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Monday, Oct 18, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

3 struck dead by lightning

VILLUPURAM Oct. 17. Three women were killed and a woman sustained burns when lightning struck them at two places near here today.

P. Bhavani (21) and V. Selvi (21) of Melpathi colony, out collecting firewood, took shelter beneath a tree when it started to rain. Both died on the spot after lightning struck them.

D. Vijaya (41) of Eruchanampalayam village was struck dead by lightning when she, along with her daughter Suguna (21), was proceeding to work. Suguna, who sustained burns, was taken to the government hospital.

Collector Ka. Balachandran visited Melpathi colony and Eruchanampalayam and gave away compensation of Rs. 15,000 to each of the victims' families from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Later, he called on Suguna at the hospital.

Robbers kill temple watchman

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE Oct. 17. A gang of masked men stabbed to death a watchman and looted jewellery and cash from the Muneeswarar Temple in Annur near here last night.

According to police, Sellamuthu (65) and Rasappa Gounder (57) were on security duty at the temple when the gang struck. As there was heavy rain, power supply was disrupted.

The robbers gagged Rasappa Gounder and tied his hands and feet, but Sellamuthu resisted. The intruders attacked him with sharp weapons and sticks, killing him on the spot. The masked men broke open the hundi and safe in the office room and decamped with cash and gold and silver jewels.

Fingerprints have been lifted from the temple and a special police team has been formed to arrest the culprits.

Tractors seized

By Our Staff Reporter

Dharmapuri Oct. 17. Revenue officials at Kambainallur here yesterday seized two tractors carrying illegally quarried sand.

Acting on instructions from Collector Ashish Vachhani, vehicle checks were carried out in the Thenpennai river following which the vehicles were seized.

Two commit suicide

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli Oct. 17. A youth and a woman allegedly committed suicide today after their parents opposed their love affair. Police said R. Sankaranarayanan (26), a supervisor in a beedi company, of Keezhapattamudaiyarpuram, had an affair with R. Jayanthi (20), a beedi roller of the same area.

When their parents opposed their love affair, the two allegedly consumed poison in a farm near their village last night. They died this morning. The bodies were sent for post-mortem.

Heavy inflow into Mettur dam

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM OCT. 17. The Mettur reservoir received a heavy inflow for the second consecutive day this evening at 36,796 cusecs against 34,340 cusecs received last evening.

Irrigation officials told The Hindu this evening that the inflow was due to heavy rain in the catchment area for the past two days. The discharge has been maintained at 11,985 cusecs. The level in the reservoir rose by more than two feet this evening and stood at 84.79 feet (full level 120 ft) and the storage was 46.89 tmcft (full capacity 93.4 tmcft).

From the Grand Anicut, the Vennar is getting 8,336 cusecs under the turn system.

The Cauvery, the Grand Anicut Canal and the Coleroon are getting 1,534, 3,004 and 2,556 cusecs respectively.

No rainfall was recorded in the Cauvery delta region of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts in the last 24 hours.

Iodised salt campaign

By Our Staff Reporter

Ramanathapuram Oct. 17. The Federation of Consumer Organisations- Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (FEDCOT) has started an awareness campaign in Ramanathapuram district on the need for using iodised salt. Inaugurating the campaign, District Revenue Officer V. Srinivasan appealed to the people to use iodised salt to prevent frequent abortions and mental disorders.

FEDCOT chairman P. Duraisingam said his organisation, with the financial assistance of UNICEF, started spreading the awareness among the people of 10 districts in Tamil Nadu. FEDCOT volunteers will visit remote villages and distribute pamphlets, conduct street-corner meetings, video shows, street plays and processions to create awareness on the issue.

Run over

NAGAPATTINAM OCT.17. Baba Mohideen, 79, of Nagore in Nagapattinam district was run over while boarding a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus at the bus stand here last night.

The bus was proceeding from Nagapattinam to Thanjavur. Sources said that the bus driver Murugasakthi escaped after the accident.

Meeting

Thanjavur Oct. 17 . A meeting of unit secretaries and members of State Bank Staff Union (Chennai) circle, held at Orathanadu in Thanjavur district on Saturday, discussed the industrial environment in State Bank of India.

A press release issued here today said that the meeting decided to oppose outsourcing agencies in SBI, demand appointment on compassionate grounds, confirmation of part-time employees and recruitment of staff.

N. Subramanian, vice-president, SBSU, presided.

R. Ashokan, and M. Chandra Hilbert, deputy general secretaries, Tiruchirapalli module, spoke. V. Boominathan, assistant general secretary, welcomed the gathering. K.Naraynasamy, unit secretary, proposed a vote of thanks.

Mettur level

Tiruchi Oct.17 . The water level at the Mettur reservoir stood at 84.79 feet today. The inflow was 36,796 cusecs and the discharge 11,985 cusecs.

Case for threatening lawyer

Tirunelveli Oct.17 . The police are looking for two persons for allegedly threatening a lawyer.

The police said Singaravelan and Visilpandian of Manakaavalampillai Nagar under the Palayamkottai police station limits had a quarrel with Santhanakumar (30) last evening. When the squabble intensified, the duo allegedly threatened him with dire consequences and left the place.

Based on a complaint from Santhanakumar, the Palayamkottai police have registered a case.

House burgled

NAGERCOIL Oct. 17 . The police are on the look-out for some unidentified persons, who lifted 20 sovereigns of gold ornaments and other household articles from a house at Kurusadi Koothancadu near here on Saturday.

According to the police, Thanka Nadar of Kurusadi along with his family members went to Uvari in Tirunelveli district to offer prayers at Suyambulingam Temple. Some persons entered into his house after breaking the front lock and decamped with 20 sovereigns of ornaments and other articles. The theft came to light when Thanka Nadar returned home.

Teacher's house looted

NAGERCOIL Oct. 17 . A retired teacher's house at Nagercoil was burgled on Sunday.

According to the police, Selvaraj, along with his family members, went to church when some

unidentified persons entered into his house and lifted 80 sovereigns of gold ornaments.

The police have registered a case and are investigating.

Boy killed

Tirunelveli Oct.17 . A seven-year-old boy was killed and his elder brother injured when a tractor ran amok at Vadakarai this evening.

The police said the paddy-laden tractor ran amok and killed M. Kaleel Rahman (7) and injured M. Nagoor Meeran (13) of Vadakarai village under the Achchamputhoor police station limits this evening. Free site

Pattas drive

Tuticorin Oct. 17 . As part of a special drive to distribute free house site pattas to the people of Scheduled Caste and other backward classes below the poverty line, revenue officials will receive applications from residents of Tiruchendur taluk on October 20.

A Collectorate release said eligible candidates residing in 59 villages falling under the Tiruchendur taluk limits should visit the nearest office of the Village Administrative Officer on that date, where revenue officials in the rank of Deputy Collectors would be present to receive petitions.

The district administration would take immediate measures to issue pattas and sites to the eligible petitioners as soon as they submitted filled-in applications, the release added.

Similar drives are planned in other taluks in the district , except Tuticorin taluk, in November.

AIR programme

Tirunelveli Oct. 17 . The listeners of the All India Radio, Tirunelveli, can talk to cine actor R. Sarathkumar, in a live programme to be aired between 9.15 p.m. and 11 p.m. tomorrow.

According to the Station Director, Durai Selvaraj, the listeners can raise questions pertaining to cinema. Announcer Karaichuttruputhur G. Kavipandian would be the co-ordinator.

The listeners may dial 0462 - 2560794, 2560795 and 2560796, Mr. Durai Selvaraj said.

Dies in wall collapse

ERODE OCT. 17. A woman was killed when the walls of her house collapsed in heavy rain in Karuvalvadipudur near Appakudal last night. The police said Karupayee (70), living alone in a house, was crushed to death in the incident. A goat tied inside the house was also killed. Officials removed the body this morning.

Lorries seized

ERODE OCT. 17. The Dhalawaipet villagers seized two lorries carrying bagasse on Saturday.

The police said that bagasse was being transported in lorries to paper mills and other factories from the sugar mill at Appakudal.

The villagers of Appakudal, Jambai and Dhalawaipet were complaining that heavy loads of bagasse were being transported without covering it.

In the wind, the bagasse pieces fell on the road causing problems to people.

Yesterday they seized two lorries. They released the lorries on assurance from officials that the vehicles will be covered.

Panel visit

Krishnagiri Oct. 17. The Petitions Committee of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will shortly meet in Krishnagiri. Individuals, associations or institutions in the district, who desire to prefer petitions relating to redressal of grievances, may send petitions in Tamil (5 copies) duly signed by the petitioner with date addressed to the Chairman, Petitions Committee, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Chennai-600 009 on or before October 29.

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