The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Briefly

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Monday, Jul 19, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

By Our Special Correspondent

Victims monitored constantly

CHENNAI JULY 18. Two students who suffered burns in the Kumbakonam school fire on Friday and were brought to the city for treatment are being monitored constantly.

Both Kousalya (6) and Vijay (8) sustained extensive burns in the upper limbs and in the face.

They ran 102 degree temperature, according to Apollo Hospitals, where they were admitted last night.

"Vijay is a bit restless and wakes up with recollection of the incident. His pupils dilate and a neurosurgical opinion is obtained to rule out any injury. Other parameters are continuously monitored now," a hospital release said.

Skin grafting would be taken up after they become stable. "One more patient with extensive burns who is critically ill was shifted to the Apollo Hospital, Madurai, and is monitored in the ICU," the release added.

Kamal Haasan's gesture

CHENNAI JULY 18. Actor Kamal Haasan has promised Rs. 12 lakhs aid to the next of kin of students who died in the Kumbakonam school fire on Friday.

In a statement issued through his public relations agent, Mr. Kamal Haasan, now in South Korea, reminded that the responsibility of people did not end with mere collection and distribution of financial aid. Many in society were guilty of irresponsible behaviour and this was at the root of many of these accidents, he said.

Action against officials sought

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI JULY 18. The Tamil Nadu Child Rights' Protection Network (TNCRPN) today held the Education department officials responsible for the Kumbakonam fire tragedy in which 90 students died.

Seeking stringent action against top officials for their "negligence," the TNCRPN said many schools still remained vulnerable to fire accidents. In a field visit organised in Madurai on Saturday, a four-member team found more than a dozen schools with thatched roof and other combustible enclosures in Government and private schools.

A majority of these schools had narrow and single exit points. While the classrooms were not spacious enough corresponding to the strength of students, there was little ventilation in some makeshift school structures. Though these schools were functioning since many years, the authorities concerned turned a "blind eye" to the lacunae.

In a nine-point charter of demands, the TNCRPN appealed to the Government to disburse a compensation of Rs. 15 lakhs each to the kin of students killed.

Four girls drowned in pond

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE JULY 18. Four girls were drowned in a pond in Arumparudhi village in Tiruvalam police station limits, about 20 km from here, this afternoon.

According to police, M. Mala (15) had taken a cow for grazing but it slipped and fell into the pond in a field. Mala got stuck in the pond while trying to rescue the cow. On seeing her plight, her sister, M. Mahalakshmi (13) and her friends, R. Selvi (9) and Nalini (10) attempted to pull Mala to safety. In the process, all the four were drowned.

10 hospitalised after gas leak

SALEM JULY 18. At least 10 villagers including, women and children of Mottur Karungal hamlet near Mettur were admitted to hospital today after they fainted reportedly following a leak of poisonous gas from a nearby chemical plant.

The villagers' suspect that chlorine leaked from a private plant.

110 rice bags seized

By Our Staff Reporter

DHARMAPURI JULY 18. The police seized 110 rice bags while they were being smuggled in a lorry at Adhiyamankottai here on Saturday. The police said a team conducting vehicle checks near the Adhiyamankottai junction intercepted the lorry laden with rice bags. The rice meant for supply under the Food for Work programme was being taken for polishing and subsequent selling in the open market.

Jewels stolen from temple

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE JULY 18. Gold and silver jewels were stolen last night from the Velayudhaswamy temple on the Mangalam-Somanur Road near Tirupur. According to the police, burglars had broken open a safe in the office room and decamped with the jewels of the deity.

Energy theft detected, 2 held

By Our Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI JULY 18. A manager and supervisor of a private company near Thirumayam in the district were arrested today after it was found that the firm allegedly indulged in electricity theft and caused loss of Rs. 95 lakhs to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB).

The police sources here said a flying squad conducted a surprise check and found the firm had been indulging in electricity theft for several months. Cases were registered under Indian Penal Code and Indian Electricity Act, 2003.

The sources said the manager, Kandasamy, and supervisor, Shanmugasundaram, were arrested.

Driver killed in mishap

By Our Staff Reporter

PERAMBALUR JULY 18 . A lorry driver was fatally knocked down near Perali on the Perambalur-Ariyalur highway on Saturday.

The mishap occurred when the driver Yacob (28) and the cleaner were sitting in front of the vehicle as it had developed some snag. Another lorry rammed into the vehicle pushing the stationary lorry forward.

The driver and cleaner were injured. The driver died on way to the Government Hospital.

Illicit arrack seized

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM JULY 18. The police arrested 12 bootleggers including five women at Keezhvelur on Friday and seized illicit liquor worth Rs.1.5 lakhs.

Sale of liquor in the TASMAC shops in Nagapattinam, Mayiladuturai, Sirkazhi, Kollidam, Kuthalam, Vedaranyam and other places came down drastically in the last two months following flow of illicit liquor at cheap rate.

Property attached

By Our Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI JULY 18. The Sub Judge Karpura Sundaram on Friday passed an order attaching the movable property in the Collector's office here in connection with a land acquisition case.

According to the prosecution, Valliappa Chettiar of Ponnamaravathy filed a petition in the Sub Court seeking more compensation for the land, which he had given to the Department of Adi Dravida Welfare. Accepting the petition, the Judge passed the order.

Devotees take holy dip

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM JULY 18 . Thousands of devotees and pilgrims took a holy dip in the sea at Vedaranyam and Tranquebar in Nagapattinam district on Saturday on the occasion of `Adi Amavasai' and performed rites for their forefathers.

Pumpset coils stolen

By Our Staff Reporter

PERAMBALUR JULY 18. The metallic coils in four agricultural pumpsets at Arumadal near here were stolen on Saturday.

According to the police, the coils were lifted from the fields of M. Pazhanimuthu (57), A. Gunasekaran, M. Arumugam and K. Thangaraj.

The Maruvathur police have registered a case and further investigation is on.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI JULY 18. Water level at the Mettur reservoir stood at 72.38 feet today. The inflow was 8,842 cusecs but there was no discharge.

Held under Goondas Act

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI JULY 18. Two persons have been arrested under the Goondas Act.

S. Arumugam (25) of Arugankulam and P. Gurubalan (27) of Tirunelveli Town were facing cases of attempt to murder, robbery and criminal intimidation.

They were arrested as ordered by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, K. Gopalakrishnan, and lodged in the Palayamkottai central prison.

Held for selling illicit liquor

By Our Staff Reporter

RAMANATHAPURAM JULY 18. Sleuths of the Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) have arrested three persons for selling illicit liquor at Rameswaram.

Sources said the police raided a shop and arrested Pannerselvam (36), Sekar (35) and Neethirajan (33).

Mild showers

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI JULY 18. The city experienced mild showers for more than an hour this evening. Accompanied by strong winds, the rain gave the residents the much-needed respite from the hot weather conditions that prevailed for the past few days.

The level in Periyar dam stood at 119.2 feet, with a storage of 2,484 mcft. The inflow was 614 cusecs and the discharge was 900 cusecs. The level in Vaigai dam was 43.64 feet with an inflow of 614 cusecs and the discharge was 900 cusecs.

Peranai received 1.8 mm of rainfall.

Educational loans

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI JULY 18. The Sankaranayinarkovil branch of State Bank of India has sanctioned educational loans to the tune of Rs. 98.96 lakhs to 82 students during the loan melas conducted recently.

According to the Chief Manager, Tajudeen, loan melas were conducted on June 27, July 4 and July 11, in which 111 applications were received. Most of the 82 eligible applicants sought loans to pursue engineering courses.

Workshop

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE JULY 18. A three-day workshop on `Curriculum Development for B.E. Computer Science and B.Tech Information Technology students', sponsored by the AICTE, was organised by the Computer Science Engineering Department of Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, from July 15 to 17. IT experts participated in the discussion. The college principal, A.M. Natarajan, and secretary, Kongu Vellala Institute of Technology Trust, D. Venkateshwaran, also spoke.

Arrested

By Our Staff Reporter

Dharmapuri July 18. A 30-year-old man was arrested on charges of murder at Karimangalam here on Saturday. Police said Perumal (45) of Karimangalam had a property dispute with Murugesan of the same area. Following a petty quarrel, Murugesan reportedly shot Perumal's wife Manimeghalai with a country-made gun. She was admitted to the Dharmapuri General Hospital and later referred to a hospital in Salem where she died. The Karimangalam police have registered a case.

Dance festival

By Our Staff Reporter

Coimbatore July 18. The three-day Bhavan's Dance Festival 2004 will be held from October 29 by the Coimbatore Kendra of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Applications are invited from young talented classical dancers for solo performances. Those above the age of 15 and who have already given their Arangetram can apply before July 30.

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