rituals strictly followed, says TDB

Travancore Devaswom Board President P S Prasanth on Wednesday said the board's last affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court in 2016 sought to protect the traditional rituals and customs related to the entry of young women in the Sabarimala temple. No new affidavit has been submitted since then, and the previous one is no longer relevant, he told reporters here. Prasanth was responding to a question about whether the TDB would change its position in the apex court regarding the entry of women of menstruating age group into the Lord Ayyappa shrine. The opposition Congress and BJP have asked the TDB to clarify its stance on the issue. The TDB president said in the past four to five years, all rituals and customs have been strictly followed at the Sabarimala temple, without any deviations. "The matter is pending before the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. As far as the TDB is concerned, the last affidavit submitted by the Board in 2016 wanted to protect the rituals and cust

Another man in Kerala dies of rare brain infection, 11 under treatment

A 45-year-old man died from amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and often fatal brain infection, while undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, health officials said on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Ratheesh, a native of Sultan Bathery here. He was also suffering from cardiac issues, they said. As many as 11 people are now under treatment at the medical college in Kozhikode with the symptoms of the disease, the officials added. Three persons had succumbed to amoebic brain fever in the state in August. In view of the deaths, the Kerala Health department recently issued special guidelines for the treatment of amoebic meningoencephalitis, the rare brain infection caused by free-living amoeba in contaminated waters. According to health officials, amoebic meningoencephalitis is primarily contracted through swimming or bathing in contaminated water. A total of 42 cases have been reported across Kerala this year, they added.

India's infant mortality rate hits historic low of 25; big states struggle

Kerala has one of the lowest infant deaths in India at 5 per 1,000 births, while the national average has dropped to 25 - the best ever. But states like UP, MP and Chhattisgarh still lag behind

KMAT Admit Card 2025: Hall tickets to be out at 4 pm today on website

The KPPGCA will release the KMAT 2025 Admit Card today, September 2, at 4:00 PM on the official website, kmatindia.com. The mock tests will be held on Sept 3-4, 2025 and KMAT exams on Sept 7, 2025

Two more deaths in Kerala from amoebic meningoencephalitis, toll rises to 3

Two people, including a three-month-old infant, have died from amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and often fatal brain infection, while undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, health officials said on Monday. With these deaths, the toll from the amoebic brain fever in the state has risen to three within August, officials said. The deceased infant was the son of Abubacker Siddique from Omassery in this district and had been receiving treatment at the hospital for the past month. His condition worsened on Sunday, leading to his death in the ICU, an official said. The other victim, Ramla (52) of Kappil in Malappuram district, developed symptoms on July 8. She was initially treated at a private hospital and later shifted to Kozhikode Medical College as her condition deteriorated. According to health officials, eight other patients from Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Earlier, on August 14, a ...

One killed in blast at illegal firework manufacturing unit in Kannur

One person died after a powerful explosion brought down an entire house, where explosives were allegedly being stored for preparing fireworks, at Kannapuram in this north Kerala district early Saturday morning, police said. The deceased has been identified as K Mohammad Asham of Challad here, who was inside the house when the explosion occurred. Police have registered a case against Anoop Malik, who had taken the house on rent. Asham was a distant relative of Malik, who is currently absconding, police said. It said that Malik was a supplier of fireworks and had been involved in a similar blast at a house in Podikundu in 2016, where explosives were illegally stocked. According to the police, the blast occurred around 1.50 am. "The intensity of the blast caused the entire structure to collapse and partially damaged four neighbouring houses," an officer from Kannapuram police station said. Police called in the bomb detection and disposal squad to clear the area of any remaining explo

Kerala's professional talent pool grows 172% in five years: Report

A new LinkedIn Talent Insights report released on Friday highlights a 172 per cent growth in Kerala's professional talent pool over the past five years, the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), an advisory body to the state government, said. The findings were presented at the Skill Kerala Global Summit in Kochi. According to K-DISC, this growth places Kerala ninth among Indian states, with nearly 40 per cent of its workforce concentrated in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode. The most common roles among professionals include software engineers, accountants, and teachers, reflecting technology, finance, and education as the backbone of Kerala's economy, the advisory body said in a statement. The report highlights a significant inflow of skilled professionals returning from abroad, particularly from the Gulf region. About 52 per cent of Kerala's global returnees came from the UAE, bringing expertise in business operations, finance, and ...

Kerala clears land act amendment to resolve disputes in hilly areas

The Kerala cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment to the decades-old Land Assignment Act, meeting a long-pending demand of people living in the state's high ranges to resolve various land-related issues. Announcing the decision at a press conference here, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said land disputes had been a serious concern in hilly regions and resolving them was one of the prime objectives of the LDF government. He recalled that since the government assumed office in 2016, a series of interventions had been made to address the issue, paving the way for the landmark amendment. A cabinet meeting held here approved the amendments to the Act, Vijayan said. The chief minister explained that the original Land Assignment Act, 1960, allowed land titles to be granted for agriculture, housing, neighbourhood amenities, and shop sites. However, many beneficiaries later diverted land for other uses or transferred ownership, creating "legal complications." "The construction of ...

FIR registered against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil for stalking women

A case was registered against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil on Wednesday by the Kerala police for various offences, including stalking and harassing women on social media. The development came hours after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram that all possible legal steps would be taken in connection with the allegations against Mamkootathil. The Crime Branch wing of the police registered the case and launched an investigation on the instructions of state DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar, a statement issued by the State Police Media Centre said. The case was registered after it was found that complaints received by the DGP included commission of cognizable offences, it said. The FIR was registered under sections 78(2) (stalking) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 120 (o) (causing, through any means of communication, a nuisance of himself to any person by repeated or undesirable or anonymous call, letter,

Malayalam actress Lakshmi Menon named in abduction case of IT professional

According to Putta Wimaladitya, the commissioner of police in Kochi City, actress Lakshmi Menon is currently absconding. She is implicated in a kidnapping case related to an IT professional

Mollywood actor Rajesh Keshav critical after suffering cardiac arrest

Mollywood actor and TV presenter Rajesh Keshav was rushed to a Lakeshore Kochi hospital after he collapsed during a live event on Sunday night. He suffered a cardiac arrest

Happy Onam 2025: 30+ wishes and greetings to share with loved ones

Onam is one of Kerala's most beloved festivals, marking the beginning of the Malayali New Year and the homecoming of the king Mahabali. In 2025, the celebration will occur from Aug 26 to Sept 5

Congress suspends MLA Rahul Mamkootathil over sexual misconduct allegations

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said MLA Rahul Mamkootathil was suspended from the primary membership of the party after it was satisfied that the information gathered about his "misconduct" towards women was correct. He also said that if Mamkootathil is innocent, he should prove it. A day after Mamkootathil, facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations, was suspended from the primary membership of the party on Monday, Chennithala said the Congress will not tolerate activities that hurt the dignity of women. "I don't know whether these allegations are correct or not, but the gathered information said this is correct. That is why we all advocated for strong action," Chennithala, who is abroad, told PTI in a telephonic interview. Describing the party's decision against Mamkootathil as "bold and idealistic", which will help uphold the dignity and rights of women, the senior leader said there was consensus among the party leaders on the necessity of stringent acti