Page 8 - Tamil Nadu

Cough syrup deaths: Probe into Coldrif manufacturer exposes TNFDA lapses

The investigation against the Kanchipuram-based manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup, linked to the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh, has brought to light lapses by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration in enforcing basic regulatory norms, CDSCO sources said. Licensed in 2011 by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (TNFDA), Sresan Pharma continued operations unchecked for over a decade despite its dismal infrastructure and multiple violations of national drug safety rules, they said. A recent inspection by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) exposed the unit's appalling conditions and total non-compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), the sources said. "The CDSCO has not been involved in any of the audits at Sresan Pharma. Since the CDSCO was not involved and the state FDA did not inform the CDSCO about this company in any way, this company was not part of any of the CDSCO databases," a source said. TNFDA officials could not be reached

Tamil Nadu remains polio free for 21 years, says Minister Ma Subramanian

Tamil Nadu has remained polio free for 21 consecutive years, state Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Sunday. After launching a polio camp in neighbouring Chengalpattu, one of the six districts for polio camps, he said a target has been set to vaccinate 7.88 lakh infants in these districts. The India Experts Advisory Group has identified 269 districts in 21 States as vulnerable for polio diseases in view of the spread of virus in neighbouring countries, he said. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he said six districts from Tamil Nadu -- Chengalpattu, Mayiladuthurai, Sivagangai, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar were selected among the 269 districts for the conduct of the polio camp under the Sub-National Immunisation Day round for polio vaccination as suggested by IEAG. "With the spread of polio virus in neighbouring countries and based on the guidelines putforth by the IEAG, six districts from Tamil Nadu have been shortlisted for conducting the camp," he said. In all the

Puthiya Thalaimurai news office in Chennai recieves hoax bomb threat

Following the alert, police rushed to the spot, evacuated all employees from the office, and carried out a thorough search using metal detectors and sniffer dogs

PTI office in Chennai receives bomb threat, turns out to be hoax: Police

About 30 e-mail bomb threats have been received in Chennai in the last one month, including to the one to PTI office here on Friday and all of them have turned out to be hoax, police said. The bomb threat to the office of the country's premier news agency located at Kodambakkam was sent through email and currently investigation was underway to trace the sender, a senior police official said. Initially a police team arrived at the PTI office and evacuated the staff present there. Later a police sniffer dog squad and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) conducted a thorough check in the premises and nothing suspicious was found, police said. Preliminary investigation revealed that the sender had issued the threat through a fake email ID, to the DGP office, the official said. "We have received 20-30 email bomb threats since the past one month and in all those cases, such threats were sent from fake email IDs. We are engaged in tracing the IP addresses to narrow down on the sender

TVK chief Vijay gets hoax bomb threat call weeks after Karur stampede

An investigation was launched by the Chennai police, who are also tracing the caller's location. Additionally, security at Vijay's house in Neelangarai has been tightened

DMK's Senthil Balaji hands over cheques to those injured in Karur stampede

DMK leader Senthil Balaji, who represents the Karur constituency, on Wednesday handed over the cheques from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to families of 45 people who were injured in the stampede during a TVK rally here on September 27. As many as 41 people lost their lives in a stampede at actor-politician and TVK chief Vijay's public rally in Karur on September 27. The Tamil Nadu government had announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the victims and Rs 1 lakh each for the injured. According to an official source, cheques ranging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh depending on the severity of the injuries were given. Those requiring one-day hospitalisation were awarded Rs 50,000 and those requiring hospitalisation of more than two days were awarded Rs 1 lakh in compensation, added the official. Incidentally, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief, had also reached out to the families of the Karur stampede victims on October 6 through WhatsApp video calls and assured

Kerala stops sale of Sresan drugs after Tamil Nadu cancels company licence

The Kerala government on Tuesday banned the distribution of medicines manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals. The decision follows steps by the Tamil Nadu Drugs Controller to cancel the company's licence, state Health Minister Veena George said. Sales of Respifresh TR, manufactured by a Gujarat-based firm, were also stopped immediately after the drug was found to be substandard, the minister said in a statement. There are five distributors in the state supplying this medicine, and they have been instructed to stop distribution, George said. Strict action will be taken against those selling this medicine. Those in possession of this drug are requested not to use it. These medicines are not distributed through government hospitals. She added that strict action would be initiated against establishments that provide medicines to children under the age of 12 without a prescription from an authorised doctor. The ban comes after reports that 14 children in Chhindwara, M

Stalin launches AeroDefCon 2025, TN eyes ₹75,000 cr investment by 2032

The event, being held at the Chennai Trade Centre till October 9, will serve as a key platform to connect international companies in the sector with Tamil Nadu's rapidly growing aerospace and defence

SC to hear plea seeking CBI probe into Karur stampede on October 10

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on October 10 a plea challenging a Madras High Court order refusing a CBI probe into the September 27 stampede at Karur during a political rally of actor and TVK founder Vijay that killed 41 persons and injured over 60. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the appeal of BJP leader Uma Anandan seeking a CBI probe into the stampede. A plea for CBI probe has been dismissed whereas a single judge has observed that he is not satisfied with the probe conducted (into the stampede)," a lawyer told the bench. "List (it) on Friday, the CJI said. On October 3, the Madras High Court formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the September 27 stampede at the political rally of actor-politician Vijay. The principal bench of the high court also dismissed a BJP leader's plea seeking a CBI probe into the incident, and directed her to approach the Madurai bench. The high court formed the SIT under s

CM Stalin inaugurates multiple welfare, development projects in Chennai

Stalin flagged off 23 vehicles purchased for Rs 3.62 crore to benefit students in tribal hostels and residential schools, along with three vehicles donated through CSR funds

Tamil Nadu to deliver ration at doorsteps on Oct 6, 7, ahead of Diwali

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced that it will deliver essential commodities under the Public Distribution System directly to the homes of senior citizen and differently-abled family cardholders on October 5 and 6 ahead of the Diwali festival which falls on October 20. This doorstep delivery would be done under the 'Thayumanavar' Scheme launched by Chief Minister M K Stalin in August. The distribution would be taken up simultaneously throughout the state, an official release here said. Senior citizens, aged over 70 years and differently abled family ration cardholders would be spared of the trouble of visiting the fair price shops in their neighbourhood and wait in queues to obtain their monthly ration. Vehicles from the FP shops would bring the essential commodities directly to the doorsteps of the beneficiaries and the PDS staff would use electronic weighing scales and e-POS machines for accurate and transparent distribution, it said. A total of 21.7 lakh cardholder

Tamil Nadu bans 'Coldrif' cough syrup after child deaths in MP, Rajasthan

The Tamil Nadu government has banned the sale of cough syrup 'Coldrif' and ordered its removal from the market following suspicions linking it to the death of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. With effect from October 1, the sale of the cough syrup manufactured by the city-based firm, has been prohibited across Tamil Nadu, an official of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department said. Inspections were conducted at the pharmaceutical company's manufacturing facility in Sunguvarchathram in neighbouring Kancheepuram district during the last two days and samples have been collected, he said. The company, he said, supplies the medicines to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry. The samples would be sent to the government run laboratories to test for the presence of the chemical 'Diethylene Glycol', he told PTI. Taking cognisance of the infant deaths, the Union Health Ministry on Friday issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories, directing that cough and

CM Stalin inaugurates projects worth ₹737.88 cr, announces ₹4,268 cr aid

At a ceremony held in the Peravoor area near Ramanathapuram, the construction work of a new bus stand in Ramanathapuram covering 16,909 square feet was started in 2023 at a cost of ₹20 crore

Tamil Nadu police detain 39 RSS members for unauthorised event in Chennai

Tamil Nadu police detained 47 RSS members in Chennai for holding a Guru Puja and Shakha training without permission, marking the RSS centenary celebrations

9 dead as building collapses in Chennai, PM Modi announces ex-gratia

Nine migrant workers died after an under-construction building collapsed at the Ennore thermal power station here on Tuesday, police said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin ordered Power Minister S S Sivasankar and TANGEDCO Chairman K Radhakrishnan to immediately oversee relief work at the accident site. Police sources said officers have been rushed to the spot. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the mishap and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased. "Saddened by the mishap due to the collapse of a building in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families in this difficult hour. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured." Modi said. "An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," the Prime Minister's Office said on 'X'. Earlier, CM Stalin expressed sadness over

Vijay accuses Stalin of 'revenge' after Karur stampede; TN govt counters

The September 27 Karur stampede at actor-politician Vijay's rally escalated into a DMK vs TVK slugfest on Tuesday, with the top star taking on Chief Minister M K Stalin by accusing him of taking "revenge" on him and asserting that the "truth will come out", and the state government releasing videos on the sequence of events during the rally to allege violation of norms by his party. Shortly after Vijay issued a video statement, saying that the DMK government may do anything to him, but should not touch TVK party people, senior state officials held a press conference where they made a presentation on the sequence of events that unfolded in the western Tamil Nadu district before and during the stampede in which 41 people have died and over 60 were injured. Talking to reporters later, senior DMK leader and Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi said the wails and tears of the affected persons were unending. The DMK government immediately stood with the people, she said, and faulted Vijay for leaving t

Tamil Nadu to host global aerospace and defence meet in Chennai in Oct

Tamil Nadu will host Aerospace and Defence Meetings in Chennai from October 7 to 9 as part of its Defence Industrial Corridor plan to attract investments and boost domestic manufacturing

TVK district secretary arrested over Karur rally stampede that killed 41

Actor-politician Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's Karur West district secretary was arrested in connection with the stampede at the party president's rally, police said on Monday night. Karur West district secretary V P Mathyiyalagan was among the three TVK office bearers named in the FIR into the stampede that occurred on Saturday in which at least 41 people died and 60 were injured. TVK state general secretary Bussy Anand and party deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar are the other two party office bearers named in the FIR. Mathyiyalagan was picked up near the Karur-Dindigul border, an official said. The three TVK functionaries have been booked under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (endangering life of others), and 223 (disobedience to order), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992, has also been levelled against them, a pol

Karur stampede: What went wrong at actor, TVK chief Vijay’s rally that left 40 dead? Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu witnessed one of the deadliest political stampedes in the state’s history, over the weekend that killed over 40 people and injured hundreds.

Don't spread rumour on distressing Karur stampede incident: TN CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday warned against spreading rumours in the social media on the distressing stampede incident in Karur. The deaths of 41 persons in the tragic incident on September 27 was very sorrowful and the victims of the incident should not be viewed as those belonging to a particular party but ought to be seen as fellow Tamils, he said. What happened in Karur was a great tragedy. My heart is heavy due to the great sorrow. After mobilising the district administration immediately after receiving the information, I could not remain in Chennai. I rushed to Karur to console the victims, the Chief Minister said in a video message posted on his official X' site. Stating that he has been watching the posts on the social media, Stalin said it was sad that some people spread rumours about the incident or even indulged in slander. Do not spread rumour, don't slander on the social media about the tragedy in Karur. Everyone should behave responsibly, the Chief .